Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Gass3268]

Unless a Democrat defects, I don't see how Tillerson gets confirmed.

I think it will be a 50-50 tie with Pence having the decisive vote in the end.

He may even struggle to get out of committee.

[Mr. Morden]

Unless a Democrat defects, I don't see how Tillerson gets confirmed.

I think it will be a 50-50 tie with Pence having the decisive vote in the end.

He may even struggle to get out of committee.

Yeah, the GOP only has a 1 vote advantage on the committee, so if Rubio (or any other Republican) votes no, and all the Dems on the committee vote no, that's it.

[Gass3268]

Rex Tillerson tells senators he and Trump haven't discussed Russia yet.

[Sir Mohamed]

Unless a Democrat defects, I don't see how Tillerson gets confirmed.

I think it will be a 50-50 tie with Pence having the decisive vote in the end.

He may even struggle to get out of committee.

That would be a big defeat for the Trumpster. Not sure whether the GOP is doing that. I wonder what Tweets he’ll send out in that scenario?

Anyone know who runs the State Department after January 20, if Tillerson isn’t through by then? An interim appointment? I guess Kerry is gone as soon as Obama left.

Rex Tillerson tells senators he and Trump haven't discussed Russia yet.

LOL! The dude knows that he’s under oath, right?

[Gass3268]

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This isn't going to help with the GOP Hawks.

[Gass3268]

Even Bob Corker is contradicting Tillerson:

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[KingSweden]

A lot of things with which I disagree with Rubio on, but right now he's making me proud.

That sentiment will change if he voted this huckster out of committee

[Chief Justice Keef]

Flawless Beautiful Marco

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The Rubio love is a bit sickening........

[Shadows]

Little Marco will only act tough but not vote against Trump!

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

The Rubio love is a bit sickening........

It's pretty much illegal to criticize him on Atlas.

[Gass3268]

Little Marco will only act tough but not vote against Trump!

This is my guess as well.

[The Other Castro]

If Rubio is a No, isn't Tillerson dead in committee?

[Gass3268]

If Rubio is a No, isn't Tillerson dead in committee?

Yes

[Mr. Morden]

While it would be highly unusual to do so, my understanding is that if McConnell wanted to, he could bypass the committee and bring it directly to the floor of the Senate.  That said, if Rubio is a no, then I'm assuming Graham and McCain are also no's, so I'm not sure it would help anything, unless he's counting on Democratic defectors like Manchin.

[Cashew]

The Rubio love is a bit sickening........

[Bismarck]

Cory Booker and John Lewis are such hacks. Lewis said literally nothing about Jeff Sessions, he just got his fake MLK shtick going and implied that any white person from the south was ineligible to be in government.

[Mr. Morden]

I'm actually really curious to see how Ben Carson's hearing goes tomorrow, given that (AFAIK) his main qualification for leading HUD is that he's black(!).

[Bismarck]

Then congressman Richmond comes up and mentions the 3/5 thing clearly without understanding that the purpose of it was to stop slaveowners from getting more power.

[SteveRogers]

Then congressman Richmond comes up and mentions the 3/5 thing clearly without understanding that the purpose of it was to stop slaveowners from getting more power.

It was a compromise that gave slave owners 3/5ths of exactly what they wanted.

[Tintrlvr]

Then congressman Richmond comes up and mentions the 3/5 thing clearly without understanding that the purpose of it was to stop slaveowners from getting more power.

It is not at all clear that the alternative was for slaves to be counted as whole persons for purposes of apportionment. It is entirely possible that "all other persons" would not have been counted at all. After all, the compromise originated in the Articles of Confederation, where it related not to apportionment but rather the amount of tax each state owed to the central government (which was determined by population, with slaves counted, after the compromise, as three-fifths of a person). So the slave states initially favored slaves not being counted at all.

[Blair]

he just got his fake MLK shtick going and implied that any white person from the south was ineligible to be in government.

Oh yeah the guy who marched at Selma, was a freedom rider and lead the SNCC is clearly doing a 'fake' shtick. Such stupidity

[Blue3]

Rubio just came back... trying to get Rex Tillerson to agree that Saudi Arabia and the new leader in the Phillipines are terrible human rights violators.

Has he become a Democrat?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Rubio just came back... trying to get Rex Tillerson to agree that Saudi Arabia and the new leader in the Phillipines are terrible human rights violators.

Has he become a Democrat?

You had to have watched other confirmation hearings before this one.  There's always a few who need to put on a show for the cameras.  It's just sport.  I doubt he cares about half of what he's asking.  But if this thread was national news, the Rubio mentions and faux Rubio love would have him grinning ear to ear.

If Rubio truly has  set of balls, he'll vote, no.  We'll see.

[Ronnie]

I might be wrong, but I do not foresee a lot of resistance to Tillerson.  Bar a few hiccups, I think he's done quite well today, certainly better than I expected.  He's a smart cookie.