Cruz is blocking diplomats from being confirmed, and it has nothing to do with their qualifications

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Washington (CNN) - An extraordinary effort by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to block nominees from being confirmed to vital jobs in the State Department is creating hurdles for the Biden administration and hindering US diplomacy, according to Democrats and Republicans who spoke to CNN.

The Biden administration -- with about 60 State Department nominees waiting to be confirmed -- is encountering greater roadblocks in securing Senate confirmations at State than at any other agency. Administration officials and Democrats point to Republicans, who admit they're playing a role. But sources from all three groups say the bulk of the blame should be placed on Cruz.

The junior senator from Texas has become the public face of the State Department's difficulties, proudly claiming responsibility for blocks on a slew of senior officials. Cruz is trying to pressure the administration on a specific point of Russia policy, a campaign that other Republicans say is fruitless and that triggered a fiery shouting match with Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who's the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Cruz does not appear willing to budge. "I look forward to lifting the holds just as soon as they impose the sanctions on Nord Stream 2 that are required by federal law," he told CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/21/politics/cruz-state-department-nominations/index.html

[Wounded Bear]

1. Don't you just love it when Cruz stands on principle...

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3. This asshole isn't qualified to run the Tilt-a-Whirl at the county fairgrounds

yet he's a United States Senator...

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2. We are in control of Congress

so let him pull this crap until the recess at which time we adjourn (no pro forma sessions) and they get recess appointments (every single last one of them).

[Wounded Bear]

4. Recess appointments aren't permanent. They expire...

leaving us needing to fill the positions again.

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5. and we do the very same thing

yes I would prefer permanent appointments but if we can't have them, we can't have them. It would cover until 3 Jan 2023

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. Carnival Cruz is a Joke

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. Cruz lifts hold on State Department nominees after Nord Stream 2 sanctions

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has lifted his hold on President Biden's State Department nominees after the Biden administration sanctioned the Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2.

Why it matters: Cruz has campaigned to sanction the pipeline for months, calling it a chance to stop a Russian invasion into Ukraine. His bill failed to clear the Senate in January, per Reuters.

Between the lines, via Axios' Zachary Basu: Ukraine views the Putin-backed project as an existential threat to its security, as it would deprive the country of billions of dollars in gas-transit fees and allow Russia to deliver gas directly to the heart of Europe.

The U.S. has long held the position that Nord Stream 2 is a malign Kremlin geopolitical influence project that would increase Europe's reliance on Russian gas, but Biden allowed construction to proceed last year in order to repair relations with Germany.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cruz-lifts-hold-state-department-185857679.html