Senate to vote on two "ambassadonors" Dec 1

Noah Bryson Mamet and Colleen Bell each raised at least $500,000 for Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. The president then nominated Mamet to be ambassador to Argentina and Bell to be ambassador to Hungary.

But each of them ran into trouble early in the Senate confirmation process. Mamet admitted that he had never been to Argentina, while Bell stumbled and stammered her way through answering the question, “What are our strategic interests in Hungary?”

Their nominations stalled. The Senate went on to confirm other ambassadors, including some big-time Obama donors, nominated after they were.

But with Republicans due to take over the Senate in January, the “lame-duck” session is likely Mamet’s and Bell’s last real chance to be confirmed. So Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid is bringing their nominations to a vote after the Thanksgiving recess.