text: I watched the vote with a sad sense of déjà vu.  In 2015, I watched as the Senate debated confirmation of developer Carleton Ching to head DLNR. The gallery was packed then.  The gallery was almost completely empty this time.
  
  The Ching nomination was withdrawn by Ige at the last minute, so there is no vote. But those of us who had lobbied against Ching knew where each Senator stood. The same faultline was obvious last night. Only a few of the players have changed. Senators who led the opposition to Ching two years ago we're supporting Gorak this time. Those who had supported Ching were determined to block Gorak this time. Only the "wafflers" changed sides. In 2015, an aroused public was strong enough to cause some senators to break from the internal discipline of the Senate majority and vote against Ching.
  
  This year, there was nobody paying attention, so weak-willed senators did not find a reason to "do the right thing." Easier to "go along to get along" with the Senate leadership.