“In the end, this was all pointless”

As 2023 nears its end, it’s easy to look back and find countless examples of Republicans behaving badly. One of the worst actions by a Republican in 2023 will no doubt be the selfish, draconian, and damaging blockade of military nominee approvals by the lone U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville. This nightmare began in February and finally ended Tuesday night with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer leading the way and calling it “good news.”

Tuberville made a name for himself this year by routinely objecting to what became a long and important list of military nominations. By November, the backlog grew to 451, putting national security at risk, not to mention the careers of deserving individuals who became pawns in this shameless display of hyperpartisan obstinacy.

Earlier this month, on December 5, Tuberville finally loosened his stranglehold. Blaming Democrats, he appeared to proclaim victory. “We fought hard. We did the right thing for the unborn and for our military, fighting back against executive overreach, and an abortion policy that’s not legal,” he told his colleagues, referring to a Pentagon policy of paying for time off and travel for service members’ out-of-state abortions.

Although Tuberville mostly gave in, he still maintained a block on the approval of several four-star generals. The final chapter ended Tuesday night when Schumer asked for unanimous consent for the remaining confirmations—and no senator objected. Over these many months, Tuberville failed to gain any concessions in his attempt to change the Pentagon’s policy. As President Joe Biden summed it up, “In the end, this was all pointless.”

In addition, the Senate last week approved retroactive pay for the delayed nominees, with a vote expected soon by the House, which Schumer called “the very, very least the Senate could do to right this awful wrong.” Indeed, righting awful wrongs seems to be at the top of any Democrat’s job description these days, and next year’s election will determine if the nation’s vital healing and progress will continue.