lee's nomination. the reason why i wholeheartedly support ed lee is because he is a qualified person and he is the right person to lead san francisco. >> we have engaged in an orderly transition of leadership. this is what separates us, as a democratic society, from other less democratic societies. and i am so proud of us for what we are about to do today. so with that, colleagues, thank you for being part of this historic moment. >> the supervisor campos? there are 10 ayes, one no. [applause] >> the motion for edwin lee passes. [applause] >> you are talking to one of the happiest people in san francisco. this was an extraordinary an historic vote. but it was symbolic. remember, the new board of supervisors who convenes tomorrow will make the actual decision on who the next mayor will be. >> everybody came down to ed lee with the expectation that it will be done in the most intellectually honest way and in a way that role and order is respected. i think we discussed a few nominations and came down to t

his nomination has my unqualified support. and finally, there is a letter from mike mcconnell, in which he also offers his strongest possible support. as a 44 year veteran serving the nation as a member of the intelligence community, i have many opportunities to work with professionals of the department of justice. this was particularly true when serving as the director of national security and as the director of the national intelligence. during those years of service i never met or served with a more accomplished or dedicated professional than matt olsen. he understands the icy, its process and procedure and has served with distinction to read well, i can go on and on and i have many pages here. i'm not going to do it. suffice it to say i believe that we have an extraordinarily qualified professional, which can step into the leadership of nctc, and at this very potentially balk period provided with the leadership, it really does deserve a marriage. so, with that, mr. vice chairman, may i ask you to meet your remarks? >> than

and nominations placed on the secretary's desk in the air force, army, foreign service, marine corps and navy, that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate and no motions be in order for any of the nominations and that any related statements be printed in the record and president obama be immediately notified of the president's action. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the senate consider the following nominations: calendar number 1 14, 115, and 117. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: mr. president, i ask the nomination be kwerpld en bloc, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, there be no intervening action or debate, any motion -- that there be no further motions order to any of the tpholgss and any related statements be printed in the record in the reported and proposal be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent that

intend to support their nominations once again.since both men have already been serving in these roles we'll have an excellent chance to hear from them directly about the challenges they've already seen and their plans for the future. so welcome back to the committee, gentlemen. thank you both for being willing to go through the nomination process again and to continue to take on these difficult responsibilities at a very important time for our country. so first today we will consider the u.s. relationship with the czech republic. as an important ally of the united states in central europe, the czech republic has demonstrated exceptional leadership in europe, particularly in engaging the region's eastern neighborhood and pressing for further european integration. the czech republic has made some impressive contributions to international peacekeeping efforts in afghanistan, iraq and kosovo. in addition, the country's unique experience with democratic transitions should provide some lessons for the united states as we navigate the on

i intend to support their nominations once again. since both men have been serving on these rools we will hear about the plans they've already seen. welcome back and thank you for going through the nomination process again and take on these responsibilities at a very important time in our country. we'll consider the they have demonstrated exceptional leadership in europe, particularly engaging the eastern neighborhood and pressing for further european integration. the czech republic has made contributions to international peacekeeping efforts in afghanistan, iraq and kosovo. in addition, the country's unique experience with democratic transitions should provide some lessons for the united states as we navigate the ongoing transitions in the middle east and north africa. today we also consider the u.s. relationship with turkey. turkey remains a critical nato ally with a predominantly muslim population in a volatile and geoplightcally strategic region of the world. recent events throughout the middle east and north africa have increase

this is a second nominating process. the vision here is that in november 2012 when american voters go to the poll there will be a third ticket that they've directly nominated themselves. >> brown: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> oil companies have changed my country. >> oil companies can make a difference. >> we have the chance to build the economy. >> create jobs, keep people healthy and improve schools. >> ... and our communities. >> in angola chevron helps train engineers, teachers and farmers; launch child's programs. >> it's not just good business. >> i'm hopeful about my country's future. >> it's my country's future. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station fro

the chief than four or -- forwards these nominations to the office of the police commission. then those are sent off to a screening committee. if the awards screening committee approved the nomination, they send it back to the commission office so the awards committee secretary can set up a meeting. this is a meeting of all of the department's captains and command staff where the nominating commanding officer who presented the nomination, while the officer is sitting there, answering questions about what they were thinking, what they were doing. next, by secret ballot, the awards committee votes on whether to award and what grid of metal. finally, they presented to the police commission for final approval. you should be proud of your family members who are here. this is something that every captain looked at before these awards were made. it is a tremendous statement about what these people did to be here tonight that stood up to that kind of betting. -- vetting. at this time, i want to call forward mr. lazard to read the spirits of officer suguitan. >> on saturday generate 2

bush the year they nominated ronald reagan. bob dole tied in 1995 but by the time iowa voted again, phil gramm after his awesome tie for first place performance finished at 9% in the caucuses. nate silver at the new york times crunched the numbers on this historically today and found that performance in iowa does actually have some predictive value of how you're going to do in the overall nominating process if you are a democrat, but if you are a republican, it really doesn't matter. that means the straw poll, that means the caucuses, that means iowa. one of the reasons for that, well, while iowa democrats seem to be kind of like the rest of democrats across the country, iowa republicans seem to not at all be like the rest of republicans across the country. all that their stated iowa preferences tell you is what their stated iowa preferences are. and they like folks like pat robertson and phil gramm and this year, michele bachmann, they also like people who pay for their votes and feed them and provide good entertainment. don't

