Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Earlier Today, the senate voted 62-37 to invoke cloture on Carson:

YEAs ---62
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Brown (D-OH)
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kennedy (R-LA)
King (I-ME)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Portman (R-OH)
Reed (D-RI)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Strange (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Young (R-IN)

NAYs ---37
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)

[Gass3268]

Warren flippped her vote.

[Blue3]

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

10:00 AM tomorrow:
FINAL VOTE on Carson
CLOTURE VOTE on Perry

We could see a FINAL VOTE on Perry Friday Afternoon, although that has not yet been confirmed by the floor monitor account.

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

After Carson and Perry are done, all that is left in the cabinet itself is Labor and Agriculture, but those haven't even had hearings yet for various reasons, so it could be a while. But of course, there are still  >100 deputies, ambassadors, and sub-agency heads to confirm, some of which Trump hasn't even decided on someone for yet.

[Gass3268]

10:00 AM tomorrow:
FINAL VOTE on Carson
CLOTURE VOTE on Perry

We could see a FINAL VOTE on Perry Friday Afternoon, although that has not yet been confirmed by the floor monitor account.

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

After Carson and Perry are done, all that is left in the cabinet itself is Labor and Agriculture, but those haven't even had hearings yet for various reasons, so it could be a while. But of course, there are still  >100 deputies, ambassadors, and sub-agency heads to confirm, some of which Trump hasn't even decided on someone for yet.

Not just some, Trump has still yet to name over 500 Senate confirmation required positions.

[Virginiá]

Warren flippped her vote.

When she caught a lot of flack for voting Aye the first time, she pretty much stopped voting for Trump nominees, along with other potential 2020 prospects.

[Maxwell]

10:00 AM tomorrow:
FINAL VOTE on Carson
CLOTURE VOTE on Perry

We could see a FINAL VOTE on Perry Friday Afternoon, although that has not yet been confirmed by the floor monitor account.

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

After Carson and Perry are done, all that is left in the cabinet itself is Labor and Agriculture, but those haven't even had hearings yet for various reasons, so it could be a while. But of course, there are still  >100 deputies, ambassadors, and sub-agency heads to confirm, some of which Trump hasn't even decided on someone for yet.

Not just some, Trump has still yet to name over 500 Senate confirmation required positions.

this was the best and classiest transition period folks and if you don't think so you're fake news and lyin' CNN.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

To vote on, or who haven't been demonstrated to have questionable connections to Russia?

[Dr. Arch]

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

To vote on, or who haven't been demonstrated to have questionable connections to Russia?

lmao, nice

[Maxwell]

meh

for as much of a bonehead as Perry is, he actually had a very good confirmation hearing.

[The Other Castro]

Rick Perry confirmed 62-37. 10 Democrats voted to confirm: Cardin, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, Warner.

King also voted to confirm. Isakson did not vote.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

FULL VOTE LIST FOR CARSON CONFIRMATION:

YEAs ---58
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Brown (D-OH)
Burr (R-NC)
Capito (R-WV)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Daines (R-MT)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Ernst (R-IA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Gardner (R-CO)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kennedy (R-LA)
King (I-ME)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Perdue (R-GA)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rounds (R-SD)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Strange (R-AL)
Sullivan (R-AK)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Warner (D-VA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Young (R-IN)

NAYs ---41
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)


----------

The senate then voted to invoke Cloture on Rick Perry. A few hours later, after yielding back of post-cloture time, they voted to confirm Perry. Both the cloture and the confirmation votes were 62-37.

Rick Perry confirmed 62-37. 10 Democrats voted to confirm: Carper, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, Warner.

King also voted to confirm. Isakson did not vote.

It was Cardin, not Carper.

---------------

That is all the senate can vote on nomination-wise for now. Now they go back to holding hearings... that is once they're done waiting for ethics paperwork for Perdue and/or Acosta.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Perry has been confirmed as Energy Secretary.

[The Other Castro]

Rick Perry confirmed 62-37. 10 Democrats voted to confirm: Carper, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, Warner.

