McConnell Set To BLOCK Any Biden 'Liberal' Cabinet Heads. There's A Very SIMPLE SOLUTION...

[TrollBuster9090]

...to that!

We call it The Trump/McConnell Rule!

Axios reports that if McConnell retains control of the Senate, he intends to hamstring Biden the same way he did during the last two years of the Obama Administration. Not confirm any of Biden's judicial nominees, and not confirm any 'liberal' cabinet members.

https://www.axios.com/gop-senate-biden-transition-50ebe6c8-e318-4fdb-b903-048908b3b954.html

Well, there's a very simple solution. Let's call it The TRUMP/MCONNELL RULE!

1. Nominate relatively liberal cabinet members. And, when the Senate blocks them...

2. Appoint a bunch of FAR LEFT 'ACTING' Secretaries.


Trump had 28 ACTING CABINET SECRETARIES. He appointed one extremist after another after another. It was a flagrant ABUSE OF POWER...but obviously McConnell and every Republican in the Senate were okay with it, because they never passed any laws to prevent it. I'm sure the House would have helped them out if they wanted to, but they obviously thought it was okay, and never tried. So....here we go.

Biden nominates a semi-liberal Treasury Secretary like Robert Rubin, and McConnell blocks it? Fine, you don't like that...I'll appoint KATIE PORTER as the ACTING Treasury Secretary.

Biden nominates a middle-of-the-road Attorney General like Sally Yates, and McConnell blocks it? Fine, you don't like that, I'll appoint Andrew Weismann as ACTING Attorney General.

Biden fires Chris Wray, nominates a moderate head of the FBI, and McConnell blocks it? Fine, you don't like that...I'll appoint Peter Strzok as ACTING FBI Director.

McConnell worked overtime for the last four years to make the Senate COMPLETELY REDUNDANT, and let Trump appoint whoever he wants to 'acting' cabinet positions. Okay...Biden is now free to use the TRUMP/MCCONNELL RULE for staffing the Federal Government, thank you very much.

[smirkymonkey]

1. K&R

McConnell needs to go. Before 2022. And I don't care how. The man is a traitor. The Biden administration should not let him have one day of peace until he keels over dead or is behind bars. We know he is a criminal and that there is plenty of dirt on him. We just need to prove it.

[KS Toronado]

91. Could Biden's DOJ tie Moscow Mitch to Russian money laundering? That would get rid of him.

[TigressDem]

110. K&R

[DonaldsRump]

2. THIS IS WHY WE GO ALL OUT FOR THE 2 GA SENATE SEATS FOR GRAB ON JAN 5

We would then control the Senate (50-50-Kamala tie-breaker).

McConnell has no right to do this to anyone, and we should not let it EVER happen again.

[OrlandoDem2]

7. Every Democrat in America needs to donate $ or time phone/text banking for Warnock/Ossof.

[johnnyfins]

15. I am IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sunsky]

38. Yes!

I agree. This is for all of us, we need to take Mitch's power.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

41. I'm in too!!!!!!!

Just sent a donation today to the good Reverend Warnock!

[halobeam]

94. Already on that. Won't stop either.

[sleroy49]

20. If we all move to Georgia

could we get registered to vote in time?

[rzemanfl]

29. I posted about that very topic. n/t

[List left]

40. link?

[rzemanfl]

42. Sorry, distracted by election news.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214457806

[List left]

53. Thanks! nt

[AdamGG]

37. The trick is getting our base to turn out for a Jan. 5th election

Typically, the right has been better at getting their base to show up for oddly timed special elections like this. That's how Scott Brown got elected in Massachusetts.

We need some kind of unprecedented GOTV campaign to drive Georgia turnout for January 5th. We need to outperform the right and have a wave of our voters show up for this.

[TheRickles]

43. Stacey Abrams is the guru of GOTV.

[cstanleytech]

49. A massive infusion of cash on the order of 500+ million is what we need otherwise we will have to

wait for atleast 2 more years which will give Moscow Mitch plenty of time to help his friend Putin.

[halobeam]

95. idk... Bloomberg? just wondering?

