Contrary to what has been suggested in a number of posts in this thread, the repubs did not oppose Obama's first set of cabinet picks across the board. In fact, of the initial fourteen cabinet nominations sent by Obama to the Senate for confirmation, six were confirmed without opposition on the date of his inauguration, three were confirmed within the next two days (two unanimously, one with only two nay votes). Of the remaining five, one was confirmed less than two weeks after the inauguration, two others were confirmed (one unanimously) within a month of the inauguration. Only two nominations were held up for any significant period of time. One position wasn't filled until March, after two previous nominees withdrew themselves from consideration. And one wasn't confirmed until April, after the previous nominee withdrew.
Obviously, there is a very significant difference between Obama's mainstream nominees and the collection that Trump has chosen. But a strategy of across the board opposition, based primarily on policy objections, will only result in all of them being confirmed. Even if the Democrats could hold some of them up via the filibuster, the result would be one of two things: either the filibuster rules being changed or the repub leadership announcing a recess that would then allow Trump to fill the positions via the recess appointment route.
We should aggressively investigate and question the nominees and push hard against them if such investigation and hearing bring out evidence of the kinds of conflict of interest issues and/or other legal issues that led to the withdrawal of three of Obama's nominations. Forcing out nominees based on the same sort of problems that sank Richardson and Daschle is the best way to go. (Gregg is a special case -- he withdrew because the repubs didn't want him to give up his seat and create the opportunity for Democrat to be named to fill it).
http://www.senate.gov/reference/Obama_cabinet.htm
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