Little opposition to Clinton expected next week

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are suggesting that Hillary will have an easy go of it next week during her confirmation hearing. From the AP: I think she’s a known commodity. She’s been tested in a lot of ways," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "She ...

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are suggesting that Hillary will have an easy go of it next week during her confirmation hearing. From the AP:

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are suggesting that Hillary will have an easy go of it next week during her confirmation hearing. From the AP:

I think she’s a known commodity. She’s been tested in a lot of ways," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "She expresses herself well, and I don’t think she’ll make any rookie mistakes." […]

The lack of contention surrounding Clinton’s nomination so far is at least in part a result of Senate protocol. Senators are generally willing to allow an incoming president to pick his Cabinet without too much interference.

They also tend to give a certain amount of leeway to one of their own; Clinton spent eight years as the junior senator from New York. While Republicans did not agree with her on such big-ticket political issues as health care and the economy, most GOP senators believe she worked well with them on day-to-day matters, according to Republican aides.

The vote on Hillary will probably take place later in the week, which puts the pressure on NY Gov. David Paterson to decide on her replacement. 

Carolyn O'Hara is a senior editor at Foreign Policy.

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