[cstanleytech]

98. Don't know but I do know that it's time for

the wealthy Democrats to step up to the plate in a big way as none of us can afford to let the Republicans hold this country hostage.

[klook]

52. Sorry, I'll be too busy waging the War on Christmas.

Just kidding! I live in metro Atlanta and will be joining the fight in both races as best I'm able.

One thing I'm really *not* looking forward to: thousands of aggressive fuckhead right-wing assholes pouring into Georgia from all over the country to stir up shit (and join the throngs of them we're already afflicted with) and try to disrupt our runoff election. It's gonna be a dogfight to the bitter end, and it's going to take all hands on deck.

[greymattermom]

64. Waving from Dunwoody.

Me too. I'm on Jon Ossoff's call list. He actually called me.

[klook]

71. Neat! I assume you're talking about the conf. call.

I was on there too!

Sure hope Perdue ends up

[MyOwnPeace]

68. klook..........

TOO funny!

I'm hoping you'll get a break from the "Battle on the Front Line for X-mas" - yeah, that "Xmas" shit is another commie plot - look it up -

https://www.vox.com/2014/12/14/7374401/jesus-xmas-christmas

And I'm hoping you get a chance to get out there and put up some flags on the border - as well as the back of your pick-up truck - and kick ass on those "furiners" coming in there - maybe you can get Mexico to help build a wall!

Sorry - hope your state can "somehow" see its way through this mess and do the right thing. Please know that we've got your back!

[klook]

72. Thank you!

It’s pretty exciting that we matter on a national scale this time, and I hope a sign that Georgia will be joining Virginia as a reliable Dem state in Dixie!

[WinstonSmith4740]

114. Agree.

But these are different times. I think Dems have finally learned that you can't "play nice" with these people. I'm still not sure why people would vote for Biden and then a republican for Senate, but who knows? If given the opportunity to flip the Senate, and take control out of Moscow Mitch's hands, I'll bet they turn out in droves.

[ancianita]

50. YES!

[Politicub]

67. All Democratic Party resources need to be focused on Georgia

Ossoff and Warnock can win, but we have to give the effort everything we’ve got - money, time, etc.

[Vivienne235729]

75. I was JUST saying this very same thing to a friend.

As soon as Biden wins, we need to immediately pivot to the GA senate raceoff. I'm be donating greatly for that.

[Polybius]

97. NC hasn't been called

We can still get that one too.

[IronLionZion]

112. I'm excited that Dems are competitive in a southern red state

that has become more purple recently. There was a time when Georgia was unthinkable.

[Binkie The Clown]

3. God, how I wish the Dems had the guts to actually do something like that. nt

[BlueNProud]

13. you gotta give McConnell credit

he does not f around. This is obviously completely outrageous but whosvgonna stop him.

[Roland99]

4. Kinda what I was saying...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214455510

[beachbumbob]

5. Biden will not McConnel block, any EOs will bypass the senate all

together and McConnel can't do squat

[moonscape]

108. Our new activist RWNJ SC can. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Yes, he does, because the Senate has to confirm them.

[DonaldsRump]

12. Assuming the Rs are majority...let's fight like hell for the 2 GA seats on January 5

[DonaldsRump]

11. Unfortunately, he does

Cabinet members approved with advice and consent of Senate. If Rs are the majority, they can block.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

8. Sounds fair to me.

Joe knows the Senate. Look for him to run circles around Moscow Mitch.

[roamer65]

10. Someone mentioned appointing Obama-era secretaries since they are already confirmed.

I think that is a good way around it.

[Kaleva]

14. Yes

[Mr.Bill]

19. I'm fine with Hillary Clinton being Secretary of State. n/t

[roamer65]

22. Hillary would also make a GREAT secretary of HHS.

Once confirmed, you apparently can move around the portfolios.

[WePurrsevere]

33. I've been wondering if constitutionally this would actually work or...

If they'd need to go through the confirmation process again. I would think there's been similar done in the past to set a precedence but I don't recall that it was for sure.

[NYC Liberal]

35. They would need to be confirmed again. They resigned.

[wnylib]

45. I love this idea. But is it true that

they would not need confirmation again for a different president?

Bush Jr appointed some of Sr's cabinet. Did they go through confirmation again for Jr?

