Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Rosen passes CLOTURE 52-42:

NAYs ---42
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
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)
King (I-ME)
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)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 6
Flake (R-AZ)
Isakson (R-GA)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Sasse (R-NE)
Toomey (R-PA)


FINAL VOTE on Rosen tomorrow.

[KingSweden]

Is Rosen somehow controversial?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Today, Rosen was confirmed by a vote of 56-42.

NAYs ---42
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
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)
King (I-ME)
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)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Isakson (R-GA)
Moran (R-KS)

---------

NOON TOMORROW - CLOTURE VOTE on Rachel Brand, who has been nominated to be Associate Attorney General.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Brand passes CLOTURE by a vote of 51 to 47. This was completely along party lines except for Senators Hirono and Tillis, both of whom abstained.

Tomorrow: FINAL VOTE on Brand and CLOTURE VOTE on Branstad

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Today, Brand was confirmed by a vote of 52 to 46. The vote was exactly the same as the CLOTURE vote, except for Tillis switching from Abstain to Yes, and Kaine switching from No to Abstain.


Following that, Branstad passed CLOTURE by a vote of 86 to 12:

NAYs ---12
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Peters (D-MI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Warren (D-MA)

Not Voting - 2
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)

---

5:30 PM Monday - FINAL VOTE on Branstad

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

We need to put a hold on Trump's nominees until after the investigation and subsequent election.

I'm sure the Republicans will agree.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The following  nominations were confirmed by voice vote this week:

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #56, the nomination of Todd Philip Haskell, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Congo

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #57, the nomination of Tulinabo Salama Mushingi, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Trump's nominee for Deputy Treasury Secretary, Jim Donovan, has withdrawn his name from consideration, as he has realized that the Trump Administration is a failure not worth working for.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/19/jim-donovan-trump-deputy-treasury-secretary-238611

[Dr. Arch]

Trump's nominee for Deputy Treasury Secretary, Jim Donovan, has withdrawn his name from consideration, as he has realized that the Trump Administration is a failure not worth working for.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/19/jim-donovan-trump-deputy-treasury-secretary-238611

Pretty much. You know the administration is in shambles when you get stuff like this happening.

[The Other Castro]

Trump officially announces K.T. McFarland as Ambassador to Singapore, Callista Gingrich as Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican City)

https://twitter.com/jeneps/status/865687547065884673

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

So far this week:

The Senate has confirmed Branstad 82-13:

NAYs ---13
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hirono (D-HI)
Markey (D-MA)
Peters (D-MI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Warren (D-MA)

Not Voting - 5
Alexander (R-TN)
Harris (D-CA)
Isakson (R-GA)
Lee (R-UT)
Murkowski (R-AK)


John J. Sullivan, the nominee for deputy secretary of state, has passed CLOTURE 93-6:

NAYs ---6
Booker (D-NJ)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Sanders (I-VT)
Warren (D-MA)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)

FINAL VOTE on Sullivan tomorrow. After the vote on the Sullivan nomination, the senate will proceed to the nomination of Amul Thapar to the 6th circuit court.

[Mr. Morden]

Gillibrand and Warren are voting no on absolutely everyone, and I'm sure there's absolutely no connection to them running for president. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Gillibrand and Warren are voting no on absolutely everyone, and I'm sure there's absolutely no connection to them running for president. 

Sanders is a solid no every time as well, it seems.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Gillibrand and Warren are voting no on absolutely everyone, and I'm sure there's absolutely no connection to them running for president. 

Gillibrand, as literally the only senator to vote against Mattis, holds the record for no votes on Trump nominees, which I'm sure she will stress on the campaign​ trail.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Today, John J. Sullivan was confirmed by a vote of 94 to 6:

NAYs ---6
Booker (D-NJ)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Sanders (I-VT)
Warren (D-MA)

Afterward, Amul Thapar passed CLOTURE by a vote of 52 to 48. This vote was completely along party lines.

FINAL VOTE on Thapar tomorrow.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Harris is on the "no" train as well. 

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Thapar confirmed 52-44. Same as CLOTURE VOTE except for four senators switching from No to Abstain:

Not Voting - 4
Cantwell (D-WA)
Hirono (D-HI)
Schatz (D-HI)
Udall (D-NM)

Also Today, the following nominees were confirmed by voice vote:

David Norquist to be an Undersecretary of Defense
Kari Bingen to be a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense
Robert Karem to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The senate stands adjourned until June 5.

UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT
Courtney Elwood (Cal. No. 54)
Ordered, That following Leader remarks on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, the Senate resume consideration of
the nomination of Courtney Elwood, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency, with
the time equally divided until 2:15 p.m.
Ordered further, That at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, the Senate vote on confirmation of the
Elwood nomination, and that if confirmed the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table
and the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s actions. (May 25, 2017.)

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Those darn minority Democrats, voting to adjourn! Don't they know they're holding up Trump's imaginary nominees?




Trump just isn't nominating the people he needs to. (Likely in part because of his demand for unconstitutional oaths of fealty loyalty oaths and world-famous thin skin.)

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article154052384.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

On a slightly different note, it is nice to see Trump being so honest with the public:
"Want approvals." Is there any small child who hasn't felt the same way?

[KingSweden]

Trump officially announces K.T. McFarland as Ambassador to Singapore, Callista Gingrich as Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican City)

https://twitter.com/jeneps/status/865687547065884673

Better she's there than spewing her crazy talk on the NSC

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The Elwood nomination was confirmed by a vote of 67 to 33.

NAYs ---33

Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Coons (D-DE)
Durbin (D-IL)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heller (R-NV)
Hirono (D-HI)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Paul (R-KY) (!)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Scott Brown has been confirmed as Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa by a vote of 94 to 4:

NAYs ---4
Booker (D-NJ)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Schatz (D-HI)

Not Voting - 2
Alexander (R-TN)
Menendez (D-NJ)

[TheSaint250]

Scott Brown has been confirmed as Ambassador to New Zealand by a vote of 94 to 4:

NAYs ---4
Booker (D-NJ)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Schatz (D-HI)

Not Voting - 2
Alexander (R-TN)
Menendez (D-NJ)

I didn't even know he was looking for a post

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Scott Brown has been confirmed as Ambassador to New Zealand by a vote of 94 to 4:

NAYs ---4
Booker (D-NJ)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Schatz (D-HI)

Not Voting - 2
Alexander (R-TN)
Menendez (D-NJ)

I didn't even know he was looking for a post

That wench Gillibrand voting no is no surprise, but Warren voted yes?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Scott Brown has been confirmed as Ambassador to New Zealand by a vote of 94 to 4:

NAYs ---4
Booker (D-NJ)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Schatz (D-HI)

Not Voting - 2
Alexander (R-TN)
Menendez (D-NJ)

I didn't even know he was looking for a post

That wench Gillibrand voting no is no surprise, but Warren voted yes?

Yeah. Warren (and Sanders) seem to want to give Trump a pass on certain low-profile nominees, while Gillibrand is insistent on voting no on every nominee (except for Shulkin who is a democrat and Haley because "She took down the confederate flag! Yahoo!")