White House Slams Senator for Delaying Defense Confirmations over Resignation Demands

CW4 Guy Butler Maybe he was going somewhere to figure out why another Biden appointee is letting illegal immigrants fly around the country on commercial flights, at taxpayer expense mind you, and the only ID they have to show is their arrest warrant for being here illegally.
I bet you can't get on a commercial flight for free if you show an arrest warrant with your name on it as your only identification.

I saw that too. That was after he gave the mob the power sign on his way into the capitol.

Right on the money! SFC Casey O'Mally

He can continue the quest of demanding they step down. But in the meantime, you do not hold up the appointments to critical DoD positions to make a point (whether I agree with the Senator or not about the demands). This is not about a rubber stamp from what I read. He is simply denying the confirmations until Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan step down. That's an ultimatum, not a rubber stamp. If he disagrees with the folks up for confirmation, fine, that it his prerogative and choice as a Senator. But that's not what his stated goal is. I don't agree with this White House much these days, but I don't like politics hampering our military.

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin

FTA: "The White House provided a list of nominees that Hawley was blocking from FAST confirmation on the Senate floor" (emphasis mine).

Also FTA, according to Hawley's spokesperson: “Rather than fast-tracking their nominees, Senator Hawley is demanding votes on them."

That is not denying anything. It is making them go the full route, rather than the expedited one. And, while it appears that the expedited route is routine for these positions, "Hawley was obstructing the normal confirmation process for the senior-level Department of Defense nominees," it also appears it is not required.

You want him to continue to demand the resignations, but you also don't want him to "issue an ultimatum.". What then, in your opinion, SHOULD he do to "continue the quest?" What leverage SHOULD he use to make his demand? Or should he do nothing but blow smoke, with no leverage, no teeth?

FTA: "Hawley, a Missouri Republican elected in 2018, said last year he would hold up nominees to the Department of Defense and State Department after the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, unless three top administration officials resigned, the Kansas City Star reported.

Responding to the White House criticism, Abigail Marone, a spokeswoman for Hawley, said in a statement, “Thirteen servicemembers died in Biden’s catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal, including one from the St. Louis area. Almost one year later, no one has been held accountable. To the White House, that’s just ‘politics,’ but to the American people, it’s a disgrace."

When someone tells me why they're doing something, generally I take their word for it. The fast confirmation is still a vote on the floor, ensuring there is a simple majority, and it only avoids the series of discussions and debate. If the Senator had stated this was his intent (which he didn't), to debate the nominees and further vet them, as I said before, fine. But that's not what he said was his intent. That being said, and as much as I may agree with him on how the Sec Def, Sec State, and NS Advisor should step down, I don't think he should be pushing this delay for an unrealistic demand and I would not call it leverage. We know it won't happen and I'm pretty sure the others will be confirmed. So as one who believes in an apolitical military, I object to inserting more politics into it. Pick your battles and try not to pick pointless ones.