Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Two important hearings today:

9:30 AM - Senate Intelligence Committee: Nomination of Gina Haspel to be CIA Director - https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/hearings/open-hearing-nomination-gina-haspel-be-director-central-intelligence-agency

10:00 AM - Senate Judiciary Committee: Nomination of Ryan Bounds to be on the 9th Circuit Court - https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/05/09/2018/nominations . This is a key hearing as the fact that it is being held has created controversy due to opposition from Bounds's home state Senators.
(Wyden and Merkley)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Englehardt confirmed 62-34:

NAYs ---34
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 4
Donnelly (D-IN)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

Brennan passes CLOTURE 49-47:

NAYs ---47
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)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Manchin (D-WV)
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)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 4
Donnelly (D-IN)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

[Sestak]

https://mobile.twitter.com/kasie/status/994287940888121344

BWAA BWAA BWA BWAAAA



WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

https://mobile.twitter.com/kasie/status/994287940888121344

BWAA BWAA BWA BWAAAA



WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Translation: Republicans already have enough votes to confirm her without Manchin.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I don't understand why Democrats are getting bent out of shape over Haspel. Sure, she tortured some folks. But we had this fine President who decided we were just going to ignore all the war crimes we committed and move on. Getting upset over it now seems to be more than a little late. Unless they're saying we should round up all our past and current war criminals for fair trials (say, at the Hauge). Is that what the Dems are saying?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Tomorrow, 12 Noon:

1. Confirmation of the Brennan nomination
2. CLOTURE on the Carson nomination

Tomorrow, 1:45 PM: CLOTURE on the Nalbandian nomination

[Sestak]

McCain is urging the Senate to block Haspel.

If Manchin supports and Paul and Collins oppose (along with McCain either opposing or absent), it falls short.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Brennan confirmed 49-46:

NAYs ---46
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Manchin (D-WV)
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)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Booker (D-NJ)
Coons (D-DE)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

Carson passes CLOTURE 71-24:

NAYs ---24
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hirono (D-HI)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Booker (D-NJ)
Coons (D-DE)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
McCain (R-AZ)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Nalbandian passes CLOTURE 52-43:

NAYs ---43
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
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)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Booker (D-NJ)
Coons (D-DE)
Duckworth (D-IL)
McCain (R-AZ)
Moran (R-KS)

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

McCain is urging the Senate to block Haspel.

If Manchin supports and Paul and Collins oppose (along with McCain either opposing or absent), it falls short.

Maybe McCain could show up and vote (yeah, I know he's too ill). Sure if the other 99 Senators vote, it won't make a difference, but for 2 nominations so far this year another Republican was also absent, and Pence broke the resulting 49-49 tie.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Next week:

5:30pm on Monday:
1. Confirmation of Cal. #780 Michael Scudder to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #781 Amy J. St. Eve to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

12:00pm on Tuesday:
1. Confirmation of Cal.#729 Joel M. Carson III to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #777 John Nalbandian to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Possible: Nomination of Mitchell Zais to be deputy secretary of education

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

Right now, it is looking like Haspel will fall short, but I don't trust the red state Dems. I need definitive answers from them. Are we for sure Collins is a no?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Right now, it is looking like Haspel will fall short, but I don't trust the red state Dems. I need definitive answers from them. Are we for sure Collins is a no?

Collins is a confirmed yes actually: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gina-haspel-a-lock-to-pass-intel-panel-vote-with-nod-from-susan-collins

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

Right now, it is looking like Haspel will fall short, but I don't trust the red state Dems. I need definitive answers from them. Are we for sure Collins is a no?

Collins is a confirmed yes actually: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gina-haspel-a-lock-to-pass-intel-panel-vote-with-nod-from-susan-collins

God dammit.

[KingSweden]

Next week:

5:30pm on Monday:
1. Confirmation of Cal. #780 Michael Scudder to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #781 Amy J. St. Eve to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

12:00pm on Tuesday:
1. Confirmation of Cal.#729 Joel M. Carson III to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #777 John Nalbandian to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Possible: Nomination of Mitchell Zais to be deputy secretary of education

Those are cloture votes for Scudder and St Eve, presumably.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Next week:

5:30pm on Monday:
1. Confirmation of Cal. #780 Michael Scudder to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #781 Amy J. St. Eve to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

12:00pm on Tuesday:
1. Confirmation of Cal.#729 Joel M. Carson III to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #777 John Nalbandian to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Possible: Nomination of Mitchell Zais to be deputy secretary of education

Those are cloture votes for Scudder and St Eve, presumably.

Senate cloakroom says confirmation vote for those two. They are not controversial so not surprising.

[KingSweden]

Next week:

5:30pm on Monday:
1. Confirmation of Cal. #780 Michael Scudder to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #781 Amy J. St. Eve to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

12:00pm on Tuesday:
1. Confirmation of Cal.#729 Joel M. Carson III to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
2. Confirmation of Cal. #777 John Nalbandian to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit

Possible: Nomination of Mitchell Zais to be deputy secretary of education

Those are cloture votes for Scudder and St Eve, presumably.

Senate cloakroom says confirmation vote for those two. They are not controversial so not surprising.

Yeah, hard to see two noms who got unanimity on Judiciary in this day and age being controversial

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Confirmed by Voice Vote: Exec. Cal. #740 Patrick Hovakimian to be a Member of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the U.S.

U.S. Marshal’s Confirmed by Voice Vote: Exec. Cal. #830 Gregory Forest to be U.S. Marshal for the Western District of North Carolina; Exec. Cal. #831 Bradley Maxwell to be U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois

[Sestak]

Goddammit. So right now we have Paul and Manchin probably flipping.

Any chance Lee or Murkowski could also oppose?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Goddammit. So right now we have Paul and Manchin probably flipping.

Any chance Lee or Murkowski could also oppose?

The only non-Paul Republican that is worrying Leadership is Jeff Flake, but he's not known for having a spine, so I wouldn't get my hopes up.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Scudder confirmed on a unanimous vote of 90-0. This is the first time in the Trump Presidency that a circuit court nominee has been confirmed unanimously.

Not Voting - 10
Blunt (R-MO)
Cruz (R-TX)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
Heller (R-NV)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
Nelson (D-FL)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

St. Eve confirmed on a unanimous vote of 91-0.

Not Voting - 9
Blunt (R-MO)
Cruz (R-TX)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Graham (R-SC)
Heller (R-NV)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)

The following nomination was confirmed by Voice Vote:

Exec. Cal. #715 Michael Atkinson to be Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Carson confirmed 77-21:

NAYs ---21
Baldwin (D-WI)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Casey (D-PA)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hirono (D-HI)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murray (D-WA)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Duckworth (D-IL)
McCain (R-AZ)

Nalbandian confirmed 53-45:

NAYs ---45
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)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Jones (D-AL)
Kaine (D-VA)
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)
Peters (D-MI)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Smith (D-MN)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 2
Duckworth (D-IL)
McCain (R-AZ)

[NewYorkExpress]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nominee-to-head-cia-says-agencys-post-911-interrogation-program-should-not-have-been-started/2018/05/15/a5a70142-5850-11e8-8836-a4a123c359ab_story.html?utm_term=.f026a7045cc4

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[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Tomorrow, following the vote on Net Neutrality: Vote on confirmation of Exec. Cal. #607 Mitchell Zais to be Deputy Secretary of Education