The Biden-Harris Administration Thread

[barnswallow]

Thanks for the info, poppy. A supporting link from the NYTimes:
With Biden's cabinet delayed, the Senate faces a marathon day of confirmation hearings.

The Senate has a jam-packed schedule of hearings on Tuesday to begin considering President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s nominees for his Cabinet, but the process has been badly delayed, likely making Mr. Biden the first president in decades to take office without his national security team in place on Day 1.

and

The delay by congressional Republicans in recognizing Mr. Biden’s election victory, coupled with two Georgia runoff elections that left the Senate majority up in the air until Jan. 5, held up confirmation hearings for Mr. Biden’s team. That has made it impossible for the Senate to move quickly to fill top national security posts, including the secretary of defense, a job normally filled immediately after the president takes office to illustrate continuity of American power.

 

[Lazycrockett]

Pete Buttigieg's hearing is Thursday 10 am. He should sail right through. Then we will finally have an infrastructure Week.

 

[poppy]

Thanks for the info, poppy. A supporting link from the NYTimes:
With Biden's cabinet delayed, the Senate faces a marathon day of confirmation hearings.

and

Let's just call Mitch the Bitch the cock blocker to end all cock blockers. He's moving in turtle time, and not the good kind. Even with the run-off etc etc.

 

[poppy]

Beautiful ceremony.

AP - At a memorial for the lives taken by COVID-19, President-elect Joe Biden is calling on Americans to remember those lost to the coronavirus and to begin to heal.

Biden said Tuesday night, on the eve of his inauguration, that although it’s “hard sometimes to remember,” it’s “how we heal.”

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, speaking before him, emphasized a similar note of unity. While Americans have been grieving alone for most of the pandemic, Harris said, “Tonight we grieve, and begin healing, together.”

The memorial included an invocation from Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who asked that “our prayer strengthen our awareness of our common humanity and our national unity.” A Detroit nurse, Lori Marie Key, sang “Amazing Grace,” noting that the song gives her strength during hard times.

The remembrance ceremony was held at the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool, which was lit up with 400 lights in honor of the 400,000 Americans who have died from the virus. After Biden’s brief remarks, gospel singer Yolanda Adams sang “Hallelujah.”

 

[GemInEye]

We finally have a President who shows, empathy, kindness and truly cares.

 

[barnswallow]

From a Meidas Touch twitter post:

 

[poppy]

^^ Great photos!

 

[DiminutiveRocker]

So far I am hearing adult approaches to this year's chronic problems - covid, economy, climate, healthcare - from the new administration. It's going to be a challenge getting around McConnell's shifty practices and the moderate Dems....

 

[poppy]

So far I am hearing adult approaches to this year's chronic problems - covid, economy, climate, healthcare - from the new administration. It's going to be a challenge getting around McConnell's shifty practices and the moderate Dems....

Isn't Biden a moderate Dem? Which ones does he have to get around?

 

[poppy]

Janet Yellen Confirmed As Treasury Secretary, Becomes First Woman In The Powerful Cabinet Post
​

 

[DiminutiveRocker]

Isn't Biden a moderate Dem? Which ones does he have to get around?

Joe Manchin for one. If he is not on board then your tie-breaking VP vote means nothing.

 

[poppy]

Joe Manchin for one. If he is not on board then your tie-breaking VP vote means nothing.

Agree. But Manchin ain't no "moderate". Let's call him what he is, a Dem/Repub. We have a Gov like that in LA. Too bad Manchin's the one to make it or break it for dems w/o the nuclear option. But one monkey don't stop no show forever.

politicsthatwork.com Summary of voting record: Senator Manchin

opposes big business, environmental protection, financial sector regulation, gun control, hawkish foreign policy, foreign and humanitarian aid, taxing the middle class, military spending, domestic surveillance

supports taxing businesses, restrict money in politics, consumer protection, disaster relief, funding education, public health, labor rights and wages, lgbt rights, internet freedom, a robust safety net, higher spending, women's rights.

 

[poppy]

Merrick Garland Heads For Confirmation Hearing, 5 Years After He Was Denied A Vote​

February 21, 20216:00 AM ET

npr.org - This week, that will change, as a new chapter begins in Garland's lifelong commitment to public service. Garland, 68, will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday as President Biden's pick to serve as attorney general. This time, few obstacles stand in his path to confirmation. But the institution he's likely to join operates largely in a state of shock.

The Justice Department is still reeling from political scandals from the Trump years — and racing to neutralize the threat from homegrown, violent extremists who participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Over a legal career that spans 44 years, Garland has confronted those kinds of problems before. It's one of the many reasons the White House selected him to serve as the nation's top law enforcement officer...

Watched about as much as I could stomach. Miss Lindsay and the repubs cannot stop asking him about the threat of Al-Qaeda, sidestepping the real terrorism threat, homegrown right wing terrorism.

 

[Shanti1]

I have to admit, I really dont follow what Biden/Harris is doing. I dont really pay attention to politics these days. It is so nice. I know that Biden/Harris will try to do what is best for the country.

 

[barnswallow]

One senator has opposed every singe cabinet level nomination: Senator Josh Hawley (MO). From TPM, 3.2.21:
Hawley Defends Uniform Opposition To Biden Cabinet Nominees

Staffing an administration is complicated. WaPo has an excellent article that receives live updates. At the top, there's a summary: about 1250 positions require Senate confirmation! They are tracking 791. There's actually "roughly 4000 politically appointed positions in the executive branch and independent agencies, altogether. Anyway!

I guess I'll write down who's been confirmed of the cabinet secretaries. There are 9: Lloyd Austin for Defense; Janet Yellen for Treasury; Antony Blinken for State; Pete Buttigieg for Transportation; Alejandro Mayorkas for Dept.of Homeland Security; Denis McDonough for Veterans Affairs; Tom Vilsack for Agriculture; Jennifer Granholm for Energy; Miguel Cardona for Education.

6 cabinet secretaries remain to be confirmed: Xavier Becerra for Health and Human Services; Marcia L. Fudge for Housing and Urban Development; Deb Haaland for Interior; Merrick Garland for Justice --> has been reported out favorably from committee; Marty Walsh for Labor; Gina Raimondo for Commerce.

Here's the link:
Joe Biden has picked 58 nominees to fill key roles in his administration so far

 

[poppy]

^ Yup, mouth breather Peacock Hawley.

 

[poppy]

House passes Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief package

The House of Representatives voted early Saturday morning to approve President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package, a major step toward enacting the first legislative priority of the new administration as the devastating fallout from the spread of Covid-19 has left Americans in dire...

www.cnn.com

House passes Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief package​

Updated 2:09 PM ET, Sat February 27, 2021

 

[GemInEye]

Can't stand Hawley. I'm embarrassed that he represents my State.

 

[poppy]

Can't stand Hawley. I'm embarrassed that he represents my State.

Don't feel bad, we've got Kennedy and Scalise. Kennedy sounds and acts like Mr Haney on Green Acres. Scalise got shot and still pimps the NRA.

 

[poppy]

Merrick Garland was confirmed as Attorney General yesterday! Also Marcia Fudge as Housing Secretary.