Hearings Will Unmask 'Swamp Creatures' in Trump's Cabinet, Democrats Say

[highplainsdem]

Source: NYT

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats concede they have little leverage to stop Donald J. Trump’s cabinet nominees. But that will not discourage them from trying to make life as uncomfortable as possible for many of his choices, with the hope of forcing their Republican colleagues and Mr. Trump to squirm along the way.

With nominees like Representative Tom Price, a proponent of fundamental changes to Medicare, to be health secretary, and Steven Mnuchin, a Goldman Sachs trader turned hedge fund manager, as Treasury secretary, Democrats hope to use the confirmation hearings to highlight the wide river of incongruities between Mr. Trump’s campaign promises and much of the team he is assembling. The goal: to fuel a narrative that the incoming president, and the Republicans who support him, cannot be trusted.

“President-elect Trump promised that he was going to clean up the swamp,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the incoming Democratic leader, “and a whole lot of his nominees have had their career in the swamp.”

One by one, Mr. Schumer said, Democrats will use the confirmation process to highlight positions held by nominees that are either inconsistent with Mr. Trump’s campaign promises or raise the sorts of ethical questions that Democrats tried in vain to hang around Mr. Trump’s neck during the campaign, like refusing to release his tax returns. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, who serves on committees that are likely have contentious hearings, can be counted on to work over many nominees.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/03/us/politics/donald-trumps-cabinet-democrats.html

[OldRedneck]

1. We can unmask them all we want . . .

They'll be approved. They'll bring in more swamp creatures as their Deputy, Assistant, and Deputy Assistant Secretaries and Special Assistants.

This nation is entering a very long, very dark tunnel with no light at the end.

[Frustratedlady]

5. There is a light, but it is on a train.

I can see Warren, Sanders and, perhaps, Schumer putting on the heat, but the nominees will have gone through the Republican's course on how to lie effectively and act innocent...kind of like the spokesperson's course on over-talking interviewers. Drives me up a tree.

Since the Democrats are in the minority, the Republicans will treat them as though they no longer have a voice and will rebut with humiliating comments to demean any Democrat who dares to criticize Trump's nominee. I'd love to see the Democrats prepared to throw in some zingers that will make headlines rather than give Trump voters the satisfaction of seeing a Democrat thrown under a bus. They must remember to bring their backbones and realize they are the only ones who can save us at this point in time. Wimping through the hearings might buy them an eventual epitaph of, "He Was Loved By All," but I'd admire him more if it said, "He Left No Stone Unturned."

They can't have missed how thoroughly disgusted we Democrats are following the election, so they should stand up and fight for us. That's what they are being paid to do.

[SHRED]

2. "squirm"? "uncomfortable"? "highlight positions"?

Oh for fuck's sake.

That'll show them.

[Docreed2003]

3. While the intentions of these Senators are noble...

At the end of the day, supporters of trump won't care one iota. They didn't care when Trump called Mexican immigrants rapists and drug dealers, they didn't care when he mocked a disabled journalist, they didn't care when he stoked the flames of Muslim hate, and they didn't care when he was exposed as the sexual predator that he is. No they won't care one bit and they'll twist themselves into pretzels to support and apologize for anyone whom Trump nominates. They are true believers and that is perhaps the most frightening part of this election.

[JudyM]

7. I tend to think that a good many believed the aspirational vision he advertised, and voted for

him based on hope-and-change, all the while holding their noses. Those people will notice if the MSM reports it clearly. This could at least prevent him from getting a second term.

A good chunk of his voters were no doubt racist, etc, but not enough to elect him again if we have a good option for them in 2020. Smart of them to be doing this immediately, while the feelings of hope can be more starkly dashed, alienating the better charactered people (relatively speaking) who voted for him.

[MBS]

8. and hopefully help Democratic campaigns in 2018.

That is, if we still have a country by then.

[JudyM]

9. Absolutely right. And if we could get a revolt rolling, rethugs may take less advantage of the

situation and act closer to ethical.

[jmowreader]

4. That would be everyone Trump's nominated, right?

The closest thing to a non-swamp dweller Trump has picked is James Mattis...who thinks he's the reincarnation of George Patton. Sorry dude, Patton still does that act better.

[denverbill]

6. What do they mean 'little leverage'? Republicans blocked Obama's nominee's for years.

Even when they were in the minority.

[DeminPennswoods]

10. They are perfect targets to showcase the greed

This is great news. All these nominess represent the worst of the worst of greedy capitalists. They are the Epi-Pen story on steroids many times over. They are the people Trump supporters hate.

[DeminPennswoods]

11. 1st question to Mnuchkin

How many homes did your company steal from hard-working Americans?

No allowing weaseling either, just keep pounding "stole homes" theme.