Senate Confirms Six Obama Cabinet Picks

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: White House

(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

The Senate has confirmed six of President Barack Obama's cabinet picks by unanimous consent, though Hillary Clinton is not among them.

The six, per CBS News Capitol Hill reporter John Nolen, are Energy Secretaru Steven Chu; Education Secretary Arne Duncan; Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano; Secretary Of The Interior Ken Salazar, Veterans Affairs Dierector Gen. Eric Shinseki; and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. (Check out the CBS News Cabinet page here.)

A floor vote on Clinton, as we reported earlier, was blocked by Republican John Cornyn of Texas. Her nomination will be on the Senate Floor tomorrow, and three hours of debate are scheduled.

The former first lady is expected to be confirmed easily.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by armydog2 January 21, 2009 11:54 AM EST: Hillary Clinton will be confirmed.She is a good choice for sec of state.; Reply to this comment


by tiredofthebs January 21, 2009 3:02 AM EST: President Obama will be one of the greats. As for Hillary .... I would think her pathological lying problem would preclude her from holding any high office in any administration.

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Posted by thisandthat1 at 11:47 PM : Jan 20, 2009

See what happens when liberals think? The CLINTONS are firmly rooted in our party, and not even President Obama was able to change that. Congeniality be damned! The CLINTONS are skilled politicians.; Reply to this comment


by tiredofthebs January 21, 2009 3:00 AM EST: I am a moderate Republican who decided to make the right choice; a choice for change, to support and vote for Barack Obama. I am glad that I did.

However, I continue to have big embarrassment over the behavior of other Republicans.

They, the conservative, right wing Republicans, need to realize they must change their way of thinking, and how they do business. Doing things the way they have in the past is no longer acceptable.

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Posted by dakotaclark at 06:19 PM : Jan 20, 2009

I am a MODERATE DEMOCRAT who DID NOT vote for Obama (wrote in CLINTON). Though I agree that there are some CONSERVATIVE idealogies that must be revisited, there are some that are still as timely as the day of their inception. I feel that if America is to change, AMERICANS must take a more responsible approach to decision making.; Reply to this comment


by thisandthat1 January 21, 2009 2:47 AM EST: President Obama will be one of the greats. As for Hillary .... I would think her pathological lying problem would preclude her from holding any high office in any administration.; Reply to this comment


by flsunjnky January 20, 2009 11:52 PM EST: It seems that Texas has once again struck a note of partisan politics when Senator Cornyn blocked the confirmation of Clinton for Secretary of State. That vote will, of course, be of no significant consequence when she will be confirmed tomorrow at role call.

What a pitiful move that that Senator has made. He clearly has absolutely no understanding of just how far outside the forward thinking of mainstream America that his party really is. Maybe the people of Texas should be looking at that, very closely.; Reply to this comment


by McHineguy January 20, 2009 9:20 PM EST: "A floor vote on Clinton, as we reported earlier, was blocked by Republican John Cornyn of Texas"

Here''''s an example that there are still plenty of dinosaur Neocon scum still lurking.

What do you expect from Texass?

But the message is clear--from Reagan to Bushit--your Gods have failed, time for a change.

It''''s for a better America. Repugs have stood in the schoolhouse door once too often.

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Posted by jbrown88881 at 05:30 PM : Jan 20, 2009
You are being ridiculous. He voted against Clinton so she could have a complete hearing, not just be "one of seven" passed today. He sees her and the position as deserving more attention from them all. You do notice that most people, even Republicans, think she will be affirmed? Have you also noticed the general attitude of Republicans that they like MOST of Obmas choices for cabinet, including this one?; Reply to this comment


by dakotaclark January 20, 2009 9:19 PM EST: Hmmm...

I am a moderate Republican who decided to make the right choice; a choice for change, to support and vote for Barack Obama. I am glad that I did.

However, I continue to have big embarrassment over the behavior of other Republicans.

They, the conservative, right wing Republicans, need to realize they must change their way of thinking, and how they do business. Doing things the way they have in the past is no longer acceptable.; Reply to this comment


by McHineguy January 20, 2009 8:11 PM EST: She will be I don''''t think the idiot Republicans would stop it or for certain they will never see a Hillary vote again.

It is funny but the GOP have put themselves in a no win sititution.

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Posted by antoniof123 at 04:47 PM : Jan 20, 2009

I suspect the Repubs would aprove her anyway. They usually do support good ideas. Unlike Dems who prefer to do nothing if action requires agreement with Republicans. Republicans cooperate, Dems denigrate. Its in their ideology.; Reply to this comment


by antoniof123 January 20, 2009 7:47 PM EST: She will be I don''t think the idiot Republicans would stop it or for certain they will never see a Hillary vote again.

It is funny but the GOP have put themselves in a no win sititution.; Reply to this comment