Confirmation Hearing for Colin Wixted

[Gabu]

I hereby open the confirmation hearing for Colin Wixted as Secretary of Defense.  To appease certain people ( ), and because I think it's a good idea, we'll have a day or so of questioning, followed by a vote.

[Gabu]

Well, as there appear to be no more questions, I'll open voting now.

All senators in favor of Colin Wixted for the position of Secretary of Defense, vote "yea"; all opposed, vote "nay".

[Gabu]

Yea.

[Gabu]

Abstain.
Nothing personal Colin, I think you'll do a terrific job, but I have developed a policy of abstaining on cabinet assignments when they are having a secured appointment, because that'll give me the political freedom to criticize them.

Er, why can you not criticize someone if you voted to confirm them?  Those voting to confirm Colin don't expect absolute perfection; we simply expect that he'll do at least a fairly good job.  Is an employer unable to criticize an employee due to the employer's decision to hire the employee?

[Gabu]

With six votes in favor to none against, and with one abstention, I hereby declare Colin Wixted to be confirmed as Secretary of Defense.

That's actually not a bad idea.

Or another idea would be to give Gabu (or whoever's PPT at the time) the chance to sticky bills and confirmations which are presently up for vote along with Harry's summary of things.

I send senators a reminder to vote when voting is taking way too long; I was actually about to do that for this one.