The Senate Democratic Majority leader could have done this a while ago…
But in entertaining the Alabama Senator’s hold he just wanted to screw with Republicans…
The Senate confirms Air Force General Charles Q. Brown to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replaces Gen. Mark Milley, who could use a political combat retirement after dealing with Donald Trump’s Presidency….
Milley’s book, if done, IS gonna be a best seller …..
The Senate confirmed Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. of the Air Force on Wednesday as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, circumventing Senator Tommy Tuberville’s blockade of Pentagon promotions.
The vote was 83 to 11, and was expected to be followed by confirmations of the Marine Corps and Army chiefs, which also have been held up for months by Mr. Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, over the Defense Department’s abortion-access policies.
General Brown is set to succeed Army Gen. Mark A. Milley when he steps down as Joint Chiefs chairman at the end of the month.
The Democratic majority leader, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, worked around Mr. Tuberville’s roadblock by bringing up each individual nomination for a full Senate vote. But hundreds more promotions remain in limbo over objections by Mr. Tuberville.
Mr. Schumer had been reluctant to force votes on individual nominees for fear of being seen as capitulating to Mr. Tuberville, whose tactics he has likened to hostage taking. The Alabama senator has been blocking a series of promotions of senior generals and admirals in an effort to force the Pentagon to reverse a policy, implemented after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, of giving time off and reimbursing service members who were required to travel to obtain abortion or fertility services…..
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While Mr. Tuberville said he welcomed their quick approvals, he added he would not relent in his push to do away with the abortion access policy. He was among 11 G.O.P. senators who voted against General Brown’s nomination, despite having indicated to reporters in recent months that he would support it.
“They finally figured out I wasn’t going to give in. I’m still not,” Mr. Tuberville told reporters on Wednesday. “They’ve got to do the right thing and move the policy back.”
The White House praised the action but criticized Mr. Tuberville for refusing to back down.
that are held up by this ridiculous hold.”…..
Update….
With the votes to allow George and Smith to officially step into their new positions, the Senate has approved three of President Biden’s military nominees since Wednesday despite Tuberville’s virtual blockade. But more than 300 other senior officers remain ensnared in Tuberville’s months-long hold on promotions with no clear path to immediate advancement in most cases….
Note…
America will now have a Black Sec of Defense and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff….The highest menbers of the United States military….
image…Gen. Charles Q. Brown’s nomination as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was confirmed after Senator Chuck Schumer moved to push three military nominations ahead.Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times