Senate “Holds”

One method of getting our way is the classic, “I will hold my breath until I turn blue if you don’t let me stay up and watch videos.” Of course, most of us outgrow that by age 5.

US Senate Republicans are mostly past Kindergarten age though their behavior would indicate otherwise. Ted Cruz placed “holds” on Biden nominees for the State and Treasury Departments until sanctions were placed on the Russia to Germany natural gas pipeline. Only 40% of positions requiring Senate confirmation in those departments have been filled since Biden took office ten months ago. That’s a long time for Ted to hold his breath, but it will certainly pay off for his Big Oil pals back in Texas if the Germans power up with American gas rather than Russian stuff.

Before Obama, Senate confirmation was by “voice vote” and took about 15 minutes. 90% of nominees were confirmed. The Master of Senate Rules, Mitch McConnell, put an end to that. Any Senator could place a “hold” on a nominee. A series of in-person, recorded votes were now required and the process could take months. “Senator, how could you have voted to confirm Count Dracula to head the Blood Bank Administration?”

“Wasn’t that a voice vote? I remained silent. It was the Dems who shouted the Count in.”

“No. There were three votes recorded in the Congressional Register and you voted “yea” each time.”

Besides satisfying “campaign contributors”, GOP Senators used the “hold” to appease their home state Trumpies. Rick Scott “held” all nominees for Homeland Security until Kamala Harris visited the US — Mexico border. Rick’s next campaign brochures can state, “Senator Scott stood up to Biden / Harris and stanched the flow of COVID-ridden, drug-bearing illegals at our border.”

Josh Hawley took it a step further. He continues to “hold” all nominees for the Defense and State Departments until Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken resign because of “the botched Afghanistan withdrawal.” “Someone has to be accountable”, says Josh. Guess whose administration cut a withdrawal deal with the Taliban and wanted to depart in June, 2021, Josh? “Here’s a steaming pile of crap, Secretaries Austin and Blinken. You had nothing to do with it, but deal with it or resign.”

The Constitution requires that US Senators be at least 30 years of age. Sadly, it does not require that they act like 30 year olds instead of 5 year olds