Sen. Hawley's 'holds' on Biden nominees are hostage-taking, not policymaking

[left-of-center2012]

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced last week that
unless national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin resign, he will place a hold on all of President Biden's nominees to the State and Defense Departments. He claims this is necessary to extract accountability for what he says has been a botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The idea of senatorial holds is in some sense anti-democratic to begin with.“Holds” can put off votes on nominees indefinitely ... Holds are a mechanism for an individual senator, even if likely to be outvoted even 99-1 on a given nominee, to demand attention from the Executive Branch ... The use of a hold to try to force the resignation of a sitting official escalates the concept dramatically beyond its original intent.

Hawley, who supported former President Trump's deal with the Taliban and criticized President Biden for not pulling all U.S. troops out by May, as the Trump deal required, seems to think there was a foolproof way to depart the country without any serious consequences.

The Constitution ultimately empowers the president with the conduct of the nation's foreign policy; for Sen. Hawley to block President Biden from appointing anyone and everyone he wants is to thwart the design of the Constitution and to escalate the imposition of a hold to the taking of political hostages.

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/573096-sen-hawleys-holds-on-biden-nominees-are-hostage-taking-not-policymaking

Hawley, on Jan 6th, ‘Insurrection Day’

[OLDMDDEM]

1. Keep in mind

Hawley has no respect for the constitution. The fist in the air says it all. In his time in office he has done nothing of use to our country. Everything has been to our detriment.

[Walleye]

2. They do not want to govern by the Constitution, they want to rule by force

[underpants]

3. Warning. Language

What a complete fucking douchenozzle

[uponit7771]

4. Here we fuckin go again, we need to stop enabling traitors and anti democracy assholes

[themaguffin]

5. He is scum

[Bev54]

6. Can someone explain to me how some committees have just cut off debate

and taken a vote on nominees to move them to a full vote on the floor. Why can't all of them do that? If the person gets 50% vote in committee they can be moved to a floor vote??

[The Wizard]

7. Another punk who needs a forceful confrontation.

Democrats have to stop wearing boxing gloves to a knife fight.

[Kid Berwyn]

8. So GOP traitors can stop nominations with holds?

How come the Democrats didn’t with Dumpy’s nominations?



That Senate sure can be confusing.

[KS Toronado]

11. Because Democrats play within normal rules/norms/laws

for the benefit & well being of this country. For reQublicOns it's all about POWER and controlling
every aspect of American's lives.

[Kid Berwyn]

12. Thus, we are at a disadvantage.

I know President Biden is trying, playing fair and square and standing up to the VRWC, but perhaps our Democratic leaders in the House and Senate can think of new ways to help. Getting rid of the filibuster, say.

[bluestarone]

9. We can call it the Hawleys rule! THEN

Use it against these ASSHOLES IF they gain control ever again! We need to remember all their bullshit!

[hadEnuf]

10. Make Hawley pay for this dearly. Stick it to him any way we can.

Destroy him over this.

Don't play nice with insurrectionist fascists. Ever.

[budkin]

13. His Lord and Savior Donald "Jesus" Trump commands it

What else is he to do?

[ColinC]

14. How do you reverse his "hold" if he does this?

Will a majority vote be good enough?

[lonely bird]

15. Any and all comments on Hawley should end with...

Fuck him.

[Aviation Pro]

16. Fuck you, oxygen thief

We'll hold you and your fucking fist accountable.

[SouthernDem4ever]

17. WTF! Why isn't this Ahole in jail yet

he has no right to be in the senate much less trying to block nominations.

[Ziggysmom]

18. Good background on the traitor and his money trail! Follow the money.