Looks like Devos may be Sunk. Collins, Murkowski and now Nelson have said No.

[berni_mccoy]

If they hold out, and no Dems defect, there will be 51 votes against Devos.

http://orlando-politics.com/2017/02/01/bill-nelson-is-a-no-on-betsy-devos-secretary-of-education-nomination/

I'll believe it when the votes are counted.

[manicraven]

1. Keeping fingers crossed...

Super ridiculous that she was selected by tRump in the first place.

[BeyondGeography]

2. We still need another R

Not yet 51. And I don't think it's happening.

[virtualobserver]

3. Nelson is a Democrat- still 50-50

[eleny]

4. No doubt, pressure will be exerted

[Initech]

5. So who does Trump have next in line?

I'm worried it may be someone much scarier.

[brush]

6. The woman plagiarized answers to the committee, and she's up for Education Secretary...

Come the fu_k on.

For Education Secretary?

Also has no experience at anything but pushing private/charter schools.

Should be a no-brainer to vote no.

[chillfactor]

8. true..

but then we know recons have no functioning gray cells.

[Yavin4]

15. Well, when she opened her speech with

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us

People should have known something was amiss.

[brush]

16. Heeheehee! At least she picked some good ones.

[gopiscrap]

27. I thought she opened her speech with

"Four score and seven years ago"

[certainot]

29. republicans have an incredible tolerance for hypocrisy when

they've got limbaugh and sons rationalizing it all day -= remember when that democrat got caught doing so and so in 1862? now that was an outrage....

[DrDan]

7. huh???? Nelson is a Dem

[DeadLetterOffice]

28. You're right. The OP is mistaken.

Current count is 2 defecting Rs and a 50-50 vote tally if they hold their position.

[Girard442]

9. Said it in another thread.

I'll bet Collins and Murkowski were allowed to go off the reservation because the top dogs are 100% confident of the 50. I'd like to be proven wrong.

[NJCher]

19. Collins and Murkowski were NOT

"allowed to go off the reservation." They are genuinely voting their conscience. I saw them both discussing it, and they truly believe DeVos should not be heading this department.

Their stated reasons? That their phones having been ringing off the hook and they have been inundated with emails and letters. One of them, Murkowski, I believe, said she tried, genuinely tried, to find a reason to vote for DeVos's confirmation, but could not.

Some representatives do listen to their constituents.

Having said that, however, you can better believe that other Republicon reps have had plenty of input and are choosing to ignore it,.


Cher

[3catwoman3]

10. There had better...

...NOT be any Dems who defect.

[HughBeaumont]

11. Of course, Ohio's butthole Senator Gunner Bobby Portman is confirming.

Fucker. Such an insufferable rubberstamp.

It's a good thing we have Sherrod Brown or we'd be totally screwn like the Bewsh 43 years.

[yardwork]

12. Hope so.

[madokie]

13. I've got my legs crossed

and a couple fingers crossed too

Seems to be all we can do about any of this is trust in make believe

[Thrill]

14. You sure we can count on Manchin?

[Progressive dog]

17. From wikipedia Nelson is a Democrat

Clarence William "Bill" Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party

[angrychair]

18. We need a couple more Rs

You can be sure she has at least one or more Dem votes, based on past voting of trump cabinet nominees, she likely has Manchin and Feinstein.

[world wide wally]

20. They might as well make me Secretary of the Treasury while we'er at it

[Volaris]

22. I predict that you'd be better at that job than she will be as SecEd.

Besides silly, this is the Trump Administration. Goldman-Sucks will be handling the Money Department from now on.

[world wide wally]

23. Well, at least I was teacher

[Volaris]

30. Then you're obviously overqualified for these people.

On the plus side tho,if you say you like Russia (even just a little bit) you'd be virtually guaranteed a job at the State Dept...

[hibbing]

21. I contacted my senators today n/t

[raccoon]

25. Me too. nt

[Hulk]

24. Can't trust a politician,

Especially a repuKKKe.

[Thor_MN]

26. DC residents are urged to use caution and report any angry Turtle sightings immediately.

Do not approach an angry Turtle. The sound of laughter has been known to keep one at bay.