How The Democrats Can Block General Mattis's Nomination To Be U.S. Secretary Of Defense

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (L) and Vice President-elect Mike Pence (R) greet retired Marine General James Mattis in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Business Insider/Foreign Policy: Congress will need to lift a rule barring recently retired generals from serving as secretary of defense to confirm Trump's pick

According to reports, President-elect Donald Trump has tapped recently retired Marine General James Mattis to be his secretary of defense.

The Mattis pick has been circulating as a rumor for weeks, and most of the commentary have focused on two aspects: 1) Mattis’ penchant for offering highly quotable, pithy, but slightly impolitic observations, and 2) to be confirmed, he would need Congress to pass a law lifting the restriction on recently retired general officers serving in this post.

The first aspect likely attracted Trump to Mattis. In their plainspoken defiance of political correctness, the two are birds of a feather.

The second clearly did not repel Trump from Mattis, and rightly so. Mattis is a very strong pick for Secretary of Defense and I believe a good case can be made to get Congress to lift the restriction.

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WNU Editor: The important part of this post is the following ....

.... Once a candidate has been cleared by the relevant oversight committee, most confirmations, even for very senior positions, are passed under unanimous consent procedures that fly through very quickly. Of course, a senator who wants to block a confirmation can put a hold on it or filibuster it. That sometimes happens, especially for controversial nominees, but if it does not, then a simple majority of the Senate can confirm an appointment.

Will a U.S. Democrat senator or senators actively work to block this pick .... we shall see. But for the moment, it looks like his nomination will sail through with little if any opposition.