Sen. Tuberville’s military promotions hold questioned amid Israel-Hamas war

FOCUS FROM CONGRESS IS NOW BEING DIVERTED FROM 2024 BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS –

TO HOW THE U.S. CAN BE **READY IN THE CASE ISRAEL NEEDS MORE SUPPORT FROM ITS ALLY NOW THAT ITS DECLARED WAR.

RIGHT NOW – IT’S QUIET ON CAPITOL HILL.

ANY POTENTIAL ISRAELI AID PACKAGES WILL HAVE TO WAIT –

THE SENATE IS ON RECESS THIS WEEK.

AND THE HOUSE IS GETTING ITSELF IN ORDER TO VOTE ON A NEW HOUSE SPEAKER.

BUT ONE CONCERN – LARGELY COMING FROM DEMOCRATS – IS WHETHER ALABAMA SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE’S HOLD ON MILITARY PROMOTIONS WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT GIVEN THE U.S. IS CURRENTLY MOVING ITS LARGEST NAVY SHIP INTO THE REGION.

THE DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND – WHICH OVERSEES MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST – ALONG WITH THE NAVY’S FIFTH FLEET COMMANDER OPERATING IN THE REGION – ARE AMONG THOSE AWAITING CONFIRMATION.

THE TOP OFFICERS FOR THE NAVY AND  AIR FORCE –

ARE ALSO WAITING.

IN THE MEANTIME –

NOMINEES ARE OPERATING AS PLACEHOLDERS UNTIL CONFIRMATIONS COME THROUGH –

SO MILITARY OPERATIONS THEMSELVES –

ARE NOT IMPACTED.

HOWEVER IT’S A NUISANCE THAT IS PILING UP.

MORE THAN 300 MILITARY MEMBERS ARE AWAITING PROMOTIONS.

AND THE RECENT CONFLICT IS NOT MOVING TUBERVILLE AS HE STANDS BY HIS  HOLDOUT.

FEW OUTLETS ARE CURRENTLY REPORTING ON TUBERVILLE’S HOLD

BUT THOSE THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT IT – ARE LARGELY CRITICAL OF THE SENATOR’S STANCE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

“It does seem like an extraordinary time to not have the people in place that it needs in cent comm and the fifth fleet just the fifth fleet is moving closer to the region.”

“Of course the landscape has changed over the past few days catty, but that pressure has already been on the senator from alabama and it does feel like at each turn when there is an opportunity for an exit round, he continues to hold his ground here.”

WHILE TUBERVILLE **COULD RELEASE HIS HOLD AND ALLOW THE PROMOTIONS SINGLE HANDEDLY –

THE SENATE AS A WHOLE ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO BRING UP VOTES FOR MILITARY PROMOTIONS –

WHICH THEY DID LAST MONTH – PROMOTING THREE HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS.

OVER THE WEEKEND – 

TUBERVILLE’S STAFF SUGGESTED THE SENATE DO THE SAME FOR ANY OTHER CONFIRMATIONS –

BUT IT’S UNKNOWN IF THAT WILL BE OF PRIORITY WHEN THE SENATE RETURNS NEXT WEEK.