President Bush has made a recess appointment, and appointed John Bolton as ambassador to the UN. Much to the chagrin of certain senators, though.
- “It’s an unnecessary result, and the latest abuse of power by the Bush White House.” – Harry Reid, D-Nev
- “The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues. … It’s a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent…” – Ted Kennedy, D-Mass
- “It’s sad that even while the president preaches democracy around the world, he bends the rules and circumvents the will of Congress in appointing our representative to the United Nations.” – Frank R. Lautenberg, D-NJ
Funny, that. A bunch of guys sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution apparently haven’t read it. Here’s a little tidbit from Article II, Section 2:
Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Abuse of power? How is that possible when the power is spelled out in rather plain English right there in the Constitution? If Bolton were to get a vote on the floor, he clearly has the votes to be confirmed. If anyone is abusing power, it’s the liberal Senators who are filibustering. They are the ones impeding progress and not allowing Bush’s nominees to get an up or down vote. A Republican occupies the White House. Republicans hold a majority in both houses of Congress. If the liberals want to decide who should fill these jobs, then they should try winning some elections. Of course, that’s not something they’ve been very good at in recent years.
So far, that’s 106 recess appointments for Bush. Still quite short of the 140 that Clinton made, by the way.
I gather that Ted *spit* Kennedy doesn’t remember that his brother Jack must have engaged in an "abuse of power" when he appointed Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court with a recess appointment.
Apparently you have a poor grasp of the English language, and that of the Constitution.
"The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate" does not say that he may fill any vacancy, but only choose to fillit during a recess. What it says, and the prupose for it, is to allow a vacancy created DURING a recess to be filled without waiting for Senate to come back.
This was clearly an abuse of power, since the vacancy happened while Senate was in session. Where was the urgency to get UN Hater Bolton into the position while the Senate was still in session?
As for comparing Shrub to Clinton; Clinton had 140 in 8 years. Bush has had 106 in 5 years. By my calculations, that will leave us with nearly 170 by Shrub, based on the same rate of appointments.
Using the B.S. "up/down" vote is completely irrational; the "liberal" Senators are not refusing to give a vote, but the purpose behind advise and consent is to determine if the information on a person should disqualify them from an appointment. If the "neocon" Senators, and/or John Bolton or Shrub were willing to provide said evidence, the opportunity for a vote would certainly happen quicker.
And to ensure completeness;
"Clause 2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."
Darn! There’s that nagging Advice and Consent thing again! Dammit that always seems to burn Shrub!
One last stickler that seems to be dogging him lately;
Article II, Section 3:
"he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed"
Uuuhhh, whathizname? Rome, Rode, Zode, Kode, Kove, Rove! Yeah, that’s it! Karl effing Rove!
On an entirely separate note; you seem to have the bug in .Text that prevents the "Remember me?" checkbox from actually remembering anyone.
I was trying to locate an URL or something to provide you with the fix, but, alas, I can’t remember…