Biden Cabinet Confirmation Live Thread ***hearings, votes, etc.***

[President Johnson]

Anthony Blinken does well at his hearing so far. He's an excellent choice.

[President Johnson]

Yeah I agree. Was a bit worried about him given the largely partisan vote in 2013 for him but this seems to be smoother.

Also lol at Romney asking about Iran

A little off topic about Romney: Is it just me who realizes this, but is he stuttering much more as usual? I hope he's alright.

[President Johnson]

Lmao, Lindsey Graham says he intends to vote for Blinken, calls him an excellent choice.

[President Johnson]

10 AM Today: Buttigieg Hearing

On the House side, anticipated members of the House Armed Services Committee (most committee members have not been ratified by the House yet) will hold a closed-door briefing with Austin. In the afternoon, the House is expected to vote on and pass H.R. 335, Authorizing the Waiver for Austin. It will then proceed to the Senate, where it must pass before the vote on the nomination itself can take place.

--

10 AM Friday: Finance Committee Vote on the Yellen Nomination

I'm watching Mayor Pete. He's doing quite well. For anyone who's interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp0Z56IVTeQ&ab_channel=NowThisNews

[President Johnson]

From what I've seen in senate hearings, the tone is actually quite civil, what surprises me. Even most Republican senators are calm and respectful. Hopefully it stays that way.

[President Johnson]

Lloyd Austin has been confirmed as the Defense Secretary by the Senate. Vote was 93-2.

The 2 no votes were from Mike Lee and Josh Hawley. 5 senators did not vote.

Wow, didn't expect him to get that many votes. Uncle Joe was really made great picks.

And the most beautiful thing about this swearing-in picture is Kamala in the vice president's office where she belongs.

[President Johnson]

Lloyd Austin has been confirmed as the Defense Secretary by the Senate. Vote was 93-2.

The 2 no votes were from Mike Lee and Josh Hawley. 5 senators did not vote.

Wow, didn't expect him to get that many votes. Uncle Joe was really made great picks.

And the most beautiful thing about this swearing-in picture is Kamala in the vice president's office where she belongs.

Just wait 'til she's in the Oval.

January 20, 2029

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/greenhousenyt/status/1353728914967953409

Trump used the term "highly respected" all time, and usually the opposite was true.

In all seriousness, seems like a solid choice. California is pretty well represented in this administration: Kamala Harris, Xavier Becerra, Aljeandro Mayorkas and Isabel Guzman are all of cabinet rank.

[President Johnson]

Austin now sworn in by Kamala:

https://twitter.com/VP/status/1353784403026128897

[President Johnson]

Great to see Blinken confirmed. He's one of the best nominees Biden put forward and I'm sure he'll do an excellent job to represent the United States and work closely with allies to tackle urgent and global problems that can't be addressed with an America alone attitude.

I wonder whether Hawley is going to vote for any Biden nominee. He's definitely competing with Cruz and Blackburn for title of worst senator in the 117th congress.

[President Johnson]

It's laughable Garland is still confirmed or close to. He's one of the most important cabinet members, so they need to speed up now.

[President Johnson]

Is this fu**ing confirmation process finally going to be jumpstarted this week ?

How slow are they please ?

I demand at least 5 confirmations this week.

Yeah, this is beyond ridiculous at this point. Especially the fact that the Justice Department is still without a leader at its helm. Garland needs to be approved quickly. He's needed there.

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1363939390481985539

[President Johnson]

Well we see now why Mitch didn't let Garland have a hearing. He would have been confirmed easily.

Yeah, it's too bad that the President of the Senate doesn't have any real power...it would have been nice to have Biden stroll into the Senate and force a vote. Ha!

The president of the senate is Queen Kamala, not Joe Biden.

[President Johnson]

Is Hawley now the only one who opposed all Biden nominees? Even Cruz voted for Austin.

[President Johnson]

Is Hawley now the only one who opposed all Biden nominees? Even Cruz voted for Austin.

Hawley is the only Republican senator to oppose every Biden nominee so far.

He's one of the worst.

[President Johnson]

Granholm was confirmed 64-35 and voting on the cloture motion for Cardona is going on now.

The GOP AYES for Granholm were:
Burr (R-NC)
Collins (R-ME)
Cramer (R-ND)
Crapo (R-ID)
Daines (R-MT)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Johnson (R-WI)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Romney (R-UT)
Rounds (R-SD)
Young (R-IN)

The NAYS for Granholm were:
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blackburn (R-TN)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Braun (R-IN)
Capito (R-WV)
Cassidy (R-LA)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Cotton (R-AR)
Cruz (R-TX)
Ernst (R-IA)
Fischer (R-NE)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hagerty (R-TN)
Hawley (R-MO)
Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kennedy (R-LA)
Lankford (R-OK)
Lee (R-UT)
Lummis (R-WY)
Marshall (R-KS)
Moran (R-KS)
Paul (R-KY)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sasse (R-NE)
Scott (R-FL)
Scott (R-SC)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Tillis (R-NC)
Toomey (R-PA)
Tuberville (R-AL)
Wicker (R-MS)

Not Voting:
Sullivan (R-AK)

What about Mitch?

Surprised Johnson voted aye, lmao.

[President Johnson]

The Senate Judiciary Committee votes 15-7 to send the nomination of Merrick Garland to be the next attorney general to the full Senate. Republican Senators Cotton, Kennedy, Lee, Blackburn, Hawley, Sasse and Cruz voted “No.”

About damn time. And of course the worst members of the Republican conference vote No on a highly qualified nominee whose integrity is out of question.

[President Johnson]

Cardona has been confirmed 64-33. All Democrats voted yea with 14 Republicans, 3 did not vote. The vote to invoke cloture on Raimondo is next.

Republican Yeas (14):
Murkowski (AK)
Rubio (FL)
Grassley (IA)
McConnell (KY)
Cassidy (LA)
Collins (ME)
Fischer (NE)
Burr (NC)
Tillis (NC)
Portman (OH)
Cornyn (TX)
Romney (UT)
Capito (WV)
Johnson (WI)

Democratic Nays (0):
None

Not Voting (3):
Moran (KS)
Blunt (MO)
Blackburn (TN)

I'm really surprised Mitch has voted for most (or all?) Biden nominees so far, even if a majority of his caucus opposed the candidate. He also indicated to vote for Garland.

[President Johnson]

Merrick Garland was just confirmed as Justice Minister.

It's called Attorney General.

Anyway, LONG overdue.

[President Johnson]

Mitch is pretty much a yes on every Biden nominee, even when the majority of his caucus is against. That's really something.

[President Johnson]

Merrick Garland was just confirmed as Justice Minister.

It's called Attorney General.

I know.

But I call the office Justice Minister.

Ah, so you're just being wrong on-purpose. Thank you for so readily conceding that.

No.

I like to call the office like it is called in most countries: Minister for Justice.

Then it's also Prime Minister Merkel and Prime Minister Kurz. Chancellor only exists in Switzerland as a different role and on universities. That's a ridiculous argument.

[President Johnson]

Pretty interesting development here:

https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1374437476845060104?s=20

Hijacking confirmation votes for causes such as this - even though legitimate - is not a proper way to go. Nominees the president puts forwards deserve a fair consideration and vote and not a No vote based on demands you have upon the president. Disappointing move by Duckworth here.

[President Johnson]

Gensler confirmed 54-45-1. Scott (R-SC) showed up this time.

Monaco confirmed 98-2:

NAYs ---2
Cruz (R-TX)
Paul (R-KY)

Wait, Josh Hawley voted for a Biden nominee?

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics/status/1397255658643263491