Transition of Power: Controversy Continues to Swirl Over Norton, Ashcroft Nominations
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Some Cabinet appointees have had an easier time than others, though. CNN's Bob Franken joins us from Capitol Hill with a look at how the hearings have been going. Hi, Bob.</s>BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And, of course, by that, you probably mean Colin Powell, who had the cakewalk that everybody thought he would have. John Ashcroft, of course, is having nothing of the sort. The hearings have now gone into a fourth day. They just didn't get through with the witnesses. We heard yesterday from the main witness for the opponents of Ashcroft, that was Missouri State Supreme Court Judge Ronnie White, complaining about the fact that Ashcroft so badly misrepresented his record when he was up to be a U.S. federal judge and was subsequently defeated in the Senate. Those hearings are still going on. It does appear that Ashcroft has the votes to be confirmed, even though Senator Edward Kennedy is now talking about filibustering that nomination when it gets to the Senate floor, which would require more votes. The intrigue never stops. And, of course, the Gale Norton hearing we know all about. She is the designate to head the Interior Department, much to the consternation of the environmentalists. Tommy Thompson, governor of Wisconsin, who is somewhat controversial for some of his views among social liberals. He is up to head the Health and Human Services Department, which administers so many of the nation's programs. Still undergoing hearings. And as you pointed out, Mitch Daniels, he is somebody who is well known in town, somebody who is considered very adept at handling budget matters, which is exactly what he would do as the head of the Office of Management and Budget. So it's quite a busy day here. It's a day that is, of course, also dedicated to all the pre-inauguration festivities, but it is also a day of business. There will actually be tomorrow, Inauguration Day, a vote some of these Senate nominations, by the way, Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld, for example. So things are just moving right along while the pomp and ceremony swirls around us.</s>CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Bob, as you mentioned, Gale Norton faces another round of questioning today.