Transition

Looks like folks have taken a hiatus from discussing politics. Time to start a new thread.

Here's the latest, What do folks think?

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/17/epa-administrator-michael-regan-447747

STANV said:

Looks like folks have taken a hiatus from discussing politics. Time to start a new thread.

Here's the latest, What do folks think?

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/17/epa-administrator-michael-regan-447747

The biggest question for me is, if McConnell remains majority leader, which nominees will even get a vote.

With every new nominee, I wait to hear what the Bernie Sanders fanbase comes up with as their objection.

nohero said:

With every new nominee, I wait to hear what the Bernie Sanders fanbase comes up with as their objection.

 The "progressives" appear to favor the appointment I linked above.

I think the Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland(?) is also popular

Here's a promising detail about how voting works in the Senate that I didn't realize:

When people talk about the Senate, they often imagine that McConnell, as the majority leader, is all-powerful and can prevent any bill he doesn’t like from coming up for a vote. That’s not the case. Any senator can propose that a bill receive a vote. If at least 50 other senators want it to receive one, it will.

(51 Is Greater Than 1, NYT)

PVW said:

Here's a promising detail about how voting works in the Senate that I didn't realize:

When people talk about the Senate, they often imagine that McConnell, as the majority leader, is all-powerful and can prevent any bill he doesn’t like from coming up for a vote. That’s not the case. Any senator can propose that a bill receive a vote. If at least 50 other senators want it to receive one, it will.

(51 Is Greater Than 1, NYT)

 Exactly.  McConnell is only "powerful" because the GOP Senators let him be powerful.  They're all at fault.

nohero said:

PVW said:

Here's a promising detail about how voting works in the Senate that I didn't realize:

When people talk about the Senate, they often imagine that McConnell, as the majority leader, is all-powerful and can prevent any bill he doesn’t like from coming up for a vote. That’s not the case. Any senator can propose that a bill receive a vote. If at least 50 other senators want it to receive one, it will.

(51 Is Greater Than 1, NYT)

 Exactly.  McConnell is only "powerful" because the GOP Senators let him be powerful.  They're all at fault.

 Well previously I had been under the impression that if, say every Democrat + Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski thought Biden should be allowed to actually staff his cabinet, McConnell would be able to just say no. Looks like that's not quite true.

The position of Majority Leader is not in the Constitution.

According to Robert Caro's bio of LBJ the Majority Leader position was a big nothing before LBJ

STANV said:

 The "progressives" appear to favor the appointment I linked above.

I think the Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland(?) is also popular

 I went a bit overboard about Deb Haaland on FB. I posted at least 5 articles about her. There is a poetic justice to replacing Ryan Zinke, Donny Jr's hunting buddy who had flags raised everytime he was in his office, with Congresswoman Deb Haaland of New Miexico. 

I'm excited but worried about the Dems having only a House majority of 1 when she is approved. I would suspect it will motivate the GOP to approve any nominees from the House.

House majority of 1?

Looks like 3 and will last until a Special Election to replace her.

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk01x5Ym8AnoFh3olZFBwpzwkwbqPDQ%3A1608485035375&source=hp&ei=q4jfX-zoE-Tl_Qac94yIBQ&iflsig=AINFCbYAAAAAX9-Wu_7MSamKMONibN8q2GSqifmlXXCO&q=house+of+representatives+election+results&oq=House+of+Representatives&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgDMggIABCxAxDJAzICCAAyAggAMgUIABCxAzIFCAAQsQMyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADoECCMQJzoLCC4QsQMQxwEQowI6CAgAELEDEIMBOg4ILhCxAxCDARDHARCjAjoICC4QsQMQgwE6BQguELEDOgUIABDJAzoFCAAQkgM6CwguELEDEIMBEJMCOg4ILhCxAxCDARDJAxCTAjoCCC5QkyVY74ABYLynAWgAcAB4AIABoQGIAcAPkgEEMjEuM5gBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab

PVW said:

 Well previously I had been under the impression that if, say every Democrat + Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski thought Biden should be allowed to actually staff his cabinet, McConnell would be able to just say no. Looks like that's not quite true.

 That is why I consider the "moderate" Republicans to be phonies. They talk a good game but when it comes down to the votes they follow McConnell.