Have Senate Confirmation hearings become a clown show?

[ThatRobGuy]

I've been watching a few of them over the past few days, and apart from a select few Senators, it would seem as if most of the Senators are merely using these as a political opportunity to go into business for themselves and protect their personal brand or get "likes".


People have questioned the "seriousness" of the some of the nominees leading up to these hearings, but from what I observed, it would seem as if the people doing the questioning are the ones that a little more unhinged and unserious.

It would seem as if the bulk of the exchanges are simply either personal attacks or loaded questions.

And by loaded questions, I'm referring to the onslaught of questions framed in such a way whether neither a simple yes or no is a flattering answer, and then making screaming demands that the person has to answer "Yes or No"

I think I've heard the words "This is a yes or no question" (following a loaded question) no less than 50 times during these hearings.


Questions like "Being that you claim you want to make America healthy again, and the best way to do that is by implementing universal healthcare, are you willing to commit to pushing for universal healthcare if you get the job? This is a yes or no question"

And: "You claim to be an advocate for law enforcement, yet you associate with people who glorified people who stormed the capitol on J6, are you proud of the fact that you're aligned with people who assaulted police?, this is a simple yes or no question"


They'd might as well rename these hearings the "When did you stop beating your wife?" panel.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Clown show? It is far more tragic than that.

 

[Fantine]

Most of us have never seen a more unqualified pool of nominees in our lives. Since the current president wants to dismantle and severely downsize many departments, it seems as if he was looking for a wrecking crew. And so if they are controversial and unpopular, that could be a bonus, and their unpopularity would make it easy for him to cast blame on them as he throws them under the bus.
Tenure of Trump Cabinet members tends to be short. Some, like Pruitt, Carson, and Minuchin, left for corruption and outrageous personal spending. Others, like Mille and the first Secretary of State, were embarrassed to be associated with Trump. The Secretary of State called him a moron (verifiable) and I think Mille might have written a book about how dangerous Trump is.
So I won't get an anxiety attack yet. They'll be gone soon, and since he picked the worst, their replacements may be minimally more competent.

 

[Vambram]

Most of us have never seen a more unqualified pool of nominees in our lives. Since the current president wants to dismantle and severely downsize many departments, it seems as if he was looking for a wrecking crew. And so if they are controversial and unpopular, that could be a bonus, and their unpopularity would make it easy for him to cast blame on them as he throws them under the bus.
Tenure of Trump Cabinet members tends to be short. Some, like Pruitt, Carson, and Minuchin, left for corruption and outrageous personal spending. Others, like Mille and the first Secretary of State, were embarrassed to be associated with Trump. The Secretary of State called him a moron (verifiable) and I think Mille might have written a book about how dangerous Trump is.
So I won't get an anxiety attack yet. They'll be gone soon, and since he picked the worst, their replacements may be minimally more competent.

Most of the rest of us, aka NOT liberals, are very happy and satisfied that President Donald Trump has chosen these men and women to be Cabinet Secretaries. We do not want globalists establishment ruling class people who were part of Trump's first administration, and we do not want any of the globalists establishment types who were part of Democratic Party administrations.

 

[Belk]

Most of the rest of us, aka NOT liberals, are very happy and satisfied that President Donald Trump has chosen these men and women to be Cabinet Secretaries. We do not want globalists establishment ruling class people who were part of Trump's first administration, and we do not want any of the globalists establishment types who were part of Democratic Party administrations.

I don't think your views represent the entirety of "not liberals". I'm guessing most think it a mixed bag.

 

[Fantine]

Most of the rest of us, aka NOT liberals, are very happy and satisfied that President Donald Trump has chosen these men and women to be Cabinet Secretaries. We do not want globalists establishment ruling class people who were part of Trump's first administration, and we do not want any of the globalists establishment types who were part of Democratic Party administrations.

So you chose animal torturers, 14 year heroin addicts, sexual predators, alcoholics, people who accepted bribes for their campaign funds to derail lawsuits from duped Trump University students, election deniers, defenders of criminals, and more. I can't keep up with it all. In your eyes, an improvement?

 

[Vambram]

So you chose animal torturers, 14 year heroin addicts, sexual predators, alcoholics, people who accepted bribes for their campaign funds to derail lawsuits from duped Trump University students, election deniers, defenders of criminals, and more. I can't keep up with it all. In your eyes, an improvement?

