The U.S. Senate blocked the confirmation of two of President Barack Obama's nominations Thursday. The nomination of U.S. Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC, 12) was four votes shy of moving forward, with the Senate voting 56 to 42. Forty-one Republicans...

The Senate’s role in presidential nominations is usually described as “advise and consent,” not “obstruct and prevent.” And yet, continuing their extreme break with past Senatorial traditions and practice, Senate Republicans rejected another Presidential nomination on Thursday. Even so-called “moderate”...