[MarcA]

16. Also, set up a gang of whatever number in the Senate and simply

push the appointments and compromised legislation on through.
Start with Romney and Murkowski. That and constant press conferences
showing who is blocking legislation and appointments.

[wryter2000]

34. I wonder

I wonder if there's anything Biden could offer Murkowski to get her to switch to caucusing with the Dems. There has to be one Effing Republican who can't stomach this crap any longer. If Biden could promise her something really sweet for Alaska or to give her a prime committee chair...

[DeminPennswoods]

17. Yep. Senate Rs aquiesed in every expansion of

presidential power Trump used. Might as well take advantage of it.

Of course, Biden could also let McConnell know his DoJ will be investigating his wife's ties to her family's shipping business run out of China. IIRC, there were some shady dealings linked to her position as Sec of Transportation.

[MyOwnPeace]

76. Oh, THAT is SWEET!!!!!!

You gotta bet Mrs. McTURTLE is shit-deep in the quagmire of the tRump SWAMP!!!!!

Hey, how could the RePugs fight it - we're "DRAINING THE SWAMP!"

[bucolic_frolic]

18. We are damn fools if we don't play the same game they did

And if anyone doesn't like it, just ignore them and act like it's all perfectly normal. Remember when they would ask GOP Senators about impeachment? They all walked by without a word, shaking their heads. "I haven't read it," said one.

Republicans set the gold standard. Abide by their rules!

[BigOleDummy]

25. Exactly

And very well said

[L.Pharmstrong]

74. Defund Kentucky.

Close Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, and every other military base in Kentucky. Nothing to Kentucky so long as McConnell is in office. Closing military bases doesn’t require congressional approval.

No federal funds to Kentucky until McConnell is gone. It’s time to play hardball. Biden has to know now that there is no such thing as bipartisanship and the Republicans will try to destroy his Presidency. The new AG — I hope it’s Andrew Cuomo — needs to appoint a special prosecutor to look at Elaine Choa (https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trump-removed-watchdog-investigating-elaine-chao-mcconnell-vetted-replacement/). It’s time to embarrass the ratfucker and remove him by whatever political means necessary.

[MyOwnPeace]

77. LOVE the idea.............

and the sweet thing is that Joe is a Senate veteran -there's NO way they're gonna' find a way to snooker him!
SO much to investigate - let it all begin!!!!!

[RicROC]

81. close the bases!

Great idea! and it's a solid suggestion, not just wishful thinking.

[Captain Zero]

107. Yep. Defund Kentucky. We could all stop buying Bourbon.

I already have.

[DemInBuckhead]

21. If Mitch is going to do this, we should not send Kentucky a penny of federal money.

Defund Kentucky!

[LSFL]

31. Hey!

There are good people in KY.. There is myself and some other Duers. We fucking hate potholes on the interstate and seeing old people and children homeless and starving.

[MyOwnPeace]

80. Interesting problem, isn't it?

Is it "Winner's America" - or is it "America?"

Listening to BunkerBoy it has been "Winner's America" - those "Democrat" states and cities can go F**K themselves, and we'll send in troops to make sure it happens.

So, Joe wins. What happens to all of the "RED STATES" - and those SOB's that went to court to stop Joe?

F-U?

That's a "tRump" Amerika - and we can't be that.

But we have to be damned sure that no A$$hole from Kentucky (yeah, YOU, Moscow Mitch McConnell!!!!!) can single-handedly destroy so much of what America was and should be.

I have faith in President Biden and the Democrats that will lead the fight to truly make America what it SHOULD be - and now what it is right now.......

[LSFL]

86. I have worked in several nursing homes and my sister is an LPRN

He won't last his term. The next fall will kill him.. This last fall might. Seeing as he fell on his fat stupid fucking face.

[MyOwnPeace]

88. So, we're hoping you're talking about McTurtle, right?

For such a "noble statesman" as Moscow Mitch McTurtle is, I would like to quote Mark Twain:

“I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.”

[lastlib]

96. Any way we can ice his sidewalk?? And the hallway of his house?

(Not that I'm in a hurry, but I'm kinda in a hurry. Like before January 3.)

