Clinton Nomination Hearings

I was checking out Michelle Malkin's blog today. She was live-blogging Hillary Clinton's nomination hearing for Secretary of State. It was a love-fest according to Malkin with the Republicans trying to one-up the Democrats in the "We love you more than they do" game.

Why is it that Republican Senators have to always make nice, compromise, give in to the Democrats? They campaign around their states on profound differences with their Democratic opponents, yet when they get back to Washington, those differences don't seem so different anymore. They are not all like that. Senators Cornyn (R-TX), DeMint (R-NC), Inhofe (R-OK), Coburn (R-OK) and a few others usually don't just go along with the flow. They are not what I call "pragmatic Republicans." (Please note that I did mention my own Senator, John McCain above. As far as I'm concerned he's the worst offender of them all.)

There are issues regarding Bill Clinton's global foundation donors, which were just made public, and Hillary's actions on behalf of some of those donors as a Senator. These issues cannot be ignored. Will she make concessions to Saudi Arabia because they donated millions to Bill's foundation? If not asked and not answered clearly and transparently, we will not know for sure. How can she distance herself from Bill's donors while negotiating with them? Personally I don't think she can. But though the questions might be asked, the vague platitudes will never will questioned by Senate members.

I cannot watch these hearings. Spineless Republicans don't want to say anything that might be interpreted as offending "their good friend" Senator Clinton. Even at the cost of possible US security. This is not the case with Democrats. Did you watch them try to take Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito apart during their hearings? They don't care if Republicans like them or not unless, of course, they want a concession from them. Offending the Bush nominees for federal offices has been standard operating procedure for them.

I don't expect Republicans to "offend" although tough questions and follow-ups are now equated with victimizing a person or hurting their feelings. I do expect them to ask the tough questions that are in the best interest of this country and the people.

I suspect they will fall all over themselves fawning and gushing over every one of Obama's nominees. I expect that all of his nominees will be confirmed. Even those who might do us more harm than good.