Recess Appointments

It is what it is.

 

Another up or down vote being denied:

 

It's ridiculous that one Senator can shut down things down. Talk about tyranny of the minority.

 

Neither chamber can recess for more than three days without the consent of the other chamber.

Here's a primer on recess appointments.

http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid='0DP%2BP%5CW%3B%20P%20%20%0A

 

And yet neither side will get rid of it...because they want the same right to be obstinate for political gain protection when they're in the minority.

 

Either that or they feel they can hoodwink the middle class into voting against its best interests, as George W. Bush did in 2000 and 2004.

 

Menendez is a slimeball. (There, I said it.) But it's not a political move, it's personal. Nonetheless, still shameful.

 

I agree with that assessment on Menendez.

 

He really is as slimy as they come.

I believe a President is entitled to a cabinet & advisers of his choosing. Short of corruption or incompetence (or maybe nepotism), the Senate should approve Presidential appointees, including judges. At the very least, they deserve a simple up or down vote. Elections have consequences.

Anytime one Senator blocks a pick, without having to even publicly state why, it is shameful. To use it to settle a personal grudge, should be grounds for expulsion from the Senate.

It's petty beyond belief.

As for the recess appointments in general, I think it's a good move by Obama politically. Now, keep in mind, the Democrats were the first ones to institute these "pro forma" sessions to block Bush appointments, and now they're the first ones to ignore them.

I think the press & punditry, along with the left, would have gone nuts if GWB had made this move. And, one day, a Republican President will use this move as a precedent.

I'm good with that. I hope everyone else is too.

But, Obama was wise to do it. To fight it will make the Republicans look small. On the heals of their fuck up regarding the payroll tax extension, Obama now has some momentum.

This will fire up his base, who was sick of his previous compromises.

He's now fighting an "obstructionist, do nothing Congress" on behalf of "working families".

 

Menendez denies he's a petty, vindictive, asshole.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71159.html

I'd say we should just add liar to the list of adjectives.

 

Absolutely. He will be pounding that message until Election Day.