Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

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

Hargan passes CLOTURE 57-38:

NAYs ---38
Baldwin (D-WI)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
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)
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
Cochran (R-MS)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Heller (R-NV)
McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ)

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I'm still chuckling at the concept of Callista Gingrich as Ambassador to the Vatican. Can they reject the nominee?

If Senate Republicans could feel any shame, they would reject her, but that's not really how things have been going for some time now. They are mostly acting as a rubber-stamp for anyone he wants.

I was referring to the Vatican, not the Senate.

Yes, but they wouldn't.

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

Hargan confirmed 57-38. There were no changes from the CLOTURE vote.

Quarles passes CLOTURE 62-33:

NAYs ---33
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
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)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Cochran (R-MS)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Heller (R-NV)
McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ)

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

Quarles confirmed 65-32:

NAYs ---32
Baldwin (D-WI)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Casey (D-PA)
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)
Kaine (D-VA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3
Cochran (R-MS)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Heller (R-NV)

Cissna passes CLOTURE 54-43:

NAYs ---43
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)
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)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
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)
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 - 3
Cochran (R-MS)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Heller (R-NV)

Cissna confirmed 54-43, with no changes from the CLOTURE vote.

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

Gingrich passes CLOTURE 75-20:

NAYs ---20
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Hirono (D-HI)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Peters (D-MI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 5
Cochran (R-MS)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Heller (R-NV)
McCain (R-AZ)
Nelson (D-FL)

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Gingrich passes CLOTURE 75-20:

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

[Santander]

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.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

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?

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

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.

[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.

[Santander]

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.

That never stopped Newt before.

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

You must be logged in to read this quote.

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

The senate now stands in recess until October 16th.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

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.

[NewYorkExpress]

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.

[Santander]

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.

[TheSaint250]

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.

Trump does so little these days except complain on TV and Twitter.

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

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.

[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.

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

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.

Schumer has clearly taken an "I could care less" attitude on a bunch of cabinet votes (he usually votes no, but doesn't appear to be whipping too hard), and I don't see an obvious reason why Giluani would inspire the opposition we saw to the likes of Price and Pruitt. Examples of Dems voting for Cabinet nominees in significant numbers:

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00075

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00073

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00079

Heck, even Tillerson got support from
4 Dems, with a 5th Dem abstaining. I'm not saying Giluani gets 70 votes to confirm, but I see no reason why democratic opposition would be unanimous.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

She's a General Kelly loyalist and competent.  She'll be confirmed easily. 

[Santander]

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.

Don't be thick. In the context of Homeland Security, Giuliani is not a "moderate" nominee. Plus, most of the nominees you are referring to are better described as "sane" or "competent" than "moderate".

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

Gingrich confirmed 70-23:

NAYs ---23
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Brown (D-OH)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Durbin (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Hassan (D-NH)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Leahy (D-VT)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Nelson (D-FL)
Peters (D-MI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-NM)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 7
Cochran (R-MS)
Graham (R-SC)
Isakson (R-GA)
McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Moran (R-KS)
Portman (R-OH)

----

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I'm stunned she got that many Dem votes.

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

I'm stunned she got that many Dem votes.

She said that climate change is partially caused by humans in her confirmation hearing. Also she's a devout member of the proper religion for this job (Catholicism).