Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

Headline for right-leaning optimists: John Kerry leaving the US Senate

Only three Republicans voted against confirmation:

The Senate overwhelmingly approved Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) as the next secretary of state Tuesday afternoon, with three Republican “no” votes.

The vote was 94 to 3, clearing the way for Kerry to formally take over from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday.
[...]
Three Republicans voted against Kerry — Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma.

Three Republicans? The 2008 Detroit Lions defensive line gave their opponents stiffer resistance.

Washington Democrat Patty Murray and N. Dakota Republican John Hoeven were absent from the vote, and Kerry voted present.

There will be a special election in Massachusetts on June 25 (primary April 25th) to fill the open Senate seat:

Candidates will have four weeks to collect the 10,000 signatures needed to get on the ballot.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey has already announced he will seek the seat. Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is considering running on the Republican side.

Back to the Kerry confirmation, here’s Texas Sen. Cornyn’s “no” vote simply explained:

Cornyn spox says he voted no b/c Kerry has “long history of liberal positions that are not consistent with a majority of Texans”

— Seung Min Kim(@seungminkim) January 29, 2013

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe