Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Kamala]

Kay Bailey Hutchinson is a good choice. She comes from the Competent Center of the Republican Party, but is a little bit more bipartisan than the average member.

[Kamala]

Gingrich passes CLOTURE 75-20:

That's far more bipartisan than I could have imagined.

They're probably looking forward to getting Newt out of the country.

He's going too?

Yep. Ambassador's spouses move with the ambassador. Of course, if he divorces her, he'd have to come back to the US.

Not sure how well that'll sit with the Vatican.

[Kamala]

Trump expected to tap Kirstjen Nielsen to lead Department of Homeland Security

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-expected-to-tap-kirstjen-nielsen-to-lead-department-of-homeland-security/2017/10/11/21770f8e-aeaf-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html

Looks like a solid pick... which makes me question that Trump had much to do with it.

Odd... I was expecting Giuliani or Ray Kelly.

Trump does not have even close to the level of political capital needed to get Giuliani confirmed.

Some Dems have been willing to vote for Trump's more moderate cabinet nominees. The 8 or so republicans who would vote against Giuliani would be offset by roughly the same amount of Dems voting for Giuliani.

Schumer's been running a pretty tight ship. I doubt any Democrats vote if Giuliani if 8 (!!!) Republicans end up voting against him.

[Kamala]

Nielsen isn't any worse than most of Trump's nominees, I guess. Not that that's saying much.