RETHUGLICANS UP TO THEIR USUAL TACTICS.....STILL.

Although they had nearly two months to raise questions and concerns regarding foreign contributors to the former President Clinton's FOUNDATION, Rethuglicans are still playing politics with the confirmation of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

So instead of having one of the highest and most important cabinet positions in place on Wednesday to get to work on serious foreign policy issues such as the current strife in Israel, a Texas Rethug is fondling his balls while stroking his Rethuglican ideology. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) claims he STILL has questions on foreign donors, even though most other Rethugs are moving beyond this issue.

Tomorrow, I predict more showboating by this "politics-as-usual" Rethug.

I really didn't think that my hatred for the (current) Rethuglican Party could grow any stronger.....

(Must.......channel......Obama.........work.....across.......party.........lines...........love.....your......fellow.....country....men..........EVEN RETHUGS....focus.........focus.........a......United......States.......of......America...........)

(See the article in full from the Baltimore Sun here.)

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Senate confirms 5 Cabinet secretaries, budget director, delays Clinton vote

By Janet Hook, Tribune staff reporter

5:10 PM EST, January 20, 2009

The Senate, acting within hours of President Obama's inauguration, confirmed six of his Cabinet secretaries and his budget director, but postponed for one day a vote on the nomination of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

GOP Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), had objected to approving Clinton's nomination by voice vote -- as the other nominees were today -- because he said he had continuing concerns about potential conflicts arising from foreign donations to the foundation of her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Cornyn wanted more debate on the issue and a recorded vote, which was scheduled for Wednesday. She is expected to be confirmed by a wide margin.

Senate leaders have been trying to follow a tradition of putting a new president's Cabinet in place as quickly as possible. Those confirmed today by voice vote, without any debate, were:

• Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winning physicist, as Energy Secretary.

• Arne Duncan, Chicago Public Schools chief, as Education Secretary

• Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security Secretary.

• Peter Orszag as head of the Office of Management and Budget

• Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) as Interior Secretary

• Retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as Veterans Affairs Secretary

• Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary.

Other major Cabinet nominations that are still pending, but are expected to be confirmed soon, include Eric Holder to be Attorney General. He faces questions from Republicans about his role in controversial pardons at the end of Bill Clinton's presidency.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's nomination to be Health and Human Services Secretary has been delayed because Republicans want to examine his tax records.

Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner's confirmation hearing was postponed until Wednesday amid questions about his failure to pay payroll taxes for several years.

Obama's choice for Labor Secretary, Rep. Hilda Solis, is facing opposition from some Republicans because of concern about her lackluster performance in her confirmation hearing and her support for legislation to make it easier for unions to organize workers. It is likely not enough trouble to derail the nomination, but it may slow her confirmation.

Responding to earlier controversy about its foreign donors, the Clinton foundation released a list of contributors and agreed to report annually on any new donations. But Cornyn is calling for increased disclosure of foreign donors, fearing that foreign entities will try to curry favor with the Secretary of State by contributing to her husband's foundation.