Todd Blanche is now attorney general. The Senate voted 50-49. Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote, which means somewhere a staffroom whiteboard has "Cassidy: maybe" finally updated to "Cassidy: yes."
Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted no. These are the same two senators who vote no on everything controversial, then watch it pass anyway, then release statements expressing deep concern. It's performance art at this point. They're the political equivalent of someone who says they're leaving the party but stands by the door for three hours.
Blanche won by one vote. One. The margin between becoming the nation's top law enforcement officer and going back to whatever lawyers do when they lose—probably yelling at paralegals about formatting.
Cassidy was the deciding vote, which is a polite way of saying he'll spend the next six months explaining this decision to people who already hate him. He traded his credibility for the chance to be a footnote in a confirmation hearing most Americans didn't know was happening. Bold strategy.
Collins and Murkowski opposed him, but not enough to actually stop him, which is their brand. They get to tell donors they stood firm while also attending the same caucus lunches as everyone who voted yes. It's having your cake, expressing concern about the cake, then watching someone else eat the cake.
The vote was 50-49 because one senator wasn't there. Probably stuck in traffic. Probably on a call. Definitely unaware their absence would be the third most important detail in a confirmation that will be forgotten by Wednesday.
Blanche is attorney general now. Cassidy made it happen. Collins and Murkowski made a statement. And retail traders are somehow convinced this affects their Tesla calls.
Photo by Rogelio Gonzalez on Unsplash
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