# How do you solve a problem like Tuberville **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 25, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571 "2023-07-25T17:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/241 "2023-12-06T05:24:10Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > What did he accomplish? He got his name in the news. That is all it takes to lead to sweet, sweet cash donations. It’s all about the Benjamins. He did not give two little shits for his supposed “agenda” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/242 "2023-12-06T12:52:49Z")
Might I point out that we’re still lacking the ten or so upper-echelon confirmations, which Tuberville probably sees as “too woke”. He hasn’t stopped his blockade, he’s only lessened it. He’s still holding out , supposedly on his ideological grounds; the problem still isn’t resolved; and the top offocers are the ones you’d want to try to get on your side if you’re hoping for any sort of confrontation. This isn’t over yet. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/243 "2023-12-06T13:10:13Z")
Yeah, but 10 officers can go through the regular process, whereas 400 would have taken forever. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/244 "2023-12-06T13:22:26Z")
And you can make a better case that O10 is a specific appointment unlike regular career progression. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/245 "2023-12-06T13:29:20Z")
Well, _I couldn’t_ make that case, because I have no idea what it means, but I trust you. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/246 "2023-12-06T13:38:41Z")
Sorry – O10 is the pay grade of “four star” officer. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/247 "2023-12-06T14:35:12Z")
Yes, i can see the argument that at the 4-star level, there should be individual assessments. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/248 "2023-12-06T16:57:04Z")
I see the argument. I sort of even agree with it. I don’t think Tommy understands the argument. The position that many 4 star generals are often assigned as combatant commanders. Despite the name it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with active combat. There is a fundamental misunderstanding of the chain of command most Americans have. The Joint Chiefs command nothing. The 4 star commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands all report directly to the president. When you get to that level you have equal or more responsibility and authority than most high level appointments that the Senate has to give consent to. It makes sense to give the commander of Central Command the same level of scrutiny as the Secretary of Education. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/249 "2023-12-06T17:09:42Z")
I agree with this. It’s only ten of them. Of those at least a few will be acceptable to everyone ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/250 "2023-12-06T17:43:03Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Yeah, but 10 officers can go through the regular process, whereas 400 would have taken forever. And they could have gone through the regular process if Tuberville hadn’t jammed 400 others down Congress’ throat. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/251 "2023-12-06T18:06:21Z")
No they would have been in the unanimous consent vote unless a senator had an objection to any of them. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/252 "2023-12-06T18:07:10Z")
This does suggest that maybe the Senate needs to rethink how they handle the confirmation of promotions in those levels. But more in general, Tuberville serves as a reminder that a lot of the Senate’s vaunted role as the “more deliberative” body is an artifact of the default setting being utter immobility that any single member can monkeywrench, and of how the size and complexity of the modern government has caused _both_ Houses to rely on “unanimous consent” and “suspension of rules” to get anything done. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/253 "2023-12-06T18:27:57Z")
Although he got all the attention because of how utterly stupid his strategy was, Tuberville is not the only Senator to deploy a blanket hold on nominations. Senator J.D. Vance has put a blanket hold on all Department of Justice nominees to protest the prosecution of Trump. Senator Joe Manchin announced a blanket hold of all EPA nominees earlier this year over greenhouse gas emissions regulations. And Senator Bernie Sanders announced a hold on the NIH director and “all health nominees” until the Administration announced a comprehensive plan to reduce prescription drug prices. Ultimately, this is why it took so long for even Democratic Senators to come around on forcing the issue. Because set the precedent that an unpopular hold can be circumvented, and suddenly their current and future holds lose some of their power. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/254 "2023-12-06T19:35:55Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Of those at least a few will be acceptable to everyone Oh, sweet summer child, you underestimate the willingness of those who tear down instead of build up. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/255 "2023-12-06T20:01:44Z")
Fair enough but it’s just ten votes that can be done relatively quickly ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/256 "2023-12-09T03:58:08Z")
My fingers ache as I type this, but Tuberville is acting as the voice of reason in the latest idiotic Florida brain-leakage. [Fight over College Football Playoff spills into Senate](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4348844-college-football-playoffs-senate/). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/257 "2023-12-09T04:03:20Z")
What the fuck does Congress have to do with College sportsball playoffs? Now, anytime a GOPer doesn’t like something, there’s investigations and threats? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/258 "2023-12-09T04:08:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Now, anytime a GOPer doesn’t like something, there’s investigations and threats? They’ve mistaken “small government” for “petty government”. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/259 "2023-12-09T04:12:33Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Tuberville is acting as the voice of reason in the latest idiotic Florida brain-leakage. Well, because here he’s talking about something he legit _knows_ about. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/260 "2023-12-09T04:32:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Now, anytime a GOPer doesn’t like something, there’s investigations and threats? Yes. The answer is yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571.md?page=14)