In the midst of what’s been an absolutely disastrous nomination period for the incoming Trump administration – consider how easily it could have gone had they simply named true loyalists that were arguably also qualified – the transition team still believes that it should be allowed to use private background checks for nominees rather than the FBI investigations that have heretofore been the standard. The entire nomination process, including those background checks, will be reviewed by a GOP-controlled Senate that presumably could bring it all to a halt. Joe Scarborough believes he knows exactly who can and might stand up. I tend to agree with him – at least with those he named, and could add a few more. If they want to do anything at all.
To put this in perspective, President-elect Donald Trump already nominated Matt Gaetz (Since withdrawn) even knowing that not only would Gaetz never pass a background check, he also had absolutely no goodwill in the first place. Now consider how seriously the incoming team would look at private background checks and think about whether those checks would be used to expose problems or bury them. As I have written many times, it should take a special person to get special access. Instead, this transition team is treating the entire process with contempt.
Enter the GOP Senate who, if they want to remain relevant with respect to anything, now has the duty to both enforce the traditional background checks and then really review who they believe should actually be put in the position. Like many things concerning either branch of Congress, it usually only takes just “enough votes” from either side to stand up for what they all know to be right in order to open the floodgates, allowing the rest to safely follow. Given the reality, Scarborough believes he knows the four that will free up Republicans to halt everything.
“You named two people right there, Bill Cassidy and Todd Young, both serious legislators. Both of them care very deeply, Todd Young cares very deeply, Sen. Young from Indiana cares very deeply about America’s national security, it’s sort of his obsession. There’s another guy I didn’t even put on that list with [Lisa] Murkowski and [Susan] Collins and Mitch McConnell right there. I don’t think he can get from where he is to a yes vote on a guy that can’t pass an FBI background check and is not prepared for that position.”
To that list I would add John Kennedy, also of Louisiana, who loves to play the “aw shucks” sort of dopey guy but is way way way too damned smart to take lightly and can occasionally grow an enjoyable spine – not often, but very occasionally. One can probably throw in John Cornyn or even Lindsey Graham, another one who takes national security very seriously and has already been burned on having to sort of stick up for Gaetz.
Regardless, the point is finding “four” to set the others loose. The test case and the door slammer should be Peter Hegseth who, as I wrote yesterday, even if he had the perfect background experience is utterly unacceptable based on the rape allegation pay off alone. The Republicans have a say in who will lead our military in a scary and dangerous time and this is the nomination on which to first put their foot down. Mitch McConnell had better be the leader in that fight.
No, there is no love lost on McConnell nor should there ever ever be after the moves he’s pulled that put our democracy at risk in the first place. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want him useful to that democracy – to the extent possible – going forward. He has absolutely nothing to lose, nothing. He won’t be running again. He is rich even without counting his wife’s vast fortune. He is an institutionalist who would almost surely rather save the Senate’s very identity over saving any one administration, never mind one that he’s famously uncomfortable with. And he knows the technical Senate rules that would allow him to get it done. In short, he has no excuse. It is on him to at least organize the other three to four needed and thus the rest.
All of it matters. I am of the firm belief that as bad as things are, they can get even worse and one fights for every inch. It starts with the only real fight to be had right now. The nominations are the incoming administration’s first acts and, well – wow, has it ever hit a snag, to put it with extreme understatement. The GOP did all they could to ensure a majority in the Senate. If they want it to be of any use they will have to act now to give themselves some kind of role. To the extent that they won’t require FBI checks and take the consent seriously, what role can they assert in the future? Nothing.
But if they do stand strong and do turn away some of the most problematic picks, it will set a tone going forward that there actually will be checks and balances going forward. I have already written about the House dynamic, one that won’t allow even two to three GOP defections. If the GOP Senate asserts itself it can ensure that nearly everything the administration wants to do is checked by Capital Hill. To the extent that it matters, well – it matters.
We will see. Of that, we can be sure. There is every reason to be skeptical. But there is also every reason to press for every inch that is actually “doable.” Watch the Hegseth nomination. And watch the handful above. It will be a huge tell.
God Bless:Â I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak, and now on Blue Sky, a better platform.Â
The tyrant has sworn to primary anyone who doesn’t go along with whatever he demands. Muskrat has stated that he will fund it with as much money as is required. There are NO elected officials in DC who will not roll over for the tyrant and let him destroy our democracy. We’ve seen too much evidence of this over the century (so it seems) that that man has been on the political scene. And that goes for state politicians as well.
A hoped for ‘plan’ that relies on Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins amongst others to do the right thing?
I won’t hold my breath.
Unfortunately, I think Repiblicans are either too scared of Trump or agree with him to.make waves. I don’t know which is worse cowardice and lust for power or buying into Trump,’s racism,,sexism and desire to.destroy democracy.
When you boil it down, Trump is deploying the principal weapon of a mob boss, whether you call it extortion or a shakedown. Those who have the integrity and character to withstand it can hold their heads up. Those who are willing victims of it, can walk in shame.