[calimary]

125. Welcome to DU, DemInBuckhead!

I'm kinda liking looking into what Mitch's wife Elaine Chao's been up to. A carrot-and-stick kind of thing...

However, I doubt Joe Biden would be willing to play that down 'n' dirty.

[Fullduplexxx]

23. Acting heads

[SergeStorms]

24. Yep.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. It's time to run republican noses in the shit for once.

[cab67]

26. "McConnell" has to become synonymous with "hypocrite."

The news media should present his actions exactly as they are - hypocritical. They should present his motivations exactly as they are, too - to maintain power rather than govern and serve his constituents.

I'm serious about this. Every time McConnell tries some shit, the news media have to match it with his actions when Trump was president.

He has to be made a laughingstock even beyond what he is now. He has to become a liability to the Republican Party bad enough to call for replacement as majority leader.

[Ford_Prefect]

27. I wonder what happens when McConnell and his wife are investigated for financial crimes?

You think that might get his attention?

[Xipe Totec]

28. It's brass knuckles time. Fuck the velvet gloves. nt

[EVDebsforPresident]

46. Absofuckinglutely!

Nobody gives a fuck about how the meat is processed, just that it is. It is time to get shit done. Represent the goddamn people for once!!

[MyOwnPeace]

90. You have a way with words!

And you've nailed it right this time!

Welcome to DU!

[EVDebsforPresident]

99. Thank you! nt

[WinstonSmith4740]

116. Freaking brilliant

Nobody gives a fuck about how the meat is processed, just that it is.

We need to drive a stake through the heart of this beast. Actually, it's probably more like go for the throat. There is no heart in the Trump Party.
And welcome to the family!

[wryter2000]

30. WTF?

He won't let Biden name a cabinet? You know damned well he'll consider anyone "too liberal."

Damn...we need the Senate.

[marie999]

89. He can't stop Biden from having who ever he wants in his cabinet.

Biden nominates the most liberal Democrats and Mcconnell doesn't call a vote. Then Biden can place the people he wants in as acting cabinet members. They can remain acting cabinet members for 220 days plus another 90 days. If the Senate still has not voted or turns down the ones he nominated the acting ones can stay another 220 days. If at the end of those 220 days if the Senate still has not voted to appoint they can stay another 220 days. That is 750 days. By then we should have taken over the Senate.

[Thekaspervote]

32. Not sure what the Biden administration will do, but this can't stand.

Highly doubt that they will sit on their thumbs and politely wait for a bunch of conservative cronies to be installed as cabinet members

And why should they after what they did, riding roughshod on the rules of government

[rainin]

36. And investigate Elaine Chao. That just might make McConnell squirm

[EVDebsforPresident]

48. How many Google searches of "Elaine Chao investigation"

Do we need to make before it automatically populates in searches?

[StaunchDemocrat1957]

39. EXCELLENT IDEA!

I hope they do it LOUD and Often!

[mackdaddy]

44. The Senate is suppose to "advise and consent". If they decline the just assume they passed and

go ahead and swear them in.

Whey do we have to assume them as rejected if McConne.l will not have a hearing and vote. Just Assume them as confirmed if not specifically rejected.

How is this any less constitutional than Moscow Mitch not doing his constitutional duty?

[MyMission]

47. Love it!

I just hope the Dems and Biden will play hardball, and embrace the practice of this rule the rethugs formulated!

[BobTheSubgenius]

51. That hateful old bag of putrescence is my absolute #1 disappointment of this cycle.

He should be strapped to a gurney and left to rot in the foyer.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

69. He's already apparently rotting away

[MyOwnPeace]

101. McTurtle or the RepubliCons?

[Duppers]

54. "Peter Strzok as ACTING FBI Director" ⚡🎊

Yes, yes, yes.

[paleotn]

55. Particularly an "acting" AG....

to investigate turtle boy and his wife too. Time to play ruff. Very, very ruff. Nice senate seat your have there, Mitch. Be a damn shame if you lost it and ended up in ....jail. Hey. Just saying.

