This question has probably crossed the mind of President Barack Obama as he has watched nominee after nominee of his not get approved by the Senate, even though Democrats are in charge. Republicans, although in the minority, have used delaying tactics to stall many of the nominees, particularly judicial appointees. Their strategy appears to be to leave court positions vacant in hopes that a Republican will be elected president in November.

 

Last year, the Senate confirmed 57% of Obama's appointments. From 2007 through 2009, however, the Democratic-controlled upper house approved 67% of President George W. Bush's selections.

 

Currently, 181 of Obama's nominees are awaiting confirmation. Among these are his choices to lead the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

Obama's Legion of Unconfirmed Nominees (by Elizabeth Dwoskin, Bloomberg)

19 States Don’t Have Enough Federal Judges to Handle Case Loads (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Republican Leadership’s Successful Fight to Keep Judgeships Vacant (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)