[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 85 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4848-S4849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              NOMINATIONS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, one reason we waited until 20 till 8 tonight 
to try to complete the work of the Senate is that I had a number of 
conversations today with my staff trying to work out nominations, and 
we worked something out. I spoke with the President's Chief of Staff, 
Josh Bolten. I have always found him to be a very pleasant man to work 
with.
  We arrived at an agreement we would approve, for example, ambassadors 
to 18 different countries; we would approve a man to be Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development. Senator Dodd went to a great deal of 
trouble to clear this nomination. In fact, he held a special meeting to 
get this nomination done. We were going to agree to a number of people, 
Republicans in nature: Stephen Krasner for the Institute of Peace; J. 
Robinson West for the Corporation for National Community Service--I am 
reading the Republicans because there are so few Democrats it is hardly 
worth mentioning--Eric Tannenblatt, Corporation for National and 
Community Service; Layshae Ward; Hyepin Christine Im. We have a number 
of military officers we agreed to, some 50 in number. In exchange for 
this, the Democrats were going to get three or four people.
  I have always thought, in my dealings around here, when we work 
something out, that is the agreement. But at the last minute, somebody 
steps in and says that isn't quite good enough. That is unfortunate 
because the arrangement was negotiated with staff and Mr. Bolten in 
good faith.
  Everyone should understand that people complain about the White House 
not having sufficient staff. Why don't you approve some of these 
nominations? Tonight, we had about 80 we were going to approve--
military, ambassadors, a Cabinet Secretary. We got an objection about 
some inconsequential appointment in comparison to all these, important 
to the person involved, I am sure. That is not the way we should be 
doing business.
  So here we are going into a recess. These people are not going to 
have their jobs. There is no fault on behalf of the Democrats. This was 
all done. So I want the President's Chief of Staff and the President to 
understand they are missing one Cabinet Secretary that Chairman Dodd 
went through great trouble to approve.
  The sad part about this is we rushed through this because we wanted 
one Democrat approved. It was personally important to one of our 
Senators. That is the way it is. But let this Record reflect there are 
military commissions that will not be granted and advanced. There will 
be a Cabinet Secretary not approved, there will be 18 ambassador 
positions which would not be filled, all because of the Republican 
minority.

[[Page S4849]]

  Is it any wonder they have lost three special elections--
congressional seats--in heavily Republican districts? Even the 
Republicans out there are understanding that this is the wrong way to 
run a country. Seven and a half years of division, not unification.
  I am going to do my very best in the next 7 months in my position to 
do everything I can to work with the White House to try to get things 
done, but this is an example of what we get--no cooperation, no ability 
to try to unify us.

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