I reject the attacks you to which you are referring as mostly dishonest smears from those who don't like RFK Jr, and the rest of your assertions which you are getting from others are all things which the majority of the American voters decided doesn't matter to them. We either don't believe the attacks, or we have realized that the left wing progressive liberal leadership of the Democratic Party are much worse choices than the America First, the Make America Healthy Again crowd, etc. In other words, the American voters chose Donald Trump and also chose to have the GOP majority in the Senate over Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and the leadership of the Democratic Party.

 

[Fantine]

So serious character defects don't matter to Republicans, you say. Thank you. That tells me a lot about today's Republicans.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

In other words, the American voters chose Donald Trump and also chose to have the GOP majority in the Senate over Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and the leadership of the Democratic Party.

This is true. As I have said, the choice was between Godzilla and King Kong. We got King Kong, I hope we can survive. I really do and have serious doubt. Kash Patel???? Comrade Gabbard???? RFK??? It is like he is intentionally undermining the country.

 

[Vambram]

So serious character defects don't matter to Republicans, you say. Thank you. That tells me a lot about today's Republicans.

I saw lots and lots and lots of character defects in Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, and all of the rest of the leadership of the Democratic Party. Also, I saw the Democratic Party promote and support policies which are corrupt and immoral.

 

[Vambram]

This is true. As I have said, the choice was between Godzilla and King Kong. We got King Kong, I hope we can survive. I really do and have serious doubt. Kash Patel???? Comrade Gabbard???? RFK??? It is like he is intentionally undermining the country.

I have no doubts at all that America is going to be stronger, better, safer, and more prosperous because of the policies enacted by President Donald Trump, RFK Jr., and Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel, and the rest of the excellent men & women chosen by President Trump to be leaders in his administration.

 

[ozso]

I've been watching a few of them over the past few days, and apart from a select few Senators, it would seem as if most of the Senators are merely using these as a political opportunity to go into business for themselves and protect their personal brand or get "likes".


People have questioned the "seriousness" of the some of the nominees leading up to these hearings, but from what I observed, it would seem as if the people doing the questioning are the ones that a little more unhinged and unserious.

It would seem as if the bulk of the exchanges are simply either personal attacks or loaded questions.

And by loaded questions, I'm referring to the onslaught of questions framed in such a way whether neither a simple yes or no is a flattering answer, and then making screaming demands that the person has to answer "Yes or No"

I think I've heard the words "This is a yes or no question" (following a loaded question) no less than 50 times during these hearings.


Questions like "Being that you claim you want to make America healthy again, and the best way to do that is by implementing universal healthcare, are you willing to commit to pushing for universal healthcare if you get the job? This is a yes or no question"

And: "You claim to be an advocate for law enforcement, yet you associate with people who glorified people who stormed the capitol on J6, are you proud of the fact that you're aligned with people who assaulted police?, this is a simple yes or no question"


They'd might as well rename these hearings the "When did you stop beating your wife?" panel.

Lots of democrats with sore butts. They keep doing what helped them lose the elections. When those nominees have made the people happy, all that melodrama and disparagement against them will be replayed in 2026.

 

[Fantine]

Lots of democrats with sore butts. They keep doing what helped them lose the elections. When those nominees have made the people happy, all that melodrama and disparagement against them will be replayed in 2026.

Wow. Just wow. By then they will have built up absolutely chilling track records. I can't even wrap my mind around what happens when a dozen completely inexperienced incompetents wreak havoc on the American people. I do have an escape. My grandmother would give me the right to Irish citizenship, but I couldn't confer it on my children.

 

[ozso]

Wow. Just wow. By then they will have built up absolutely chilling track records. I can't even wrap my mind around what happens when a dozen completely inexperienced incompetents wreak havoc on the American people. I do have an escape. My grandmother would give me the right to Irish citizenship, but I couldn't confer it on my children.

Chilling track records and havoc for some people, especially the radical woke. But for all those who voted against that, they'll be getting what they wanted and loving it.

 

[Fantine]

Dream on.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I've been watching a few of them over the past few days, and apart from a select few Senators, it would seem as if most of the Senators are merely using these as a political opportunity to go into business for themselves and protect their personal brand or get "likes".


People have questioned the "seriousness" of the some of the nominees leading up to these hearings, but from what I observed, it would seem as if the people doing the questioning are the ones that a little more unhinged and unserious.

It would seem as if the bulk of the exchanges are simply either personal attacks or loaded questions.

