Why is a democrat being appointed as the new Senate majority leader?
922225
The two independents are caucusing with the democrats, giving the Dem's the majority.
827612
It's ending right now. If the Democrats don't take a majority in both houses as predicted, they will certainly make gains. The pendulum is starting to swing the other way. Now all the Democrats need to do is nominate a strong presidential candidate who won't let himself (or herself) be defined by the Republicans.
1108243
Once a bill is introduced in Congress, it is assigned to a committee.  The committee can pass the bill along to the floor of the senate or it can shelve the bill and not do anything.  This bill was being shelved.\n\n  The Democrats were trying to get the bill on the floor for an up or down vote. \n\nWhat was actually being voted on was a procedure to get the bill out of committee.  That is what requires 60 votes.\n\nIt still only takes a simple majority to pass a bill.
331695
Answer - who ever gets to it first. The sitting president can nominate immediately, but it must be put to a vote of the Senate. So unless the Senate holds an emergency session and confirms the nominee prior to the swearing in of the new president, it is extremely unlikely.\n\nIf the sitting president nominated someone, then the presidency changes, then the new president can withdraw the nominee. Technically, the office of the president makes the nomination, not the person president. So, a nominee could survive changing presidents. It is much more likely that they would be withdrawn.\n\nThe most probable scenario is that the sitting president will simply let the opportunity pass, as it would do him no good to try to nominate someone so close to the transfer of the presidency. In addition, senators could choose to decide to filibuster the nominee, thus delaying the confirming vote until after the new president assumes the office.
144625
That more people voted Republican than Democrat.  The Democrats have not yet learned that the country is in fact becoming more conservative each day.  This would not be a problem if the Democrats would run a more moderate candidate with a moderate platform.  The reason this will not happen is Howard Dean is chairman of the Democrat party and will have a liberal platform that only a liberal candidate can even try to sell.
889739
The President has a right to chose whoever he wants as a member in his cabinet.\n\nYour elected official is your voice, so to speak. Congress has to approve the replacement. They will bring him in & question him, just as they do the Supreme Court Justices, and make their decisions from there.\n\nAnytime that you do not approve of your Senators or Representatives in Congress, in your state, contact them & voice your complaint. I do it all the time & everyone should take it upon themselves to be more active in voicing their opinions to their state representatives. When our elected officials figure it out that "someone" is watching every action they take, maybe they will be more apt to listen to us BEFORE we vote them out of office.  Ya think?\n\nIn Iowa, I go to Iowa Congress. There you will find their email address, add it to your list of "favorites" & email them often. Try it....you'll like it. Kind of makes you feel like your voice counts. Because it does!!
877539
Probably because a full scale investigation of the Foley scandal will uncover a lot of dirty little democrat secrets. Lady Pelosi was not very happy with the appointment of Louis Freeh to lead the Foley investigation. Freeh was the FBI director under the Clinton administration and has a history of being non-partisan.
754563
He's a very high ranking Democrat and he did this for a purpose. Their base is failing them
764058
The House of Representatives and the Senate have numerous committees that specialize in different areas of law.  These committees are essentially the gates through which proposed legislation must pass before it can be voted on by the full House or Senate. Examples: Armed Services, Appropriations, Judiciary, Indian Affairs, etc.\n\nThus, it is often said that pending legislation was killed in committee, meaning the committee didn't introduce it for a full vote.\n\nThe newest Congress won't be sworn in until January, so I don't know who the new chairpersons of the various committees will be.  But the source reference link below will take you to Source Watch Organization projections of the incoming chairpersons.\n\nGood luck.
936882
While the Democrats control the House without question, the Senate is still undecided. Either way the president is now a lame duck. However, the label also applies to Democrats at this point. The reason is because the president can veto any legislation they attempt to pass. The conclusion here is don't count on anything substantive happening in government for the next 2 years unless the Democrats truly embrace bi-partisan legislation efforts.
948761
Major leaders of the democrat party are afraid to present themselves to news exposure because in doing so they are subjsect to criticism.  That would take the focus off negative news portrayed in the media against Republicans,  \n\nThe strategy of democrats, planned to a great deal by Chuck Scchummer of NY is a negative campaign, since they have no platform at all of answers to the problems present in the nation and internationally.  These leaders, Pelosi, Dean, Reid, Obama, Clinton are all very left leaning and when they do present views, the majortity of the middle class are NOT that necessarilly enamoured with them.\n\nThey find it safer to hide until after elections.
805980
i agree, but it's been a while since democrats have had control of congress. and don't forget they only control the house right now, it'll still be a while before all the votes for senate are counted and sorted out. here's to hoping for the senate!
982395
It will still be Harry Reid of Nevada who led the Dems when they were in the minority.\n\nOnly now, he's the Majority Leader :)
854513
If the votes are tied then the Veep has escaped "conviction" by a wide margin. It takes 2/3s of the Senators to remove someone from office, not just a majority. The Chief Justice presides over the trial but he does not cast a vote.
815259
She's not automatically the Speaker.  SHe is currently the minority leader, which makes her a clear choice to be elected once the Congress meets in January.  It is unlikely that they will choose anyone else.
802689
You know when I was in management and I promoted someone I always told them that a promotion is not a "reward" or a "prize", it's a challenge to show that you can lead and DO more.  \n\nIf that person came back to those who elevated him / her after 6 months and said "They're all obstructing me.  I can't get anything done and it's not my fault." we'd have to seriously consider a demotion.\n\nSo America promoted the Democrats in Congress.  They are now challenged to do more.  If they are in fact "dancing", they'd better stop and start putting together an action plan... \n\nOne that works.
67192
Judges do not profess membership in a party in respect to their possible judgeship. He is a conservative, and conservatives mostly align with the Republican party.