A senator may place a “hold” on a nomination for any reason – including personal animus toward the nominee, or, more often, to gain something in exchange. And, increasingly, nominations have become a kind of public circus, attracting all kinds of players to the ring: non-governmental organizations, pundits, local politicians, and virtually anyone with an opinion and a way to express it.
参议员可以以任何理由“搁置”一项提名——包括对被提名人的个人敌意，或者（也是更常见的原因）以此要求交换条件。此外，提名日渐成为一桩公共事务，吸引着社会各界的眼球：非政府组织、权威专家、地方政客以及几乎所有抱有观点并有机会表达的人士。