# Holy shit, DeVos was confirmed **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266 "2017-02-07T19:35:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/81 "2017-02-08T00:19:50Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > But why does fighting liberalism in education require such a pig-ignorant secretary of education? Was there no-one competent who could play the role? The Republicans are factually wrong about pretty much everything they believe; so, no one competent would qualify since competence inherently goes against their entire educational agenda. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/82 "2017-02-08T00:29:00Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Probably the most ignorant, useless, worthless cabinet nominee ever, and those spineless Republicans lined up behind the liar-in-chief to nominate her. Jesus Christ, Republicans are pathetic and weak. Fucking disgusting. But guns in schools because grizzly bears! ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/83 "2017-02-08T00:32:09Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The Republicans are factually wrong about pretty much everything they believe; so, no one competent would qualify since competence inherently goes against their entire educational agenda. And yet the party of ignorance and incompetence controls the 3 federal branches and most states. Want to keep underestimating or willfully misrepresenting your opposition? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/84 "2017-02-08T00:35:57Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > During JugearS Obama’s reign, Everyone remember this one, next time some asshole starts screaming that we MUST RESPECK DA PRETZELDENT. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/85 "2017-02-08T00:39:33Z")
Jug ears? 🙂 The American Sign Language [sign for Trump.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbYjOLwyxpo) ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/86 "2017-02-08T00:44:39Z")
The good news in all this is that with so many failures in the cabinet, failure is a certainty. Failure will destroy Trump, and that’s a good thing. He’ll be gone in less than 4. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/87 "2017-02-08T00:45:19Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > And yet the party of ignorance and incompetence controls the 3 federal branches and most states. Which mean everything of value about the nation will be destroyed. I’m glad I don’t have children; they will inherit a nation devoted to ignorance, tyranny and cruelty. A poisoned, impoverished wasteland. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/88 "2017-02-08T00:52:57Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Perhaps this offers a hint… > House bill introduced to abolish the Department of Education > [http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/318310-gop-lawmaker-proposes-abolishing-department-of-education](http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/318310-gop-lawmaker-proposes-abolishing-department-of-education) I’d rather see it abolished, than to have that Dominionist bitch running it. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/89 "2017-02-08T00:54:13Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Which mean everything of value about the nation will be destroyed. I’m glad I don’t have children; they will inherit a nation devoted to ignorance, tyranny and cruelty. A poisoned, impoverished wasteland. Well, it will be a good time to buy stocks then. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/90 "2017-02-08T00:54:58Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Well, it will be a good time to buy stocks then. Buying stocks in a market that will crash and stay there is foolish. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/91 "2017-02-08T00:56:19Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Probably the most ignorant, useless, worthless cabinet nominee ever Since you can’t be bothered to back up any of those claims I’m going to give you a 0/10 for effort. > [@](#): > > Republicans are pathetic and weak. And yet they control Congress, the Senate, and the Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/92 "2017-02-08T00:57:49Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > More basic than that seeing how when the Constitution was written candidates didn’t run for election. The VP would have simple been the second-best person for the job. > > I think Collins and Murkowski should be given tons of credit for voting against her. I came in here to agree with this. Its a great sign that even a couple of republicans aren’t rubber stamping his agenda this early. From a political view point a great thing is happening for both parties - total responsibility. Anything that goes right or wrong from now until the next election is going to be Trumps fault. > [@Enginerd](#): > > Murkowski and Collins are both on the Senate Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee. If they really cared that DeVos wasn’t qualified, either one of them could have stopped her nomination by voting “no” in committee. Neither did. Of course then I saw this and lost my feel good since its a great way for some nob gobblers to get the benefit of looking like they’re in opposition while actually being responsible for passing things. On a related note how much damage could Devos actually do in the next four year? Worst case schools are wildly underfunded for 4 or 8 years and a group of kids get a bad education but that is fixable for the kids outside of that cohort as soon as there is a next president so what long term damage could she do? At least sec interior could sell off things or Sec Def could ramp up or down the military or Sec state could start a war and sec treasury could destroy the economy but what can sec edu do? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/93 "2017-02-08T01:08:57Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > And yet they control Congress, the Senate, and the Presidency. And? That doesn’t make them better people, it just means they can do more damage, and no one can stop them. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/94 "2017-02-08T02:48:37Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > On a related note how much damage could Devos actually do in the next four year? Worst case schools are wildly underfunded for 4 or 8 years Four years is important to a kid’s education, eight years would be devastating. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/95 "2017-02-08T02:59:38Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I’m a registered Republican but couldn’t vote Trump in good conscious. Not by a long shot. I can’t imagine the howling that would come from elected Republicans if the Dems nominated and confirmed such unqualified people for cabinet positions. Watching Spicer, Conway, Pence and all the others try to justify what is going on is sickening, a fucking disgrace. The elected officials don’t have one ball between them. I suspect they will pay dearly in 2018. At least I hope and pray that’s the case. There’s room for thinking people like you on the Left(ish). Join us. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/96 "2017-02-08T03:15:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yeah, **doorhinge** , we get it. We know the reason why the Democrats didn’t block this nomination: They didn’t because they couldn’t, because they lack the numbers. That’s not the question. The question is why didn’t the Republicans block her? And that’s a good question, because they _do_ have the numbers, and _could_ have blocked her. If even one more of them had said, no, we want someone who has a clue, they could have had one. It’s not like they’d be betraying their party by doing so: Whoever else Trump nominated would still have been a Republican, after all. So why did they choose a clueless Republican over a Republican who has a clue? I don’t believe that you do get it. I’m not sure that you could ever see it. The Democrat collective has been losing influence in the U.S. Congress for the late eight years. The Democrat collective was shocked that Trump could win POTUS. Now they’re shocked that DeVos could be confirmed. :smack: The Democrat collective will not, can not, listen to the other side of any issue. (That’s why I’m helping you. I know you won’t/can’t change.) “Those” people are to be considered to be beneath the mindset of the Democrat Party Groupthink. After the fact, many in the Democrat collective ask what happened, and what went wrong? It’s too late, of course, unless the Democrat collective is going to use this information to regroup, pull their collective heads out of their collective asses, and start listening to the opposition. To answer your question about why the elected Republicans didn’t block her it’s because the President selected her for his Cabinet, they are willing to give her a chance, AND because they don’t think like the Democrat collective. Nobody thinks like the Democrat collective, except the Democrat collective. I don’t ever remember seeing this many lost, confused, and embarrassed Democrats in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/97 "2017-02-08T03:18:40Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Everyone remember this one, next time some asshole starts screaming that we MUST RESPECK DA PRETZELDENT. You’ll be lucky if you remember it. Good luck with that. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/98 "2017-02-08T03:20:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I love it! > > OP: I can’t believe Republicans would confirm an idiot! > doorhinge: What do you expect? The Republicans have control. > > **doorhinge** actually made fun of the Republicans and didn’t realize it. You’re gonna get tired quick if you keep pointing out stuff doorhinge doesn’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/99 "2017-02-08T03:22:37Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > You’re gonna get tired quick if you keep pointing out stuff doorhinge doesn’t understand. Just for the sake of brevity, [here’s a link](https://www.loc.gov/) to all the stuff **Doorhinge** doesn’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266/100 "2017-02-08T03:22:58Z")
Is it physically impossible for you to actually say the word “democratic?” What happens if you _do_ say it? Do you get magically transported back to the 5th dimension? ETA: Question directed to **doorhinge**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-devos-was-confirmed/779266.md?page=6)