— Domani Spero
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On September 18, the Senate confirmed the following State Department nominations. Also confirmed were the nominees for USTR and USAID.
South Korea: Mark William Lippert, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
Ireland: Kevin F. O’Malley, to be Ambassador to Ireland
State/IO: Bathsheba Nell Crocker, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (International Organization Affairs)
State/NPT: Adam M. Scheinman, to be Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation, with the rank of Ambassador
USTR: Robert W. Holleyman II, to be Deputy United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador
USAID: Alfonso E. Lenhardt, to be Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
Looking at the names of these lucky ones who made it out of the Senate, one simply feels bad for career diplomats who typically do not have BFFs in high places to lobby for their confirmation. Nominees for Palau and Timor-Leste who both have waited over 400 days may be forced to wait many more days unless the Senate act on those nominations in the next couple of days. Or perhaps after the November election? Perhaps next year? Nominees for Paraguay, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Cabo Verde, all career diplomats are also stuck in the Senate. Confirmation by crisis works as we have seen clearly this year, though not all the time. But if a coup or a civil strife breaks out in any of these places in the next 48 hours, the nominees might, just might get moved up the Senate’s “we haven’t forgotten you” list before the clock runs out.
Well, what are you waiting for? Start something happening somewhere, pronto!
@Diplopundit @lrozen Senate ready to confirm staffers and bundlers but not diplomats?
— Stephen Sestanovich (@SSestanovich) September 19, 2014
Oh, wait! Too late to start a coup. The Senate’s gone, people!
The #Senate just adopted the ADJOURNMENT RESOLUTION by voice vote. — Niels Lesniewski (@nielslesniewski) September 19, 2014
The #Senate is gone. See you in the #lameduck.
— Niels Lesniewski (@nielslesniewski) September 19, 2014
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