# Recess appointment of Consumer Agency head **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 5, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510 "2012-01-05T14:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/161 "2012-01-10T03:47:41Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > He, the Usurper and Chief, deemed them to be in recess. And this is what happens when an entire party’s Senate representation decides to try to play weepy obstructionism games to an unprecedented level–someone with a set of balls of their own comes and kicks theirs inside out. Unlike the typical Democrat, Obama seems to finally have become willing to use whatever procedural bullshit is necessary to overcome the onslaught of pussy-ass Republican procedural bullshit instead of wringing his hands and complaining uselessly. And I fucking applaud him for it. And frankly, I hope the senate Dems take a lesson from this and escalate on the next Republican president exactly as much as the Republicans have procedurally escalated on Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/162 "2012-01-10T03:49:00Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Not in the least, as I was not complaining about recess appointments. They are part of the process. I was lamenting the fact that Obama didn’t wait for them to be in recess. He, the Usurper and Chief, deemed them to be in recess. > > I pray that this clarification of factual information doesn’t dampen _your_ day. And instead, you will be grateful for the ignorance slayed and wear a smile for all. No problem. While you lament the evil president, I will equally lament the idiot senators who deemed it appropriate to play recess games in order to prevent an Agency from functioning. It would be one thing if they had a principled stand against a particular person heading the Agency because they thought he would not be good for America. However, they do not have a problem with a particular person heading the Agency. They want to circumvent a law creating the Agency that was passed by both Houses. This is what is sad and pathetic on their part. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/163 "2012-01-10T13:54:34Z")
Your “sad and pathetic” is my principled stand and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/164 "2012-01-10T14:51:06Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Not in the least, as I was not complaining about recess appointments. They are part of the process. I was lamenting the fact that Obama didn’t wait for them to be in recess. He, the Usurper and Chief, deemed them to be in recess. Which, as we have already discussed, he has the explicit constitutional authority to do. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/165 "2012-01-10T15:10:56Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > The fact that some Republicans (including every Republican Senator) continue to be weepy, obstructionist dumbshits at a rate of over double the weepy half-assed obstructionism the Dems tried to pull on Bush is the real story here, and always has been. “Dems’ Incompetence Makes Them Better Than Pubs!” Since it’s the story, I thought a headline would help. For the record, I believe this appointment is perfectly legal and well within the President’s powers. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/166 "2012-01-10T15:12:28Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Not in the least, as I was not complaining about recess appointments. They are part of the process. I was lamenting the fact that Obama didn’t wait for them to be in recess. He, the Usurper and Chief, deemed them to be in recess. > > I pray that this clarification of factual information doesn’t dampen _your_ day. And instead, you will be grateful for the ignorance slayed and wear a smile for all. You mean the factual information that by the Constitution the President is given that power if there is disagreement between the two Houses? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/167 "2012-01-10T15:54:02Z")
**magellan** , does your use of “usurper in chief” mean you’re a Birther? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/168 "2012-01-10T16:04:42Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > **magellan** , does your use of “usurper in chief” mean you’re a Birther? Huh? Why would it? I’ve laid out the specific problems I have with his move, what the heck does that have to do with the Birther issue. One has nothing to do with the other, But to satisfy your curiosity, no, I am not a Birther. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/169 "2012-01-10T16:07:17Z")
You need to read up on Birther literature. I’m surprised they haven’t trademarked the term by now. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/170 "2012-01-10T16:07:27Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Huh? Why would it? I’ve laid out the specific problems I have with his move, what the heck does that have to do with the Birther issue. One has nothing to do with the other, But to satisfy your curiosity, no, I am not a Birther. Then what do you mean by usurper? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/171 "2012-01-10T16:58:55Z")