And by loaded questions, I'm referring to the onslaught of questions framed in such a way whether neither a simple yes or no is a flattering answer, and then making screaming demands that the person has to answer "Yes or No"

I think I've heard the words "This is a yes or no question" (following a loaded question) no less than 50 times during these hearings.


Questions like "Being that you claim you want to make America healthy again, and the best way to do that is by implementing universal healthcare, are you willing to commit to pushing for universal healthcare if you get the job? This is a yes or no question"

And: "You claim to be an advocate for law enforcement, yet you associate with people who glorified people who stormed the capitol on J6, are you proud of the fact that you're aligned with people who assaulted police?, this is a simple yes or no question"


They'd might as well rename these hearings the "When did you stop beating your wife?" panel.

We've become a clown show in general, as a country. Journalists are going the way of the dodo bird, legacy media is a joke and, as Scripture says"the love of many has grown cold" People don't empathize when their fellow countrymen are murdered and in actual fact many celebrate death, anarchy and general destruction.

So yes, when that's the backdrop the Senate Confirmation hearings are as big a joke as we have become as a people.

As a result, we just have to put our heads down and work towards a more positive future no matter who it annoys or drives to envy. Not much we can do about those who don't want to join but show in action what we can be as a people.

In the meantime, we are stuck putting up with nonsense in confirmation hearings which is, how many media points for this question, over does this question matter to the job sought.

 

[Pommer]

I saw lots and lots and lots of character defects in Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, and all of the rest of the leadership of the Democratic Party. Also, I saw the Democratic Party promote and support policies which are corrupt and immoral.

Off the top of my head I can probably list about 20 Republicans/Conservatives that I both like and think of as ethical and true to their stated values.

Are there any Democrats/liberals that you can say the same about?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Off the top of my head I can probably list about 20 Republicans/Conservatives that I both like and think of as ethical and true to their stated values.

Are there any Democrats/liberals that you can say the same about?

You didn't ask me but I would answer Fetterman and Gabbard. I believe they are both pro choice and likely hold other views I find morally wrong, I do respect them and find them ethical and true to their stated values.

I can't think of any other names off the top of my head in office, but those two come quickly to mind who hold/held public office in recent years.

I think the problem with some prominent Democrats is that often the moral is to win. When the moral is to win, then it doesn't matter how you get there and all ethical standards are thrown out the window.

Basically, I think we have as a people somehow lost hold of an objective standard in ethics. Traditional liberals and conservatives haven't lost that yet, in the main. But there's elements of the new democratic party that has.

 

[A2SG]

I think the problem with some prominent Democrats is that often the moral is to win. When the moral is to win, then it doesn't matter how you get there and all ethical standards are thrown out the window.

I'd say the same thing about the current GOP, with Trump. Their leader is a convicted felon who has been proven guilty of fraud multiple times in multiple cases, as well as defamation, sexual assault and other crimes, and he was under indictment for more before he successfully won the presidency and those charges were dismissed. Well, temporarily, anyway; none of the charges have been disproven. We'll see what happens when he leaves office. Add to this a near-constant barrage of lies, exaggerations and self-aggrandizement the equal of which few grifters could hope to achieve.

If this, alone, doesn't indicate that the GOP has thrown all ethical standards out the window, I can't imagine what you think the Democrats have done to come close to it.

But, hey...I realize your mileage may vary, and each of us sees our particular side better than the other does...still, I can't think of a single prominent Democrat, ever, who has come close to the ethical black hole that Trump represents.

-- A2SG, though, to be fair, Andrew Jackson stands out....but he does lack the criminal convictions.....

 

[Hazelelponi]

Their leader is a convicted felon who has been proven guilty of fraud multiple times in multiple cases, as well as defamation, sexual assault and other crimes, and he was under indictment for more before he successfully won the presidency

The Democrats political prosecutions are meaningless...

When a prominent figure is declared guilty of a crime because a politician holding the very highest office in the land chooses not to compete against them for public office in an ethical and traditional way (because their polling numbers were tanked) instead preferencing to jail their prominent political opponent, don't expect the public to believe anything you say ever again thereafter and don't expect them to join the "horrible criminal," chorus.

In the history of mankind political prosecutions have never made a person a real criminal, it just makes them someone who offends tyrants and despots. That's always a popular character trait among those living under said tyranny.

John the Baptist, was a convicted criminal. Do you know anyone who disparages him as criminal? But to his credit he absolutely angered tyrants, and often.