Senator's Projects Stall Obama Appointees

(CBS)  It is business as it's done only in Washington. In this case, Senate Democrats try to approve President Obama's appointees.

"These people are dealing with the safety and security of our country," said Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid.

But a single Republican senator stops the whole works. The objection is from Sen. Richard Shelby, who wasn't even there, but is using a Senate tactic to stall confirmation of scores of Obama appointees. It's all to try to get his way on major spending issues in his home state.

This tactic is called a "hold," reports CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. It means that instead of the usual 51 votes to be confirmed, nominees have to get 60 votes. Getting to 60 isn't always easy with Democrats in control of just 57 seats. There are 41 Republicans and two Independents.

Holds aren't unusual. But Shelby has flexed his Senatorial muscle to issue a rarer "blanket hold" of all nominees on the calendar. That's more than 80, including high ranking military, intelligence and national security officials, like Clifford Stanley to oversee Defense Personnel and Readiness.

"This man would be the third-highest ranking person at the Pentagon," Reid said.

Sen. Shelby wouldn't agree to an interview but his office says the holds are "due to unaddressed national security concerns."

Shelby Holds up Senate for Home State Pork

Specifically, he wants changes in the process to contract for Air Force re-fuelers - the contract is worth up to $40 billion.

What he really wants is to get that contract to Northrup Grumman, which would build the re-fuelers in Shelby's home state of Alabama. Northrup has contributed more than $100,000 to Shelby over the years.

Shelby also wants the administration to release $45 million from an earmark he got in 2008 for a "Terrorist Explosives Devices Analytical Center" at an Army base in - you guessed it - Shelby's home state.

Friday, the White House went after Shelby directly.

"This represents the silliest of the silly season in Washington," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "That somebody would stand in the way of 89 nominees on behalf of two earmarks for their home state."

If Shelby gets what he wants or changes his mind, the Senate can go back to the normal confirmation process. That is, until another Senator finds reason to grind things to a halt.

[velma179]

I think one of the most telling aspects of this story is:

I went to FoxNews.com and searched using many angles and word pairings to find an article about this. Nothing.

I would assume a fair and balanced news organization would report when Republicans use unprecedented tactics to gain money from OUR TAXES for their specific constituency.

The Democrats, for their reasons -- and every news organization FNC has skewered with claims of "bias" for theirs, must take this story to the rooftops and yell it.

No Republican Senators condemning THIS kind of take hostage and spend-for-me game? FNC not even reporting the matter?

That stinks.

It is about time those that have been calling out their rivals on every real and perceived issue of bad governance without taking a breath to think about the country first, got their hypocritical heads handed to them on a big platter complete with an American flag drape!

So be it.

[msimamaji]

Extortion. That best describes Senator Richard Shelby's latest tactic. And where is John McCain when you need him? He was supposed to be the crusader against earmarks. And where is he now? Shelby is a good reason we need to eliminate all the procedural rules in the Senate that prevent us from governing effectively. The GOP as a whole is funded by corporations and Wall Street, including John McCain. and bear in mind that Scoot Brown was also heavily funded by Wall Street. If we want to clean house, get rid of the GOP. They are just a bunch of the Greedy Old Prostitutes.

[HGOODGUY]

Maybe some of you grossly misinformed people should stop listening to the echo of cable chatter and pick up a newspaper (while they are still around), take your time getting the facts and stop shooting from the hip every time you hear something you don't like!!

You are cluttering up all the space with crap!!!

[Imadinnerjacket]

By Stephen Dinan and Kara Rowland THE WASHINGTON TIMES

President Obama on Wednesday blasted Senate Republicans for using "holds," a tactic that delays considering nominees -- even though as a senator he used the technique to block several of President George W. Bush's appointments.

[starving1968-3]

by Mortar_29 February 6, 2010 1:33 PM EST
Good points. But let me try it a little differently...

Please live up to your oathes. You arent here to bring home the bacon to your district, or to do what your constituents want. Your first and primary job is to protect and defend the Constitution. If that means telling your constituents "no", then that is your job. If it means much of what is the current Federal government is shut down because you dont have the power to do it...then that is your job.

Do your job. Obey your oath. Or get out.






Just 3 weeks ago you were defending the Supreme Corp's decision to turn all of Washington over to the corporations, celebrating their ruling against the US constitution, and now you're sitting here proclaiming that the politicians have an obligation to the constitution first?

Conflicted much?

[watkinsjr2000]

I have a three word solution for problems like this: LINE ITEM VETO !!

[myopinionpal]

Correction >>>>>>>>>>>> Everyone that has been a Senator for more than 2 terms vote them out. The same old senator's keep getting re-elected to continue doing the samething which is nothing.

[votetocracy]

Yes it somewhat truobling that Senators can remain in office for so long. We are trying to develop ways to display public opinion vs that of their Senators.

Check out www.votetocracy.com

While the site won't help to keep terms shorter it may give citizens more power when election time comes if enough of use take part.

[myopinionpal]

Everyon that has been a Senator for more than 2 terms vote them out. The same old senator's keep getting re-elected to continue doing the samething which is nothing.

[drsam8]

CALLING THEM OUT JOHN MCCAIN

What STAND has John McCain taken lately but for corrupt Washington? He wouldn?t say anything about Sen. Shelby placing a blanket hold on all Obama appointments because Obama wouldn?t allow his earmarks. He wouldn?t support Obama?s effort to cut the deficit, to establish a bi-partisan Commission to deal with the deficit. Nor would he support efforts to deal with climate change. He prevaricates on gay in the military issue. He has opposed Obama on every issue even against America?s interest. During the presidential campaign, he said he was for ?country first.? Then, as now, McCain is only about McCain?and always unprincipled, as his biographer Elizabeth Drew warned us. He has said nothing about ?birther? politics and is afraid of Sarah Palin. The last Presidential election made it abundantly clear that Sen. McCain is not a nice man?and can be very nasty! He can totally disregard the truth in favor of expediency. Ever since Obama took office, McCain seemed determined to be an obstacle on all the big and urgent issues facing the nation. He has again aligned himself with the extremist right wing of his party. Again, we are seeing vintage McCain?erratic, belligerent, confrontational, intemperate and not sufficiently reflective. About this ?hero? thing, only in America will a man spend almost the entire wartime in captivity, and betray his country to the enemy, and still be called a hero. What about those who actually died for their country, lost a limb or two, or finished the fight?

[SusanStoHelit]

Take the contracts away from him, and every other bit of pork - until he grows up and stops throwing tantrums. This is insanity - one senator holding up our government for ransom! Why is this allowed?