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G.O.P. Senators Choose Consent
The New York Times ^ | Feb. 4, 2025, 4:20 p.m. ET | Carl Hulse

Posted on 02/04/2025 3:01:27 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

Despite reservations, Republicans are falling in line behind President Trump’s contentious top administration picks, signaling a broader retreat from challenging him.

After early signs that some of President Trump’s unconventional cabinet choices could be derailed by Republicans alarmed at their character, disturbing paper trails and lack of expertise, the resistance has collapsed.

One after the other on Tuesday, Republican senators fell into line behind two of the president’s most baggage-laden nominees, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence.

The party-line committee votes to send both nominees to the floor for likely confirmation next week provided the clearest evidence yet that Mr. Trump’s pressure tactics and the threat of a barrage of abuse by his allies against would-be defectors had sapped whatever remained of a G.O.P. impulse to balk. And they suggested a broader impulse among Republicans on Capitol Hill — even the few who have maintained some degree of independence from Mr. Trump — to shrink from confrontation with him and allow him to have his way at the dawn of his second term.

The decision by Senator Todd Young of Indiana to back Ms. Gabbard, in conjunction with the announcement of Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana that he was setting aside personal reservations to back Mr. Kennedy, marked the end of any serious effort to stop Mr. Trump’s most divisive nominees.

Together with the narrowest possible confirmation of Pete Hegseth last month as secretary of defense, the moves constituted a surrender by Senate Republicans to Mr. Trump even in the face of serious qualms among some in the G.O.P. Another nominee who had initially been seen as facing a potentially difficult path to confirmation, Kash Patel for director of the F.B.I., has...


(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


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To: BigEdLB

murky voted yes


21 posted on 02/04/2025 4:45:20 PM PST by BigEdLB (Adults are in charge )
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To: BigEdLB

The Turtle has lost his marbles if he voted yes. He’s supposed to be the democrat’s trump card.


22 posted on 02/04/2025 4:48:38 PM PST by damper99
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To: BigEdLB

Fetterman is Aye.


23 posted on 02/04/2025 4:48:44 PM PST by Ben Dover (Terrorism is a cancer that can only be cured with massive doses of radiation.)
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To: BigEdLB

Just crossed 50 - she’s in - Fetterman voted yes


24 posted on 02/04/2025 4:48:58 PM PST by BigEdLB (Adults are in charge )
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To: BigEdLB
turtle voted yes
murky voted yes

WOW! There must be a lot of paper trail in USAID that points to them!

25 posted on 02/04/2025 4:49:01 PM PST by Lazamataz (The BEST birthday present I ever got WAS DONALD TRUMP WINNING IN 2024!!!)
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To: BigEdLB
I'm less impressed with Fetterman voting yes. When the resistance was stronger he fell in line with Schumer.

I used to have bigger hopes for him.

26 posted on 02/04/2025 4:50:39 PM PST by Lazamataz (The BEST birthday present I ever got WAS DONALD TRUMP WINNING IN 2024!!!)
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To: BigEdLB

Final vote 54-46 all GOP + Fetterman


27 posted on 02/04/2025 4:50:48 PM PST by BigEdLB (Adults are in charge )
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