Democrats proving powerless to stop Trump's Cabinet

Senate Democrats have thrown everything they have at Republicans to stall President Trump's nominees ahead of a bruising Supreme Court confirmation fight, but so far don't have much to show for it.

Not one but two committees voted Thursday to advance the nomination of Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., for budget director to the Senate floor.

Mulvaney looked beatable. He had failed to pay payroll taxes on a nanny, something that had sunk nominees before. President Bill Clinton withdrew his first two choices for attorney general over a similar issue.

While fiscal conservatives applaud Mulvaney as a rare champion of limited government in Trump's circle, these same economic and budgetary views were also promising openings for Democratic attacks.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the ranking Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee and former presidential candidate, even compared Mulvaney's views unfavorably to Trump's.