10 February 2010

Shelby Backs Down On All But Three Holds

Senator Shelby had used the Senate's hold power to block seventy Obama nominations unrelated to his demand for state fundings. Then he dropped all of them but three relevant to his plea.

Did he do so out of respect for collegiality? No. He did so because the President has the power to make recess appointments, the Senate majority can go into recess without worrying about a filibuster proof majority, and the Harry Reid had threatened to do just that.

File that away in the play book as a reliable end run around Senatorial holds on Presidential nominations.

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