Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[KingSweden]

I hate to be "that guy," but has anyone questioned Sessions about pot yet?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-sessions-leaves-door-open-to-reigniting-1484081088-htmlstory.html

He didn't commit to reversing the Cole Memo, either, though.  This might ultimately wind up in Trump's court, and he's much more favorable to the state's rights position on this.

The question remains if Trump is willing to let Sessions devote so much public funds and political capital to raiding marijuana shops in the states that legalized it, including the deep red state of Alaska.  That wouldn't be a smart move on his part.

I agree with sessions argument on merit, though. With so many states legalizing, Congress really should clarify drug laws to give them more leeway

[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

[KingSweden]

Rubio is hinting he'll vote no on Tillerson on CNN

The plot thickens...

Wonder who The Donald's backup would be?

[KingSweden]

Rubio is hinting he'll vote no on Tillerson on CNN

The plot thickens...

Wonder who The Donald's backup would be?

Corker?

Probably. Wouldn't be the worst, honestly

[KingSweden]

Both Corker and Romney would be confirmed ~97-0. There was no reason Trump needed to use Tillerson.

Yeah no kidding

[KingSweden]

Still stunned Trump, who actually knows something about housing, couldn't find some real estate buddy to run HUD instead of this hack

If you want to hook Carson up with a job, make him Surgeon General. He'd be good at it!

[KingSweden]

https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/819608462053228546

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Interesting

[KingSweden]

Monica Crowley is no longer headed to NSC. Hopefully they pick somebody better this time around.

[KingSweden]

News on Puzder: Obviously, his hearing has been delayed until February. Rumors spread that even Puzder himself is considering to drop out of the whole thing (CNN, DailyCaller). Hopefully that is true or he simply doesn’t get confirmed. This dude is a horrible pick.

At a guess, it's to do with the domestic violence allegations.

Almost certainly. I imagine Victoria Lipnic (the early front runner) is the backup

[KingSweden]

Ralston thinks Sen. Heller will vote NO on Mnuchin.

Whoa if true

[KingSweden]

Mattis confirmed as Secretary of Defense in a unanimous vote:

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/20/mad-dog-mattis-confirmed-as-defense-secretary-first-trump-cabinet-member-to-be-approved.html

At the time that article was written, the vote was unanimous, but voting was still in progress.  Looks like it ended up not quite being unanimous:

https://twitter.com/CQnow/status/822569447722455040

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Mattis is the best Trump nom by a mile. Still don't get why she made this her hill to die on

[KingSweden]

Is Pompeo so bad? I listened to his hearing, and my impression of him wasn't negative at all...he seemed to me at least a loyal and trustworthy person( to your Nation, obviously, not to Trump)...maybe I don't know him fully?

Some concerns about previous remarks and his general fundie-ness. Some lefties think he wants a holy war with Islam, which I have seen no evidence of. Trump could have picked way worse and the CIA rank and file from what I heard are onboard with him

[KingSweden]

The U.S. Attorney for Maryland to be nominated as Deputy Attorney General:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-to-nominate-rod-rosenstein-deputy-attorney-general/ar-AAmtzv2?li=AA5a8k&ocid=spartandhp

Sounds like a career DOJ guy, not a GOP hack. Hopefully a non-terrible choice

[KingSweden]

If DeVos ends up being 50-50, with Pence as the tie-breaking vote, surely Republicans know the backlash they're going to face for that...

Anyone who is going to be extremely upset over devos being confirmed as education Secretary is already a hardcore democrat, odds are we hear very little about her if she gets confirmed

Devos is just so utterly incompetent and so clearly motivated by donations. She doesn't have the credentials for the job.

Every cabinet has patronage appointments unfortunately but this is a position that has very little power in a department that is controlled mostly by mid-level bureaucrats.

Yeah, but does it have to be this obvious? Make her ambassador to some county and call it even.

In hindsight devos was ridiculously controversial for an education Secretary(she'll still likely get confirmed with pence as a tiebreaker) there are charter school advocates with much less baggage

Moskowitz and Rhee were options A and B, but both said no.

[KingSweden]

Ben Sasse, Jeff Flake etc can vote against Devos can't they? Surely someone else can vote!

Any nominee voted down in a Republican majority Senate will be a massive embarrassment for the Republican party!

Imagine the Trump tweets - He is gonna burn the GOP senators!

I think Ben Sasse burned his bridges a long time ago. What else does he have to lose?

Sasse I'm sure would line up with DeVos views though. He's no moderate

[KingSweden]

Sen. Moran of Kansas says he's undecided on Betsy DeClown

Surprised he of all people would not be an easy yes

[KingSweden]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Wonder if Puzder goes next

[KingSweden]

Trump nixes Elliott Abrams from shortlist for Dep. Secretary of State:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/10/politics/elliott-abrams-trump-state-department-tillerson/

Trump does the right thing, albeit for the wrong reasons

[KingSweden]

Jennifer Jacobs @JenniferJJacobs
SCOOP: Trump looking at 4 to replace Andy Puzder as Labor sec
1. Catherine Templeton
2. Joseph Guzman
3. Peter Kirsanow
4. Alexander Acosta

Any info on who these people are?

[KingSweden]

Turns out Spicer was lying: "Nominee for Navy Secretary withdraws"

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/nominee-for-navy-secretary-to-withdraw-235418

Maybe they'll go with the original (and superior) likely choice in Randy Forbes

[KingSweden]

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

Before anyone says anything, no, it's not that Richard Spencer.

Ha is about to post literally the same thing

Francisco and Grenell seem like pretty mainstream/solid choices, TBH. Still dunno why Forbes hasn't been tapped for SeCNav considering the depth of support he had

[KingSweden]

Jon Huntsman to be appointed Ambassador to Russia
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/jon-huntsman-ambassador-to-russia-235841

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to be appointed UN Food and Agriculture Ambassador
http://kcur.org/post/source-kansas-gov-brownback-be-named-ambassador-un-food-and-agriculture

Would Brownback have to resign to accept that position?

[KingSweden]

Appointing Huntsman to a major position was the obvious next step in Trump's plan of publicly castrating Mitt Romney.

Also I'm not entirely sure what the UN Food and Agriculture Ambassador does, but I'm sure Brownback will find a way to be terrible at it given his track record.

He might actually not be as terrible as we all would assume. If there's one thing electeds from KS get it's Ag issues

[KingSweden]

Jon Huntsman to be appointed Ambassador to Russia
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/jon-huntsman-ambassador-to-russia-235841

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to be appointed UN Food and Agriculture Ambassador
http://kcur.org/post/source-kansas-gov-brownback-be-named-ambassador-un-food-and-agriculture

Would Brownback have to resign to accept that position?

Yup, he's bailing on his mess in Kansas.

And Kansas Republicans cry out in joy

Bet Jeff Colyer does everything he can to clean it up over the next 18 months and have a big platform to run on

[KingSweden]

How in the  do we not have a DNI yet