Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/317629-trump-taps-first-woman-to-cia-second-in-command

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Not a good nominee but not the end of the world.  We'll survive and so will the kids

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

You Manchin haters do realize that he's voting exactly the way that appeases the  majority of his constituents, right?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

You Manchin haters do realize that he's voting exactly the way that appeases the  majority of his constituents, right?

How does voting for a former Goldman Sachs executive accomplish this?

Dude I don't know, but do you really think he wants to commit political suicide by voting for cabinet picks his voters all hate?  Sure he may make a principled stand and vote his own way once or twice but not on all the picks.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

And no, I'm not suggesting he should vote down everyone or even a majority, but at a certain point you have to do wonder how much this vote really matters.

I hear ya.  Some of his votes are puzzling.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I have to say, I am pretty ecstatic to learn that the US Labor Department will no longer be brought to you by Carl's Jr ^©

Agreed.  He can now focus on clogging the arteries of hard working Muricans.  

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

McCain to vote NO on Mulvaney

RINO

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

McCain to vote NO on Mulvaney

RINO

Hopefully this isn't serious

I read where McCain is voting no as well........

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Manchin: No

Tied at 40 currently

But but but but he needs PRIMARIED!

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Mulvaney confirmed 51-49

Just that jackass traitor McCain voted no, eh?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

McCain is senile

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

McCain is senile

Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle.

Piss off, punk. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

That RINO senile old prick McCain skipped the vote or it would have been 52-47

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

That RINO senile old prick McCain skipped the vote or it would have been 52-47

Why do you think that McCain would've been opposed to Pruitt?

I'm just in a bad mood regarding McCain right now.  

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Perry has been confirmed as Energy Secretary.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Duke confirmed 85-14:

NAYs ---14
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Duckworth (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harris (D-CA)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Markey (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Sanders (I-VT)
Udall (D-NM)
Warren (D-MA)

Not Voting - 1
Isakson (R-GA)

Schumer voted yes?  And lol@thatidiotGillibrand.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Scott Brown nominated to be Ambassador to New Zealand.

Milk toast job.  He must have been a good boy for this.

[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.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Harris is on the "no" train as well. 

[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?

[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?

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!")

We appreciate your hard work in this thread, friend.  Always up to date news.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Rapuano confirmed 95-1:

NAYs ---1
Sanders (I-VT)

Not Voting - 4
Burr (R-NC)
Perdue (R-GA)
Risch (R-ID)
Stabenow (D-MI)

And yes, in a shock decision, Gillibrand voted for this nominee.

Bernie tows the line but Warren again a yes?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I doubt Booker, Gillibrand or Warren would vote yes if Trump nominated a fellow Democrat.  But they're #winning.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Christopher Wray looks like he's headed towards a very easy confirmation for FBI Director, with some Democrats already coming out in support. Will it be unanimous? No idea. Yes it does feel kind of wrong for there to be such little hassle over replacing Comey giving the circumstances of his firing, but I'll admit that Wray is hardly the worst choice. I went in apprehensive, but from what I've heard I more or less believe he can be trusted to be independent and not interfere in Mueller's investigation.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/13/democrats-support-quick-wray-vote-240533

I think he'll get in excess of 75 votes for confirmation.  And I"m sure the vote will be fast-tracked since there is no full time Director right now.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

White House just officially announced that Trump intends to nominate Jon Huntsman as ambassador to Russia.

I'm a little surprised Huntsman would willingly tie himself to this dumpster fire of an administration.

Huntsman has always been more service before self oriented but it helps him in a future potus run. Also good for triangulation between US-Russia-China. He was the former ambassador to China.

Yeah he's a good choice, really.