King also voted to confirm. Isakson did not vote.

It was Cardin, not Carper.

I'm seeing differing reports on this. Some say Cardin and others say Carper, but the Senate website says it was Carper.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00079#position

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Why did a bunch of Democrats decide they didn't like Carson anymore?  And some of them thought he's not qualified but Perry is?

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Rick Perry confirmed 62-37. 10 Democrats voted to confirm: Carper, Cortez Masto, Donnelly, Heitkamp, Manchin, McCaskill, Stabenow, Tester, Udall, Warner.

King also voted to confirm. Isakson did not vote.

It was Cardin, not Carper.

I'm seeing differing reports on this. Some say Cardin and others say Carper, but the Senate website says it was Carper.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00079#position

It appears that on CLOTURE, Cardin voted Aye and Carper voted Nay, but on CONFIRMATION, Carper voted Aye and Cardin voted Nay. Talk about odd. Your link is for the confirmation vote. Cloture vote link below:

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00078

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Why did a bunch of Democrats decide they didn't like Carson anymore?  And some of them thought he's not qualified but Perry is?

Carson's problems were more publicized and got more media play than Perry's, so Democratic senators who'd previously supported Carson got more pushback from their constituents.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Why did a bunch of Democrats decide they didn't like Carson anymore?  And some of them thought he's not qualified but Perry is?

Carson's problems were more publicized and got more media play than Perry's, so Democratic senators who'd previously supported Carson got more pushback from their constituents.

What were these problems?

He got more votes in committee from Democrats than he did in the entire Senate. It's absurd.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The nomination of Seema Verma, who is to be head of Medicare/Medicaid, has been added to the senate executive calendar. No vote date set yet though.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Why did a bunch of Democrats decide they didn't like Carson anymore?  And some of them thought he's not qualified but Perry is?

Carson's problems were more publicized and got more media play than Perry's, so Democratic senators who'd previously supported Carson got more pushback from their constituents.

What were these problems?

He got more votes in committee from Democrats than he did in the entire Senate. It's absurd.

     The constituents are trying to put the screws on. It's expected, if the difference is still stark.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Why did a bunch of Democrats decide they didn't like Carson anymore?  And some of them thought he's not qualified but Perry is?

Carson's problems were more publicized and got more media play than Perry's, so Democratic senators who'd previously supported Carson got more pushback from their constituents.

What were these problems?

He got more votes in committee from Democrats than he did in the entire Senate. It's absurd.

     The constituents are trying to put the screws on. It's expected, if the difference is still stark.

by "constituents" do we mean fundraisers?  Or do they think a few people calling on the basis of some ThinkProgress article is representative of their swing state?

[Classic Conservative]

Noel Francisco to be nominated as Solicitor General
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/solicitor-general-noel-francisco/index.html

[Classic Conservative]

Richard Spencer under consideration for Secretary of Navy
https://mobile.twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/839279800996986880

[Virginiá]

Generally, I find myself of the mold that if Trump nominates a decent, qualified person for a cabinet post, Democrats should give them fair consideration and vote accordingly. That being said, why would any Democrats vote for people like Carson or Perry? They are not qualified to run their agencies. Carson is, well, Carson, and has no experience in pretty much anything HUD does. Perry literally didn't even know what the Energy Dept did before all of this, and couldn't even remember its name when he wanted to eliminate the agency, and somehow he is qualified to run it? Is this some elaborate joke or...?

I'm sorry, but even Democratic Senators from the reddest of red states should be able to go home and tell their constituents flat out that they have no problem voting for a clean, qualified nominee but not some random person (or donor/loyalist of Trump) who is blatantly not appropriate for the job. Just because Trump, or any president really, nominates someone does not mean they should automatically get the green light.

That only thing I can understand here is fears of losing reelection, but that doesn't explain the votes of people like Masto or Warner, among others.

[Classic Conservative]

Richard Grenell to be appointed NATO Ambassador! Highest openly gay official ever!
https://mobile.twitter.com/nwadhams/status/839289037772972032