[world wide wally]

56. tit for tat

[onenote]

57. Sorry, but your idea won't fly.

Under the Vacancies Act, a president has three options for filling a cabinet level vacancy:

Option one: name the "first assistant" to fill the position as "acting" secretary. While there is some uncertainty as to who the "first assistant" is, it typically is a deputy secretary, who likely has had to be confirmed.

Option two: name someone who is currently serving in a Senate-confirmed position. Someone up above suggested Biden could satisfy the statute by nominating former Obama-era officials who had been confirmed. But the statue makes clear that one has to be currently serving in a Senate-confirmed position to be named as an acting cabinet head.

Option three: the President can select a senior “officer or employee” of the same executive agency, if that employee served in that agency for at least 90 days during the year preceding the vacancy and is paid at a rate equivalent to at least a GS-15 on the federal pay scale.

The problem Biden would face is that the First Assistant and currently serving Senate confirmed persons are going to be folks appointed by Trump. The third option would require Biden to find someone down the organization chart that he could trust and had the expertise to run a department.

[calimary]

58. Yeah. Acting Fill-in-the-Job-Title-Here.

There are all kinds of maneuvers to get around whatever Mitch tries to do.

Oh you're gonna block all Senate approvals? Fine! I'll just appoint these folks ANYWAY. Acting Secretary of Whatever. Acting Attorney General. Acting Director of Such 'n' Such, Acting This and Acting That. You were just fine when the last guy did it and so your hands are tied here. And I do believe that
Acting Name-the-Gig doesn't need Senate approval!

Whatever blockades you put up, WE WILL GET AROUND.

And THAT simply MUST be the phrase that pays in the Biden administration.

[MyOwnPeace]

103. Correct................

Hopefully what we have learned (and Joe was there!) is that there is NO reaching across the aisle - they'll spit on you hand.
For all of the wonderful things that PRESIDENT OBAMA did, there was virtually NO cooperation from Moscow Mitch and the RepubliCon party.

So, F ' em!!!!!!!!!!!

[Evolve Dammit]

59. Works for me.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

60. Anybody else notice that McConnell has conceded for Trump...

Seems like McConnell is saying Trump has lost the election and it's time to move on...

[mudstump]

61. Just go ahead and appoint them as "acting" like Trump did.

That's the new norm.

[onenote]

102. Not going to work. See post 57

[Volaris]

62. If biden does that, he will sue the White House and it WILL go to the supreme court.

[Jspur]

63. Biden can't bend over for Mitch in

anyway. This is a battle for power. You can't give an inch to Mitch. If he's going to block cabinet positions then Biden needs to be vocal and let the American people know that Mitch is a terrorist. Let them know every day and every week. You got to put pressure on Mitch. It might not break him but it could break other republicans in contested states where they face reelection to cave in.

[TryLogic]

65. Absolutely. Moscow Mitch "the grim reaper" McConnell needs to be cut off at the knees.

Regardless of whether he is majority or minority boss. How did he win, anyway? I have to wonder if his political machine in KY is pretty much the modern version of KKK.

[Joinfortmill]

66. Need to investigate McConnell and his wife, Chao.

[kacekwl]

70. Or you could just

turn him over on his shell. Get it I crack myself up.

[kyburbonkid]

73. Here is what I think...

Fuck the old toad.

[JeaneRaye]

79. True... but

Too bad more Kentuckians aren't on board with that! Being a native Lexingtonian, I wish Kentucky would wise up.

[JeaneRaye]

78. Great idea!

Personally, I think you should send your suggestions to Biden. After a few of these very liberal appointments, Mitch McConnell may think twice before blocking any more of Biden nominees for ANYTHING!

[onenote]

105. Don't bother. Biden's advisors are savvy enough to know this idea won't fly.

See post 57

[3825-87867]

82. Ike and JFK created "advisors" in Vietnam

Nothing could stop Biden from creating advisors in any cabinet position, give then security clearances (there's precedent!) and take advice from them or old friends they talk to since only Joe makes the decisions.
I'm pretty sure Joe has the final say on ANYTHING, even if a guy from Mikki D's says to reduce taxes on garbage. Joe might decide to do it.

[Catch2.2]

83. Love it!!!!

Let's hope the Dems will step up and do something like that!

