Senate Republicans Holding Up Key Obama Nominees

Washington Post:

Miriam Sapiro was nominated to be deputy U.S. trade representative in April. The Senate Finance Committee voted -- unanimously -- to confirm her in July.

She's still not in the job -- because Sen. Jim Bunning, Republican of Kentucky, is unhappy with the Canadian Parliament...

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[rollingdivision]

Republicans use exactly the same Senate rules to stop nominees as did Democrats when they were in the minority. Democrats stopping Bush nominees good. Republicans stopping Obama nominees, bad. Hippocracy about a seven. Of course Reid can stop Republicans if Reid wants.

"No one has clean hands here. Slow-walking nominations is a bipartisan sport. Democrats also pulled this stunt -- often as a gambit to dislodge documents that they believed the Bush administration was improperly withholding. The Obama administration's quick start on making nominations has slowed to a trickle, lessening the pressure on the Senate to deal with the backlog. And, ultimately, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has the power to force a vote on a pending nomination -- if he wants to take the time to do it."

[avchavis]

I want a Halloween mask that looks like this obstructionist krreep.

[Lee Andrew]

The fact is that the GOP (Gang of Predators) are nothing more than obstructionists headed for rude awakening -- soon coming to a polling place near you 2010. Get the popcorn ready its going to be historic.

--
Warmest regards,
Cordialement,

LeeAndrew

[SharpDressedMan]

Republican Senator Jim Bunning represents Kentucky. You know what they do to census workers.

[bilmardre]

No wonder Obama is using Czars.

[SharpDressedMan]

Exactly

[KarateKid]

Jim Bunning is more than ready for the rocking chair. He is an angry old man, even as his own party.

[SharpDressedMan]

Term limits

[loki]

why is it the Republicans can do more harm whether they are the majority , or the minority. They seem to be able to control no matter what position they are in. Why cant the democrats do anything when they are the Majority? I just dont get it. Why are the democrats more a party of No Can Do, but Can Talk About it.. Where republicans are the party of Can Do, but Its Always Bad.

What a choice..

[tiredlady]

Why does every moonbat Republican obstructionist denier look like somone from the cast of the road company of "One Flew Over the Coockoo's Nest"?

[ObamAtomic]

The picture caption,I got you,bye,bye!

[KingCujo]

Please go out to pasture, Mr. Bunning, along with the other old horses in our state. They served their purpose well - you have not.

[MJinCanada]

Is anyone making Bunning masks for Hallowe'en? The expression on his face in that photo is truly scary.

[janeycat]

senator Harry Reid is the only one that can force a vote to put all of the people who have already been approved and are waiting on One or More Than One Republican to give up and stop the hold up for there appointment to the vacant jobs that are holding up our government to be able to function as a whole.

So what needs to be done is for everyone to email Harry Reid and demand that he do his job and take one day to Force A Vote to get these jobs filled.......
It's up to us guys...if we Band together as One Voice and EMail Harry Reid we can get it done....

( sorry i could not supply a link to him ... i tried several times and could not get it to work....sorry )
but i did email him myself and let him know how strongly i feel about this...we need everyone on the job as we can get...read the full story in the WaPo and you will see the ridiculous reasons these jobs are not filled....

[MAH999]

Why doesn't Reid do what needs to be done to get these nominations through? I'd truly like to understand that.

[AirForce Vet]

Where are the spineless jellyfish (Democrats)? Oh, I forgot they can’t standup, since they have no backbone. I don’t blame the Repugnicans, because they only do what comes natural. I blame the Dems for a lot of "nothing" that’s transpiring on the hill.

[jinxed]

I agree to a certain degree and I do believe Harry Reid should take one day and deal with all the nominations that are pending. However, I also believe most Democrats just don't want to get into the mud and be pulled down to the level Republicans are willing to stoop to (the end justifies the means mentality).

[Carolyn LeBeauf]

Obstruction is all the republicans have, so why be surprised. They have nothing.

[bannorhill]

The Republicans learned it from Democrats.

They held some nominations up for over 2 years.

[dnegri]

Far more Bush appointees were confirmed within 9 months in 2001 by the Democratic controlled Senate than is the case with Obama's. And likewise in 2005, Bush's second term, when the Democrats were in the minority.

Your claim does not hold up, unless you have figures to prove it.

[Welib]

That's because Republicans only put their cronies up for nominations and NONE of them had any experience.

Republicans are so corrupt, don't let them touch another thing in the country.

They support offshore tax havens and fight for them in fact.

They support KBR/Haliburton Rape and Murder of American soldiers.

They support insurance companies that are costing American lives.

They are holding up the recovery of the country and they don't give a flying rat's @$$ about a single American. Republicans are cowards, traitors and frauds! Get them the heck out of any position of power. They are finished!

[ObamAtomic]

Holding a confirmation was the right ting to do,look Alberto Gonzo,Muskasey.
Two previous AG absconding for the president.

[dnegri]

This goes right along with the use of the filibuster. More than twice as frequently when Repubs are in the minority. And each of the past two years they have broken the existing record for filibusters in a year.

[msgirlintn]

Yep! Judd Gregg made a speech on the Senate Floor when GOP was in the majority that they had the votes and shouldn't worry about the Dems, but when the shoe is on the other foot it is a completely different story. According to Gregg, Bush tax cuts through reconciliation, good idea; health reform through reconcilliation, ain't gonna happen!