I think Obama should go ahead with the recess appointments this weekend. He’s already won a major political victory this week. There isn’t a single ‘undecided’ voter who is going to be standing in a voting booth and pull the “R” lever because of Obama’s recess appointments. All of the Sunday news shows will focus on the health care bill (unless something with Korea really heats up quickly) and the recess appointments won’t get any coverage except maybe on Fox.
There really is no disadvantage. The Republicans aren’t going to do him any favors so he may as well start kicking ass and taking names.
As a substantial matter, I kinda wish we’d just do away with requiring the Senate to confirm every mid-level bureaucrat. or at the least just make confirmations immune from filibusters. Its a little scary that Congress is willing to let the gov’t go more then a year without filling more then 70 positions.
Actually, while I’m not much for obstructionism, it’s telling that the government hasn’t completely fallen apart without filling those positions for an entire year. Dare I say that they might be superfluous? Clearly the job is getting done without them else there would have been more attention paid to them, and this is the first time I’ve heard of it.
I’m sure that some of the appointments couldn’t wait any longer, but not all 15. I coud be wrong though. But I think a larger problem than at least some of the vacancies is the tone in Washington. It just got worse because of this.
Bush made 171 recess appointments during his presidency. I’m sure that’s just fine to those for whom the “tone on Washington just got even more heated.”
Seriously, what else do people expect him to do - not use the powers that have been granted to, and used by, every single other President before him? He’s supposed to somehow NOT be president, so it won’t piss people off who don’t like him anyway, and have already said multiple times that they have no intention of working with him?
What do you mean “all” fifteen. There are currently 77 people awaiting Senate confirmation, so presumably Obama is doing as you suggest and only using Recess appointments to push those that he think he needs to.
I was trying to say that I hope he moved ahead with the absolute minimum. That doesn’t appear to be the case with National Labor Relations Board, for instance. There were 3 vacancies out of 5 slots. He appointed two people. One I could see, so they’d have three. But he also appointed Craig Becker, someone who every Republican wrote to Obama asking him not to appoint during the recess. As far as I can see, that was unnecessary. And because of that it will be gasoline on a fire.
As a parent to sometimes belligerant, whiny children, I completely understand the tactics Obama has been using when dealing with the Congressional Republicans.
There were three nominations as a package deal, but they were all held up because of Republican objection to Becker. Since the Reagan Administration, the President’s party has had three seats, and the other party has had two. Two Democratic seats and one Republican seat are currently vacant. Obama use his recess appointment powers for the two Democrats. Presumably, the Republicans aren’t going to get in the way of their party’s nominee, and he will be confirmed when the Senate reconvenes in April.
Also, the Republican opposition to Becker comes after his nomination was voted out of committee with two Republican votes (Enzi and Murkowski, IIRC).
The GOP is about as furious at Obama as they could possibly be. They’re already obstructing everything they can. What difference does that one appointment make? Do you honestly think that if he didn’t appoint Craig Becker the Republicans would suddenly start playing nice?
Still vaguely curious about this. Don’t recess appointments have to happen…during Congressional Recesses? Isn’t Congress still in session (I think I heard they past some sort of Health reform bill)? Do they get off for Easter?
Reagan made 243 recess appointments, so fuck any whining about this, especially since the Republicans have already announced that they have no intention of participating in anything at all for the rest of the year.