The US Senate is done for the year, but before they went home they confirmed a bunch of Barack Obama’s appointments. That’s the last thing Republicans wanted, but Democrats got the extra floor time, Because Ted “The Immigrant” Cruz made a fool of himself. That’s an easy undertaking for him.
The Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed the last batch of President Obama’s judicial appointees and sent the White House legislation extending tax breaks for working-class millions and special interests alike late Tuesday as Congress ended a tumultuous two-year run.
The Senate adjourned at 11:24 p.m., officially ending the 113th Congress.
An 11th-hour attempt to renew a program obliging the government to cover part of the cost of terrorism-caused losses was sidetracked by retiring Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who said it was a giveaway to private industry.
But dozens of Mr. Obama’s nominees to agency positions won approval on the final night of the Congress. Among them were Sarah Saldana to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Nicholas Rasmussen as director of the National Counterterrorism Center at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Rasmussen is currently the deputy director, a post he has held since 2012. He served on the National Security Council from 2007 to 2012, where he was a special assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism.
In addition, the Senate voted 55-38 to approve the president’s nominee to be Deputy Secretary of State, despite criticism from Sen. John McCain and other Republicans. Tony Blinken, who is replacing the retiring William Burns, joined the White House in 2009 as a top aide to Vice President Joe Biden. He later became Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser and a key player on foreign policy issues, including the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria…
Inserted from <CBS>
This could never have happened had not Democrats changed Senate rules to eliminate filibusters on nominees.
Lawrence O’Donnell discussed the rule change and it’s effects with Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Unfortunately, I can only bring you MSNBC clips, if I can find them on YouTube.
No I imagine you think that I’m pro-filibuster, now that Republicans control the Senate. That is not so. I think the only kind if filibuster that should be allowed is a talking filibuster by one Senator taking no breaks. We might get some Republican votes of we give David Vitter (R-LA) the diaper concession. The party in charge must be allowed to govern. Had we gone to a talking filibuster only in 2009, we would not have a Republican Congress now.
17 Responses to “Senate Adjourns after Confirmation Spree”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Thanks, Teddy Cruz, for enabling Dems to get all those great liberal judges confirmed.
(You're a grandstanding fricking idiot – and I do thank you for your out-sized ego … this time!)
Nameless, you're just too funny!
"The bigger a man's head, the easier it is to fill his shoes." Words for Cruz who by accident managed to let this Congress FINALLY accomplish something valid.
Love the quote of Major Henry Alexius Courtney, Jr., USMC, KIA during WWII. So appropriate for Cruz!
It’s Official: the 113th Congress is Officially the WORST Congress Ever in the History of the United States of America!
http://bluenationreview.com/loungin-113th-congress-making-nothing-80th-congress-look-active/
And the 114th Congress will be better?¿
Bated breath, anyone… lol…
With Republicans in charge, make that masterbated breath. 🙁
Love the infographic, especially the last item . . . 27 months that a team of researchers spent developing a driverless vehicle that a member of Congress "broke" on a test drive . . . that Congress critter must have been a Republicanus/Teabagger wanting to cut down on employment expenses. No driver, no expense,
And that report was done at the beginning of the summer recess, they had several more months to prove they were the very worst Congress ever.
How glorious that Congress accidentally got something worthwhile done! Thanks TC – so sorry that the C2 computer is being a P I T A!
Well, I imagine that stack of thank-you notes that Democrats are sending him, on paper and electronically, from all over the country, will cause him some embarrassment at some point, even if it is not quite mile-high yet.
I love that Joanne! That description made such a lovely cartoon in my head – thank you!
Maybe in the 114th there will be more bills passed, but will they be bills aimed at helping the working and middle classes? Or will they be more corporatism? Obama better have his veto pen ready and filled with ink!
Here, with a majority Conservative Commons, and a majority Conservative Senate (55 with 2 retiring before the next election who undoubtedly will be replaced with Conservatives; 5 independents of which 3 were Conservative and are embroiled in the Senate expense scandal which is under criminal investigation by the RCMP; 29 Liberals), bills are more likely to go straight through. The Governor General at one point could withhold royal assent, but no longer. In Canada, if the governor general is unable to give assent, it can be done by either the Deputy of the Governor General of Canada—the Chief Justice of Canada—or another justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Wouldn't that put sand in Harper's shorts if he had to take a bill to the Chief Justice since he had an open fight with her a short time ago. At least in the US you still have Presidential veto available.
TC, I thought you might be interested in this paper which looks at the Canadian systems to see which is "better" . . . www.academia.edu/2763342/Canadas_Parliamentary_System_vs._U.S.s_Presidential_system .
I don't have to look. Your's is better.
Who would have ever thought we would be thanking Ted Cruz for anything? Love that he aided and abetted the Democrats to get some nominations confirmed. As we say in the south, "bless his heart". For those of you not familiar with this saying, it can mean, he is an idiot, he is in big trouble, or I feel sorry for him. I refer to the first definition.
I hope the change is made that they can only filibuster by one person speaking, the way it used to be.
Glad the glitch monster finally posted these on care 2.
Thanks all. Running way late.