I think confirmation hearings should be simple. 1. Refuse to answer a single “Yes/No” question with a “Yes/No” your ass is done and no longer a nominee no matter how many people might have voted to confirm you.
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Absolutely. A straight forward question not requiring explanation should require a simple yes/no. How many times do we get a "No, but..." or a "Yes, however..."
It would be great if senators would show some spine and have the confirmation votes private. No-one gets to know who voted for who. That way threatened Republicans can vote against Trump’s choice if they want.
I believe it is important to learn to answer that way. I stop listening and dismiss those that can not answer a yes or no. Along with making quick decisions. One may not know what they like, but they know what they don’t like. Decide. Don’t get wordy.
You know though it really doesn't matter what he says, Republicans are going to confirm. They do not care about reality anymore this is the Trump show, he controls reality now.
It certainly shouldn’t be allowed to be a shitshow soapbox opportunity like hegseth to avoid direct answers and spout about smear campaigns. The guy is a POS 🤡 and made a joke of a serious proceeding.
Seven minutes per senator for questions is ridiculous. Especially when none of them will give a yes or no answer when it's called for. In my opinion twenty minutes at least would be much more reasonable.
I’m sorry, but what’s the point… they are all gonna be confirmed anyway aren’t they… all these hearings and reports mean jack shit… the game is rigged and we are on the losing end…
It was SO frustrating to watch! Kaine’s question weren’t allegations or claims at all. Kaine never talked about charges brought against Hegseth but Hegseth kept repeating the same line while NEVER answering a damn YES or NO
All of these nominees will fly through like shit through a goose. The republicans will give their fealty to Trump and they're terrified of being primaried by Musk's money. They have no spine.
Sometimes what seem to be yes/no questions cannot be answered truthfully with either a simple yes or no. The correct answer may depend on information not provided in the question. The answer may not yet be knowable. The question itself may be based on a dishonest premise.
Totally agree. Sadly, Dems didn't ask chair to require this. Didn't "reclaim their time" when he filibustered. At least Duckworth made a big point of "can he say yes or no." Answer, of course, is he's a robot and could only recite programmed answers. Kelly asked for second round/chair refused.
I'm choosing not to allow my mental btus to be wasted worrying about them. Most of them won't last! Flynn didn't last a month. I think this is a mental game in part to get us outraged and burn out! We know it's going to be horrible...
I think only 5% of your answers can have the ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t remember’. If you’re unable to remember shit, you’re not able to hold that job.
Obviously I’m not au fait with your political system but watching the hearing as a Scot I wanted to keep telling him to answer yes or no till he did. He talked over the senators showing disrespect.
I just didn’t like him. Mind you listening to him praise Trump was enough. Creepy.
If you refused to answer a direct question in a job interview are you going to be offered the job? Nah
If you obviously lie & get caught in that lie in a job interview you aren't getting that job
But I guess when the liar in chief is your boss the more lies the better?
I’m in agreement with Mark Cuban on this, should ask policy questions. Those will require more complex answers.
However, as Pres Biden said at Pres Carter’s funeral: Character matters, but knowing the job&how decisions are arrived at is important.
Hegseth failed in every way.
Can you imagine going into a job interview with a attitude like that! Not answering questions and being combative! Only weak,spineless, wyt rapist males always get promotions! So sick of this B.S.
Exactly. Another immediate disqualification: blaming the media for bringing up your past. You can’t answer questions about your past, don’t apply for the job.
People who have nothing to hide answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’!
The others are liars! BTW I agree with above; have private vote counts! The felon wouldn’t get half his nominees!
This is a solid solution, Jack. Time saving, too. Liars won’t answer “yes” or “no” questions. That’s when I knew to push harder on cross examination in trials.
There's no effective penalty for lying to the senators during confirmation hearings.
When challenged like Warren did on recent conversion, candidate would lie: "That was my personal opinion. As Sec of ___, I'd have a duty to follow the law."
You can't convict someone of lying about what they would do in the future, i.e., once they're in office. They can always say "I changed my mind", or "circumstances were different", or "I became aware of new (to me) evidence", and that's plausible.
Jack, if it were done right, 99% of potential nominees wouldn't get past a MANDATORY deep background check.
Their boy, Pete flags ALL of the MICE criteria.
I've managed a peek at his Bronze Star citation and it reads like a 'self-award'. His service record merited neither attention nor promotion.
Bondi is selectively good at answering yes or no - solely dependent on what side of the isle the question is coming from. So far both nominees have made me nauseous
Another thing we don't have in Australia... confirmation hearings. All our Cabinet leaders have been in the game for a while, they get assigned a portfolio, and if they totally bugger up the job, they get voted out the next election
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But then we’d have totally different leadership who would protect democracy. I don’t see the down side!
👍
"What is your favorite colr?"
Maybe it will occur to the kids one day when politicians start hurting THEIR kids, that they are serving their own demise.
It's funny how that works.
The SCOTUS is a shining example.
And BTW the voters don't care.
(Jeff Sessions)
I just didn’t like him. Mind you listening to him praise Trump was enough. Creepy.
If you obviously lie & get caught in that lie in a job interview you aren't getting that job
But I guess when the liar in chief is your boss the more lies the better?
However, as Pres Biden said at Pres Carter’s funeral: Character matters, but knowing the job&how decisions are arrived at is important.
Hegseth failed in every way.
The others are liars! BTW I agree with above; have private vote counts! The felon wouldn’t get half his nominees!
There are absolutely zero consequences for lying in Washington. Zero.
They already lie with every breath, and nobody is ever held accountable.
I'm really not sure why they even hold these hearings. They never accomplish anything.
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But it'd just encourage lying.
There's no effective penalty for lying to the senators during confirmation hearings.
When challenged like Warren did on recent conversion, candidate would lie: "That was my personal opinion. As Sec of ___, I'd have a duty to follow the law."
It all comes down to character & integrity.
Deny, Defend, Deflect ( my version)
The Pentathlon of Senate advice and consent.
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Their boy, Pete flags ALL of the MICE criteria.
I've managed a peek at his Bronze Star citation and it reads like a 'self-award'. His service record merited neither attention nor promotion.