# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/121 "2023-09-08T17:05:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Which tells me he thinks this situation is helping the Ds and hurting the Rs and is in no hurry to fix it. He might be right politically, but as a fan of a government that can function, I’d like him to get this done. Call a vote and beat this down once and for all. Yeah - they talk about how time consuming individual votes would be, but it takes even longer if they never start! ---
**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:** [September 8, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/122 "2023-09-08T18:10:07Z")
They’re pretty busy with other things such as the budget. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/123 "2023-09-08T19:37:39Z")
IMO part of the rationale is that if the dems brute force the top brass through then it takes the pressure of the GOP - with the stakes considerably lower there’s less of a chance to get the GOP to release the holds. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/124 "2023-09-08T20:03:21Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They’re pretty busy with other things such as the budget. Yeah - they were pretty busy all last month! ;). And I’m not sure why each nomination has to be all that time-consuming… I was wondering whether Congress is now looking at these perpetually threatened shutdowns as their now standard manner for handling everything. Instead of addressing individual issues responsibly and separately, they just wait until the next self-imposed “final hour”, and pass a whole bunch of stuff together. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/125 "2023-09-08T21:42:39Z")
I wonder if they ever read the Tennyson poem in which the sailors of a ship in battle remained inactive and went down with their ship because of how much they hated the captain. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/126 "2023-09-09T14:49:51Z")
The highest positions are what is getting the press but I think that’s the least important part of this. If a handful of positions have a general with “acting” in front of his position it’s not a big deal. What’s more important to the smooth running of the military are the thousands of O-4 to O-6 promotions that are held up. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/127 "2023-09-10T00:13:03Z")
Those promotions are not being held up, fortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/128 "2023-09-12T13:03:49Z")
Mike Lee of Utah has joined Tuberville [by suggesting that the GOP defund the Secretary of Defense and/or the Pentagon.](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/gop-senator-raises-specter-defunding-defense-secretary-rcna104352) According to the article, he criticized Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for “funding abortion travel.” There’s no chance it would work, but it’s a lot of sound and fury that stops more substantive work being done. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/129 "2023-09-12T13:12:21Z")
> [@](#): > > [Dem: Tuberville ‘doesn’t know what in the hell he’s talking about’](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/dem-tuberville-doesnt-know-hell-s-talking-rcna104589) > > Sen. Tommy Tuberville told reporters he assumed that Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley would stay on past his Oct. 1 retirement date until there’s a Senate-confirmed replacement. When informed that, by law, Milley will have to leave his post on that date, Tuberville responded: “He has to leave? He’s out. Get somebody else to do the job.” > > … > > Given these inflexible circumstances, "_He has to leave?"_ was the wrong question for Tuberville to ask — especially as he accuses a fellow Republican of not being “up on his facts.” > **[Tuberville on Milley](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/09/11/congress/tuberville-milley-pentagon-blockade-00115099)** > > Sen. Tommy Tuberville told reporters he assumed that Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley would stay on past his Oct. 1 retirement date until there’s a Senate-confirmed replacement. When informed that, by law, Milley will have to leave his post on... ---
**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:** [September 12, 2023, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/130 "2023-09-12T14:22:10Z")
> As for the senator’s contention that someone should “get somebody else to do the job” of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, there’s already a qualified nominee in place who has broad support. Everyone is simply waiting for Tuberville to get out of the way. If I were in charge of the Senate, I’d be half-tempted to take this quote as Tuberville formally withdrawing his holds, and publicly and ostentatiously thank him for finally coming to his senses. Then strategically ignore him when he tries to backpedal, and pass this shit. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/131 "2023-09-12T16:04:50Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Mike Lee of Utah has joined Tuberville [by suggesting that the GOP defund the Secretary of Defense and/or the Pentagon.](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/gop-senator-raises-specter-defunding-defense-secretary-rcna104352) Not a huge fan of our level of defense spending, so maybe this would be enough to make this libby switch teams? So they clearly aren’t in favor of fiscal conservatism. If they aren’t for a strong defense, exactly what DO the Rs stand for again? 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/132 "2023-09-12T17:49:53Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Maddowblog Comments on Tuberville’s condemnation of Poetry in the Military. Does this guy think all poetry is “woke” or “foppish” or “un-manly”? > > [To defend blockade, Tuberville points at ‘poems on aircraft carriers’](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/defend-blockade-tuberville-points-poems-aircraft-carriers-rcna104047) Why does Tommy Tuberville hate The Star-Spangled Banner? And My Country, ‘Tis of Thee? And The Marines’ Hymn? And … Since just about all popular songs are poetry set to music, obviously Tommy should ban all non-instrumental music from the military to keep our troops unsullied by poetic influences and fit to fight. I’m sure the troops will thank him for it. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/133 "2023-09-13T20:08:33Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I wonder if they ever read the Tennyson poem i Reading is “woke” and poems are for lefties. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/134 "2023-09-20T23:04:07Z")
[Looks like](https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/20/politics/tommy-tuberville-schumer-nominations-vote/index.html) the Senate may be moving forward 1 at a time. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/135 "2023-09-20T23:10:38Z")
> [@](#): > > But, Tuberville warned, his blockade continues. > > “So, to be clear, my hold is still in place. The hold will remain in place as long as the Pentagon’s illegal abortion policy remains in place. If the Pentagon lifts the policy, then I will lift my hold. It’s easy as that,” he said. So in the US system, every Senator has a veto on all government policies, in addition to the power of a minority of 31 to block all legislation. Parliamentarianism is looking better and better. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/136 "2023-09-21T02:12:12Z")
I must agree. I’ve thought parliamentarianism is a better system for a while than what we have down here. The Senate in particular has some really stupid ass rules with nothing to do with the Constitution and this is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/137 "2023-09-21T02:27:20Z")
@Northern_Piper It’s a specific situation that gives him the ability to do this. It’s not that he can block policy. It’s that he can override the Senate’s unanimous consent to suspend the rules. And one of those rules is that they have to be able to consider each appointment separately. And, no, I don’t know why they don’t use a simple majority to just rewrite the rules, which they have the power to do. What are they concerned will happen if they do allow them to vote on more than one at a time? (Note that voting one at a time means up to two hours to debate each one. They need unanimous support to suspend that rule in a particular case.) ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/138 "2023-09-21T02:36:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And, no, I don’t know why they don’t use a simple majority to just rewrite the rules, which they have the power to do. The Senate cannot rewrite the rules with a simple majority. However, it only requires a majority to appeal the ruling of the chair on a point of order, which both is and isn’t the same thing. It’s . . . complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/139 "2023-09-21T03:06:58Z")
So, is there no legislative or executive action conceivable to punish Tuberville and the state of Alabama until they see the error of their ways? LBJ would not have let a lone Senator get away with shit like this without consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571/140 "2023-09-21T03:12:15Z")
LBJ would have jawboned him to death, sure. I don’t know that he had any more power 55 years ago, other than his personal persuasiveness and relationships, than Biden has. The problem now is political, not structural. Ideology now trumps everything, including economic interests. If Tuberville’s actions are guaranteed to get him re-elected, which they probably are, there isn’t much anyone can do about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-tuberville/987571.md?page=8)