deadlock problem

[RJ Atkinson <rja@extremenetworks.com>]

On page 10 of draft-ietf-nomcom-rfc2727bis-04.txt in the paragraph
with sub-heading "4.", there is a process problem.

The Nomcom WG needs to revise this text in order to avoid retaining an
existing deadlock state in the confirmation process.  My concern is NOT
hypothetical -- it describes a situation which actually arose during
my 4 years on the IAB.

Facts:
	- Some IAB members have abstained from some or all votes
	  to confirm IESG nominees from the Nomcom.
	- The current text description requires at least half
	  of the IAB to agree either on confirmation or rejection
	  of each IESG nominee.
	- Some instances of the IAB have been unable to get at least
	  half of the IAB onto either of those positions -- in part
	  because of abstensions by one or more sitting IAB members.
	- This means that the IAB was unable to meet the process rule
	  currently specified.

Observation:
	I see 4 fairly obvious ways to prevent a deadlock state.  More
fixes might also exist.  The current process text should be changed such
that no deadlock states can exist.

	Personally, having been down this road 4 times, I prefer fix (A)
below -- on grounds that if a candidate is so controversial that at 
least 50%
of the confirming body is not actively supportive of a given candidate
then that candidate is clearly not the best choice for the Internet
community.  However, ANY fix that removes the possibility of deadlock
in the confirming body is acceptable to me.

Each proposal deletes the existing sentence:
		At least one-half of the sitting members of the confirming bodies
		must agree to either confirm or reject each individual nominee.

and instead substitutes the new text:

(Proposal A)
		For a given nominee to be confirmed, at least one-half of the sitting
	     members of the confirming bodies must agree to confirm that 
nominee.
	     Nominees that are not confirmed under this rule are considered to 
be
		rejected.

xor (Proposal B)
		For a given nominee to be rejected, at least one-half of the sitting
	     members of the confirming bodies must agree to reject that 
nominee.
	     Nominees that are not rejected under this rule are considered to 
be
		confirmed.

xor (Proposal C)
		For a given nominee to be confirmed, at least one-half of the sitting
		members who do not abstain from voting on a particular nominee must
		agree to confirm that nominee.  Nominees that are not confirmed under
		this rule are considered to be rejected.

xor (Proposal D)
		For a given nominee to be rejected, at least one-half of the sitting
		members who do not abstain from voting on a particular nominee must
		agree to reject that nominee.  Nominees that are not rejected under
		this rule are considered to be confirmed.

Yours,

Ran Atkinson
rja@extremenetworks.com

Sitting IAB member from Spring 1999 to Spring 2003.