This sounds less definitive (viz. Sanders could really escalate his demands!) than CNN made it seem with its headline (“Reporter: Sanders wants say over Clinton cabinet picks”).
But it’s been hanging out there for a full day, and the campaign hasn’t knocked it down. So assuming for the sake of argument that this is where the Sanders brain trust is, it’s worth considering whether this would cross a line between “driving a hard bargain” and being destructively spiteful.
As a senator, Sanders is already poised to have unusual sway over the Clinton cabinet. Thanks to a rule change Senate Democrats imposed in 2013, confirming executive branch nominees requires only 51 votes—no filibuster. If Democrats win a thin majority of Senate seats in November, and Republicans treat Clinton with as much disdain as they’ve treated President Obama, Sanders will be able to watchdog Clinton pretty effectively. Elizabeth Warren did this a year ago when she spiked Obama’s designated Treasury undersecretary Antonio Weiss almost singlehandedly.
From: Will Sanders demand veto power over Clinton’s cabinet picks? | New Republic
I didn’t think Sanders was in a position to demand much of anything.Report
He’s not. I suspect at this point everyone’s at “humor the old man until the voting is over” stage.Report
“Sanders will be able to watchdog Clinton pretty effectively”
And the idiot train rolls on.Report