neo-lib neera

Neera Tanden (D-MA) is getting voted on today by the Senate to be confirmed as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. However, this is Biden's most controversial pick. Let's get to know Neera and her confusing yet questionable past. Let's start with the good--

Tanden worked with several presidential campaigns such as Michael Dukakis in 1988, Bill Clinton in 1992, and Barack Obama in 2008. She was a close Hillary ally serving as her senior staffer during her time as first lady and into her tenure as the NY senator. She served as an advisor to Hillary during her 2008 presidential bid, which was unsuccessful. During Hillary's 2016 bid, she served as an advisor yet again leading her to secure the Democratic nomination against Sanders (I-VT). Tanden also served in the Obama administration as as senior adviser to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services and helped draft the legislation involved with the Affordable Care Act.

Now the ugly--

Tanden reportedly punched Faiz Shakir, who would go on to serve as Bernie's 2020 campaign manager after asking about Hillary's vote on a specific bill. She is also accused of fabricating an email (was written in her iPhone notes app). But, that doesn't seem to be the worst of it. After her nomination was announced, she exchanged "progressive" to "liberal" in her Twitter bio. She also deleted over 1,000 previous tweets. Some attacking senators left and right, including Cruz (R-TX) and Collins (R-MA). She attacks progressive like Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Nina Turner (D-OH) but labeled herself as one on Twitter?

As Neera faces the Senate confirmation, I believe she will not have the votes. With Collins (R-ME), Romney (R-UT), Manchin (D-WV) voting against her, I believe most Republicans will follow suite. She would need to gain at least 1 Republican to get the 50, but Sinema (D-AZ) will likely join the no's along with Sanders (I-VT). Her path to confirmation is slim and a replacement will be announced shortly following the vote. Shalanda Young is being seen as a replacement nominee quickly emerging.

We will see where this goes and how we move forward from here. The next post will focus on the governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem and her political experience and COVID-19 response, or therefore, lack of.