David Vitter is hiding from Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez over his hold on FEMA nominee.

[madfloridian]

That illustrious Senator from Louisiana who might have a porn star as a primary opponent....has a hold on President Obama's choice to head FEMA. He is Florida's Craig Fugate.

Paging Sen. Vitter: Nelson, Martinez are looking for you

U.S. Sens. Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson this morning were looking for Sen. David Vitter, R-La., who is blocking the nomination of former Florida emergency management chief Craig Fugate as head of FEMA.
Fugate, a former Crist appointee turned Obama nominee, has been cleared by the requisite committee and needs only a Senate vote to become head of the Federal Emergency Management Administration. But Vitter has put a "hold" on his confirmation in hopes of gaining leverage in a long-standing dispute with FEMA over emergency housing in southern Louisiana.

As they entered the Senate chamber for votes today, Nelson and Martinez both said they were hoping to talk with him."I'm trying to talk him out of it," Nelson told Buzz. "Let me go work on him, then I'll come back and tell you."

But about a half-hour later, Nelson emerged empty-handed. "We couldn't find him."

Martinez, a Republican, said it was dangerous politics for a Republican from storm-ravaged Louisiana to be holding up the FEMA chief just three weeks before hurricane season starts.

More about Vitter's hold on Fugate. More about Vitter and his wife Wendy's statement in 2000.

“I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary,” Wendy Vitter told Newhouse News in 2000

In 2000, Vitter was included in a Newhouse News Service story about the strain of congressional careers on families.

His wife, Wendy, was asked by the Newhouse News reporter: If her husband was as unfaithful as former President Bill Clinton, would she be as forgiving as Hillary Clinton?

“I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary,” Wendy Vitter told Newhouse News. “If he does something like that, I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony, trust me.”

“I think fear is a very good motivating factor in a marriage,” she added. “Don’t put fear down.”

I agree with Martinez...it is "dangerous politics for a Republican from storm-ravaged Louisiana to be holding up the FEMA chief just three weeks before hurricane season starts."

[ShortnFiery]

1. Has any staffer been dispatched to look for Vitter in any of the many Beltway Brothel haunts?

Just asking. :silly:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/9/23317/62857

[Tangiers83]

18. look for Vitter?

thats a good question

http://americasfeedback.com/

[tsuki]

21. Can we afford to lose a staffer?

Just asking. :crazy:

[LynneSin]

2. Perhaps Vitter has someone from the American Pug Kennel Club or President of a Pinocle Club...

who wants the job. In Vitter's world these would be more qualified to run FEMA (like Michael Brown, whose prior leadership experience was some racehorse association) than Fugate.

[Ilsa]

3. Look in the adult incontinent disposable pants aisles in drug and grocery stores. nt

[Sebass1271]

4. i can't comprehend this shit.. Democrats are in "power" and

republicans still have the power to uphold votes for the president's nominees... how can this be possible??? why are republicans still holding majorities vote power in committees??????

[sinkingfeeling]

6. They're not. Any member of the US Senate can issue a hold.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Democrats could and did use holds while Bush was in office

Its an old practice...all sides can and have used it over the years

[ooglymoogly]

20. This is how Reid manipulates the kabuki dance laughingly called the dem controlled Senate;

To keep the corpmansters satisfied and still look like a dem. Vitters is on the ropes though....he will have to wave the white diaper I mean flag soon or he will be just another dirty diaper thrown in the trash heap of history; A footnote in "did this really happen" section.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Hint: He's the guy hiding behind the diaper.

[madfloridian]

8. Heh heh

:hi:

[madfloridian]

9. Vitter angry at WH now for saying he is playing politics on the issue.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22249.html

“I can assure you that this isn’t about politics,” Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) writes in an e-mail complaining about the Obama administration’s handling of his inquires about FEMA.

"White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said Thursday night: “President Obama has followed through on his promise to put politics aside by tapping Craig Fugate, who was originally appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush , to lead FEMA. With hurricane season three weeks away, Fugate’s stellar record and bipartisan support deserve Senate confirmation—not partisan posturing from a Louisiana senator who should know better.”

When the nomination was announced, Bush said: “Kudos to President Obama for a great choice.” U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) was quoted as saying Obama “couldn't have chosen a better FEMA director.”

[spanone]

10. how the hell can one senator block a nomination?

[Dr.Phool]

13. It's a rule that should have been abolished years ago.

It's one reason that an asshole Senator, Tom Coburn could hold up funding for national parks for years. Among other things he's held up.

[florida08]

11. oh yeah..this is believable

"it's about putting Louisiana and its citizens first". But what does his website say?

But click on a “PUTTING LOUISIANA FIRST” logo embedded right next to that quote in the mail, and you’re whisked away to the David Vitter for U.S. Senate website, which says: “We need your help in order to win this campaign.”

“Support David by making a contribution today,” the homepage invites right next to a “DONATE” button. Vitter is up for reelection next year.

Yet Martinez sez "Some people utilize (the nominations) process as a way of making a point, or getting attention.”

LOL..don't let the screen door hit ya on the way out

[Zambero]

12. Vitter has a personal stockpile of used disposable diapers

that can be put to good use in a storm emergency, to plug any levee breaches that might occur. There's no longer any need for a FEMA Chief or any other government "intrusion".

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. Vitter is a piece of shit.

He's being pushed by donors who want to build closer to the shore. This practice needs to be stopped.

[bertman]

15. Wendy's all bark and no bite.

Ouch!

[Time for change]

16. Well, this issue needs a lot of publicity

Vitter should not be able to get away with this.

It would be nice if enough LA voters knew about this to vote him out of office in 2010.

[madfloridian]

17. It's dangerous to those in coastal areas as hurricane season nears.

That's what Martinez, Republican, even said.

Vitter has not shown enough capability to have as much "credibility" as he has.

[jeremyfive]

19. Most Respected Prostitute's John in the U.S. Senate

Can somebody put a muzzle on that lowlife cathouse crawler?

David Vitter is a wreck. Gimme a break.

[ooglymoogly]

22. yeah a wreck that repeats; Like rotten meat nt