[Nimble_Idea]

84. wp

[sandensea]

85. Sounds like a plan!

[Nasruddin]

87. The problem

McConnell himself is not the problem. The Republican senate is. The next one up would be just as difficult.

How does Congress or the Supreme Court obtain its operating funding? What pays their salaries & keeps the lights & internet on? Who enforces their acts & edicts, anyway? Have we learned anything from the current regime?

Suppose Mr Biden assumed direct control of each cabinet office and hired an "advisor" to handle day-to-day operations while his secretaries & the lower-level appointees were being dithered over. After all, someone has to run things and keep the lights & internet on. Well, in some places, anyway.

[Cha]

92. Bookmarking! TY for this, TrollBuster!!

[ailsagirl]

93. Because he's old, people may think he's harmless

He's as corrupt as they come-- can't believe he was "re-elected"-- unless it was yet another scam.

[quakerboy]

100. got a better plan

When both GA senate seats go to the runoff.. we ALL work our asses off to elect the dems and make Harris the tiebreaker. for the next two years. And after we pass a stimulus and get covid under control, we do some roads, we start rebuilding the country, we start protecting voters. And then we take 2022 senate races by storm.

[hotrod0808]

104. This is exactly what I told my wife today.

We will continue to get creamed as long as we play by normal rules. This isn't normal times. Make McConnell pay for all of the fuckery he has performed over the last 12 years. Glenn Kirschner, Malcolm Nance, Robert Reich, and Peter Strzok are all people who are willing to not just look at Trump, but also McConnell, Chao, Graham, Nunes, & Gym Jordan. Make these bastards pay.

[Polybius]

106. What about judges?

What’s the solution for that?

[cstanleytech]

109. If we regain the Senate majority either this year after the GA runoff or in 2022 Biden and the

Democrats should immediately increase the number of justices on the courts at the federal level by 2 more and SCOTUS to 13 or 23 and ram through judges within 90 whole days just like the Republicans have rammed through their choice of judges.

[lambchopp59]

111. Somebody please drive a stake through that thing's black little heart already.

[Eyeball_Kid]

113. McConnell may not be leading the Senate.

Two Georgia Senators could get elected. Gross in Alaska is a long shot, but the mail ballots will close the gap and make it competitive. Let the votes be counted.

[SmartVoter22]

115. Add three seats to every federal appelate court

or let Mitch reconsider his position.

Also cut his office budget by 90% in the next budget. Not other Senators, just Mitch's.

[onenote]

118. How would we do that without control of the Senate?

Let's focus on things that are doable.

[LiberalFighter]

117. Go after McConnell's wife

[Hotler]

119. The would mean conscious decision to stop playing nice with the repugs. I concerned that

Joe ,Chuck and Nancy have not learned lessons from the past. We have 4-yrs to finish off the repug party and it won't happen playing nice.

[marble falls]

120. What makes you think Joe, Chuck And Nancy are stupid?

[lpbk2713]

121. Shameless obstructionism Part II.

Nothing will get done because of the (R)s.

We are on the way to making another record breaking non-productive Congress.

The People should be informed whose fault it is.

[bucolic_frolic]

122. Take your purple hands off my democracy!

To those who despair at our Senate and House margins, I say this:

1) Republicans overperformed. Ironically Trump brought more of them to the polls to vote against Trump, and while there they voted for Republicans down-ballot
2) We've bought time. If we can halt the pandemic and revive the economy to some solid degree, we'll be ok.

State legislatures are a lost cause. We have work to do. Turn to Stacy Abrams. And Beto.

Mitch ain't forever.

[lagomorph777]

123. Trump/McConnell Rule #1: Cabinet confirmations are optional.

Trump/McConnell Rule #2: SCOTUS opinions are just opinions.

[Glaisne]

124. It's a nice idea

but Biden will never do it.

[kairos12]

126. Trump Rules Are in Place. Who cares what the Senate says.

Who gives a flying rolling fuck what Turtle wants. Trump set the standard, now Turtle gets to live with it.

Fuck the Senate and their "majority."

We appoint who we want, ignore subpoenas, and tell the AG to investigate anyone who gets in the way.

Retribution is the word of the day.

Fuck their cult of personality.