Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Gass3268]

Price and Mnuchin advance 51-48

Nice, Democratic unity!

[Gass3268]

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[Gass3268]

Bold Prediction - zero Republicans cross over to vote against Puzder, Puzder makes it through 52-48.

Better question, will any Republican vote against any of the remaining nominees?

[Gass3268]

McConnell might let one or two go every confirmation just for the lolz. Credit where credit is due, the guy has a firm control of his god damn caucus.

Collins flat out said that she would have voted for DeVos if necessary.

[Gass3268]

In other news, resident socialist Elizabeth Warren has been ordered to remain silent because she read a letter from Coretta Scott King that insulted Sen. Sessions.

She's not a socialist and you've learned nothing.

I didn't watch the violation and so cannot fairly say she is innocent. And she is a socialist.

[Gass3268]

Tester also announced on Rachel Maddow last night that he will also be voting no

Manchin may be the only Democrat to vote yes.

[Gass3268]

Tester also announced on Rachel Maddow last night that he will also be voting no

Manchin may be the only Democrat to vote yes.

No chance of any defections from the R side? Not that they care about civil rights or racism or anything.

Collins is a yes because Sessions is her friend. No word from Murkowski, but I doubt it.

[Gass3268]

McCaskill was the absent Dem.

Her husband had heart surgery.

[Gass3268]

Looks like Manchin needs a primary challenger!

Lol sure, go ahead and primary Manchin. A Democrat in West Virginia. See what happens.

This. There are much bigger fish to fry than jeopardizing the balance of power in the Senate because Manchin voted for Trump's cabinet nominees. Take out Flake and Heller while protecting the vulnerable Democrats first.

You don't win if you don't try you guys. Plus he already voted for Sessions and Munuchin so he already made his bed.

If you want to primary Democrats look to Delaware. That would be the first place to start.

[Gass3268]

Manu Raju ‏@mkraju  15m
15 minutes ago
More
EXCLUSIVE: Top Senate Rs have urged the WH to withdraw Puzder nomination. There are 4 firm no votes and up to 12, source says. Next on CNN

[Gass3268]

Are we sure Walker want's the job? He seems pretty pumped to run for Governor again.

[Gass3268]

Manchin will vote for Pruitt. Watch.

I think he already said he would when Pruitt was announced.

[Gass3268]

Quick turnaround for a new person to lead the Labor Department:

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[Gass3268]

Cloture invoked on Pruitt, 54-46. Manchin, obviously. Didn't hear the other Dem yes.

Heidi Heitkamp

[Gass3268]

It's Alexander Acosta for Labor.

Bradd Jaffy ‏@BraddJaffy  5m5 minutes ago
NBC News confirms President Trump will announce Alexander Acosta as his pick for Labor Secretary


This is Trump's first Latino pick.

Much better choice than Puzder. Looking at his Wikipedia page, he made a big push of combating white collar crime during the 00's as the U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Florida. Also emphasized health-care fraud prosecutions. Finally he was the main prosecutor against Jack Abramoff.

[Gass3268]

Resident Coward Sen. John McCain will not even show up to the final vote on Pruitt tomorrow.

He's in Munich, Germany for a security conference. 

[Gass3268]

Time for Heitkamp and Manchin to start packing.

Stupid

[Gass3268]

Warren flippped her vote.

[Gass3268]

10:00 AM tomorrow:
FINAL VOTE on Carson
CLOTURE VOTE on Perry

We could see a FINAL VOTE on Perry Friday Afternoon, although that has not yet been confirmed by the floor monitor account.

How many Cabinet-level appointees are left?

After Carson and Perry are done, all that is left in the cabinet itself is Labor and Agriculture, but those haven't even had hearings yet for various reasons, so it could be a while. But of course, there are still  >100 deputies, ambassadors, and sub-agency heads to confirm, some of which Trump hasn't even decided on someone for yet.

Not just some, Trump has still yet to name over 500 Senate confirmation required positions.

[Gass3268]

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.