Republican Vow of Revenge Falls Short February 9, 2012, 3:29 pm The "heck no" caucus in the Senate fizzled in its first test. After President Obama stiff-armed the Senate in January and made four recess appointments, even though the Senate was technically not in recess, some Republicans vowed revenge. They said they would oppose every Obama nominee for the rest of the year, no matter who it was, no matter how bipartisan the support. But from the start, it was clear many Republicans were squeamish about such a blanket tactic, and in their first engagement with the enemy on Thursday, the revenge seekers lost. Cathy Ann Bencivengo, nominated to be a United States district judge for the Southern District of California, was confirmed, 90 to 6. Those voting no were all Republicans: Senators Michael D. Crapo of Idaho, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Jim Risch of Idaho and Richard C. Shelby of Alabama.