White House, Gibbs Blasts Shelby Hold on Nominees

[babylonsister]

White House Blasts Shelby Hold on Nominees
By KATE PHILLIPS AND JEFF ZELENY


The White House fired back this morning at a move by Senator Richard Shelby, Republican of Alabama, who placed a “blanket hold” on dozens of President Obama’s nominees awaiting confirmation before the Senate.

Roberts Gibbs, the White House press secretary, sharply criticized Mr. Shelby’s actions, calling it the best instance yet for how Washington is broken. “I guess if you needed one example of what’s wrong with this town, it might be that one senator can hold up 70 qualified individuals to make government work better because he didn’t get his earmarks,” Mr. Gibbs told reporters today. “If that’s not the poster child for how this town needs to change the way it works, I fear there won’t be a greater example of silliness throughout the entire year of 2010.”

He added: “It boggles the mind to hold up qualified nominees for positions that are needed to perform functions in a government because you didn’t get two earmarks.”

Regan Lachapelle, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, confirmed that Senator Shelby has put a hold on dozens of nominations made by Mr. Obama for various government posts. Those include Pentagon and State Department positions.

“Senator Shelby is holding all of the president’s nominees pending on the Executive Calendar,” Ms. Lachapelle said. “Regardless of his concern, Shelby shouldn’t have a hold on 70-plus nominees because of a parochial issue.”

more...

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/white-house-blasts-shelby-hold-on-nominees/

[MadBadger]

1. K&R

[WhiteTara]

2. don't forget to call Shelby's office

here's the number
Shelby, Richard C. - (R - AL)
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]

He needs to hear from the people of the country. He staff needs lots of calls. Please join me in the cathartic action of calling him a traitor for his political actions.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Excellent!

[WCGreen]

4. The DSCC mus make him the poster boy for what is wrong in Washington...

Make that pasty, puffy, white face the face of the Republican party...

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. 'Porky' Shelby from Alabama!

[ericgtr]

6. The problem isn't Shelby it's the system

What does anyone expect? As long as the system allows for one dumbass tool to block something they are going to do it.

[JoePhilly]

7. Kick the Prick!!

[WhiteTara]

8. yes! and call him

here's the number
Shelby, Richard C. - (R - AL) Class III
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSena...

[burning rain]

9. Another good reason to change Senate rules to more or less mirror the House.

Radically decrease the power of each individual senator, strip the rights to filibuster and place holds, move away from unanimous consent to rules-based consideration with strict time limits defined up front.

I know the Founders intended the Senate to be a bastion of states' rights and property, but I don't think that those slave-owning aristocrats should have the last word.

[brand404]

10. Repub arent afraid of the WH and so expect more examples of this going forward...

the WH has shown they will capitulate on a lot of things as was the case on several occasions with Lieberman, and other corporate democrats....The republicans are just playing the same game and want their piece of the pie and Obama has shown in the past that he will bend to do so.