In case you'd like to go to the movies today, take a cooking class, get some exercise,??or simply enjoy a long nap, here's what we can expect from the Arne Duncan confirmation hearing.
1) Roughly 70% of the time will be taken up by Senators giving their own statements, riding their own hobbyhorses, putting down their own policy markers, extolling the importance of education, and cozying up to (and/or warning) Duncan. After delivering their opening remarks (at considerable length), most Senators will leave.
2) 20% of the time will be taken up by Duncan's plain-vanilla and totally non-committal prepared statement which will break no new ground, make no commitments, start no controversies, but be full of comments about the importance of "working with" Congress on just about everything.
3) the remaining 10% will be consumed by questions from the few Senators who remain in the chamber; the gist of every reply will be?? "I'll look into that" or "I'll surely work with you on that" or "I'll get back to you on that"??from the Secretary-designate.
4) at the end, or soon after the hearing, Duncan will be handed about 850 detailed written questions that his aides will spend the next several days writing pleasant,??noncommittal responses to.
5) there will be no controversy, no other witnesses, no news made--and the candidate's confirmation vote (by committee and then,in a day or two, the full??Senate)??will be unanimous or mighty close to that.
Enjoy your movie. I'm going to nap.
