Posted on 01/29/2013 2:05:27 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Senate confirms Kerry for State in 94-3 vote By Julian Pecquet and Ramsey Cox - 01/29/13 04:32 PM ET
The Senate approved one of its own to become President Obama's second secretary of State in a near-unanimous vote on Tuesday.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) sailed through the chamber in a 94-to-3 vote, with Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Texas Sens. Ted Cruz (R) and John Cornyn (R) casting the only “no” votes.
Kerry's approval to replace Hillary Clinton was a foregone conclusion after Republicans urged Obama to nominate him in lieu of his ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice.
“I don’t know too many people who have oriented their whole life to be better suited for secretary of State,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the top Republican on Kerry's Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on the floor ahead of the vote.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), who is replacing Kerry atop the committee, echoed those sentiments.
“I can think of no one better to take on the challenges of this position,” he said. “John has already built strong relationships across the world. ... He will need no introduction to the world’s political leaders.”
The Senate vote capped a whirlwind day for Kerry, whose nomination was approved by his committee in a unanimous voice vote a few hours earlier. His colleagues on the committee he's chaired since Joe Biden became vice-president four years ago gave him a standing ovation and a committee resolution honoring his service as chairman.
The resolution “commends the long and distinguished service of John F. Kerry, whose exceptional skill as a lawmaker is matched only by his commitment to an America that is, in President John F. Kennedy’s phrase, not 'first but, first when, first if, but first period'; and extends its best wishes for his continuing service to the Nation.”
Kerry is the first cabinet selection confirmed in Obama's second term, but the rare showing of bipartisan support will not extend to the rest of the president's national security picks, however.
Six Republicans — including the three who voted against Kerry — have vowed to oppose former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) for secretary of Defense, and members of both parties have raised questions with the choice of John Brennan for CIA director because of concerns over his record on drone strikes as Obama top counterterrorism adviser.
Kerry could be sworn in as early as Friday, Clinton's last day at State.
It’s apparent I’m wasting my time on you.
You basically just said that Obama is the SAME as Romney, so I have nothing further to say to you if you don’t see the magnitudes of difference between the a RINO and a hateful Marxist fascist.
Romney wasn’t a Marxist Socialist and you know it.
And Romney doesn’t hate America.
Where have you been?
(Answer: In your own stubborn world).
End of discussion.
Please don’t bother replying because your words are worthless.
They feel the need to be open about being Rino after slapping down the conservatives.
It's all turned into some twisted sorority where Voters are hazed every damn day.
“It’s apparent I’m wasting my time on you.”
Pretty much. You’re trying to argue support not just for Romney (which is beating a dead horse at this point because, see, he lost) but you’re trying to make excuses for the NEXT RINO. Which makes me wonder why you’re on a conservative forum like this if you’re so opposed to conservatives and so intent on supporting RINOs.
Just for the record, if you get your way and you get another RINO nominated in 2016 then you can count on me not supporting them either.
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