and if he retires from congress as he as it had announced that he will if he doesn't get the nomination will this movement that you're talking about and the progression of society still continue i would argue will be even better because ron paul will be in the polls and politics and which has its problems politics will be involved in edge of his educational work he's always been the great educator and called reagan the great communicator that's ron paul so he'll do this through his books he was speeches through his mother's newsletters and writings and he'll be anyone you can carry the torch politically i don't see anybody right now but you know somebody making when the american people demand it then all the politicians will be going along just like they all want to long with this idea of auditing the fed thought every republican in congress that that even though a couple years later they all would have said well that's a cool idea we love to have them as a great case people that's great but we'll see how that change continues and if it does beyond in the next few months at this rate an

. >> mitt romney was perceived as the front-runner for the campaign for the republican nomination. then came rick perry. history tells us that it is a mistake not to take a proven vote-getter series se -- seriously. polls showed him out the top of the republican lineup. what do you think, mark? >> is attributed to p -- it is a tribute to perry and immediate action. -- the media traction. romney is only playing new hampshire. that could be a problem for him. don't forget, as well, we had the boom for donald trump and 4 michele bachmann. republican voters have shown -- first week, the punditocracy dismissed him as a clown. that is not the primary voter -- the very fact that he was -- "newshour" colleague david brooks says he could be the next president. do you agree? >> absolutely. it could be a fluke, but i think it is deeper than that. brooks is right in his column, that he has a simple message. small government, i made it work, i created jobs. it is what power at the republicans to their astonishing success in 2010. paul ryan without the numbers and the nuance. if he keeps it simp

they are watching what we are all watching which is how bloody will this republican nomination fight now. we identified this tier. talking to white house folks and the campaign folks at the obama election headquarters in chicago when they're eager to see a prolonged republican nomination fight they would like to see rick perry and michele bachmann battle it out in iowa and they would like to see them battle it out for a while. there's a cautionary note. the same people you'll remember from four years ago who said they benefited from a prolonged fight with hillary clinton and that nomination process not only did they benefit how to learn to be a better candidate in barack obama himself but they energize the electorate which helped them in november 2008. does this top three guarantee a longer fight, this particular group of people or is it a shorter fight? does it again strength more rapidly now. >> the length of the fight i think is going to largely be determined on these new rules that republicans are use. they're not using a winner take all system for delegates in every one of these

and i was proud to nominate him.disgusted candidly by some of the questions he was asked by both parties at the senate judiciary committee. i thought it was awful. and -- but in the end, the senate did the right thing because the facts were undeniable. that sahail mohammed is an outstanding attorney and will be an outstanding judge. i am going to his swearing in today because he merited my support with my nomination of him and i'm confident he will be an outstanding judge. the second muslim american to be put on the bench here in new jersey. i'm proud to have been able to do that. but not just because he is a muslim american. i nominated him because he is a good lawyer and an outstanding human being. and that's what people will get to know about him over his time on the bench. sharia law has nothing to do with this at all. it's crazy, it's crazy. the guy is an american citizen who has been an admitted lawyer to practice in the state of new jersey, swearing an oath to uphold the laws of new jersey, the constitution of

she will not be nominated and she will not be president of the united states.ved michele bachmann, you'll love rick perry because now there's another cheeseburger on the menu with texas hot sauce. he's a governor and has the best first sentence in american politics, which is i created one third of the jobs in america over the last few years. the other part of the sentence is, they were all at burger king or with the texas government. but what he did in texas to kay bailey hutchison, he's a barracuda. >> jobs is the number one issue, and let's not forget that, and iowans and americans are concerned that the president's solution is more taxes and more spending, and it scares business to death. >> what's the solution? >> well, it's get rid of obama care because it's causing the uncertainty and driving up the cost for business, cut the corporate income tax. when i was governor before, we were getting all kinds of jobs out of canada and the canadian dollar was weak. now the canadian dollar is strong. the canadian government has reduced their corporate income tax to

we'll be on the ballot in california. >> how is it people will nominate -- do candidates have to nominatehemselves or can they say they're not running and have other people nominate them for, in this convention? >> the technological innovation that you alluded to before is obvious. the real thing going on here is a political innovation. at americans elect.org, we're taking party functions and making them delegate functions, functions of the delegates who join. any ledgestered voters, voters will be able to draft candidates, develop a platted form of questions the candidates are required to answer and discuss and debate the rules of the convention. in effect, americans elect.org, we are flattening this facet of our democratic process. >> you're forcing them to come up with a platform, an approval process, in essence, once you come up with a platform, aren't you creating a third party? >> that's what is great. it's not a traditional platform that is prescriptive, it's a platform of questions. those questions are derived by the delegates. the questions are questions the candidates will be re