Magellan, if you aren’t a birther, why do you use their terminology? Is it that you blankly parrot right-wing stuff you hear on the biased news-sources you use? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/172 "2012-01-10T17:06:54Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > “Dems’ Incompetence Makes Them Better Than Pubs!” > > Since it’s the story, I thought a headline would help. In your opinion, is someone who is less evil than someone else _incompetent_? The Dems didn’t blast everything Bush did because they had a shred of dignity left. The Republicans dignity stores were depleted when Obama took over. > [@](#): > > For the record, I believe this appointment is perfectly legal and well within the President’s powers. So you felt that instead of making your valuable (honestly, I generally think your opinion on legal matters is valuable) contribution to this thread and leaving it at that, you had to incorporate a nonsense partisan dig first? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/173 "2012-01-10T17:29:29Z")
Hey, we have a long tradition of incompetence in the Democratic Party. It’s a heritage to be proud of. Embrace it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/174 "2012-01-10T17:32:38Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Hey, we have a long tradition of incompetence in the Democratic Party. It’s a heritage to be proud of. Embrace it. I guess that’s true. Although, I like to think it’s the result of Dems mostly not having the _Alternate History of America™_ that the Republicans now enjoy. It’s easier to make simple, easy to remember arguments for low-information voters when you don’t have to base them on reality. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/175 "2012-01-10T18:05:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Then what do you mean by usurper? Well, there are online dictionaries. BUt what I mean is that the argument can be made that Obama, through moves like this (as opposed to normal recess appointments) and his infatuation with appointing czars, that he is usurping power that has historically been shared more with the congress. **Lobohan** , I have no recollection of hearing that phrase, either by Birthers or anyone else. I thought I was being novel, actually. I spend no time reading what Birthers have to say. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/176 "2012-01-10T18:07:01Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > You need to read up on Birther literature. I’m surprised they haven’t trademarked the term by now. Why would I want to read up ion what they have to say. Also, even if he is usurping power, what does that have to do with the birth certificate issue? I don’t see the connection. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/177 "2012-01-10T18:11:42Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Why would I want to read up ion what they have to say. Also, even if he is usurping power, what does that have to do with the birth certificate issue? I don’t see the connection. You can’t see the connection between “Usurper President” and “someone who has usurped the Presidency”? There are online dictionaries, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/178 "2012-01-10T18:13:47Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Well, there are online dictionaries. BUt what I mean is that the argument can be made that Obama, through moves like this (as opposed to normal recess appointments) and his infatuation with appointing czars, that he is usurping power that has historically been shared more with the congress. The argument can be made in the same sense that an argument can be made that the moon is made of cheese. By the same token, anyone who thinks Obama is “infatuated” with appointing czars is wrong. Obama has appointed a bunch of officials to handle certain policy topics. None of them have any power beyond those already available to their senior cabinet officers, and most of them have no power at all - their positions are advisory. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/179 "2012-01-10T18:14:56Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Well, there are online dictionaries. BUt what I mean is that the argument can be made that Obama, through moves like this (as opposed to normal recess appointments) and his infatuation with appointing czars, that he is usurping power that has historically been shared more with the congress. From [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._executive_branch_czars): ```auto Summary table - Number of czars per administration George W. Bush 2001–2009 33 49 28 Barack Obama 2009– 38 42 33 ``` The columns are “number of czar titles”, “number of appointees”, and “Appointees not confirmed by Congress”. For recess appointments we have: “According to the Congressional Research Service, President Bill Clinton made 139 recess appointments. President George W. Bush made 171 recess appointments, and as of December 8, 2011, President Barack Obama had made 28 recess appointments.” Obviously that can go up to 32 now. As for the term “usurper-in-chief”, good on you for not frequenting any right-wing blogs or message boards, or you would surely not feel it was an original expression. A google search will quickly elucidate how popular it is amongst birthers and Tea Partiers in general. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510/180 "2012-01-10T18:15:13Z")
Well, “usurper” is a bit grandiose, don’t you think? He’s simply using a legal technicality in the same way lawyers do on a daily basis. Its not like he sent squads of US Marshals to clap the Republicans in irons. Which would be wrong. As well as illegal. We can check with **Bricker** on the legality part, but I think I’m on pretty solid ground there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointment-of-consumer-agency-head/608510.md?page=10)