Calling GOP Obstruction ‘Disgraceful,’ Reid Urges Obama To Recess Appoint ‘All’ Held-Up Nominees

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Calling GOP Obstruction ‘Disgraceful,’ Reid Urges Obama To Recess Appoint ‘All’ Held-Up Nominees

Yesterday, the Senate rejected President Obama’s nominee to the National Labor Relations Board, Craig Becker, even though he received a majority 52 votes. Because Becker’s nomination was subject to a filibuster by Republicans and a few Democrats, Obama was thwarted in his effort to staff the U.S. government with his nominee. Becker also was the target of intense lobbying by business groups.

Senate Republicans have used parliamentary tactics to hold up the confirmation of critical administration nominees to an unprecedented degree. Yesterday, Obama warned that “if the Senate does not act,” he would be forced to make recess appointments to fill critical jobs, because “we cannot allow politics to stand in the way of a well-functioning government.”

Calling the holds “unfair,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) took to the Senate floor last night to give a withering attack of Republican obstructionism and urge Obama to recess appoint “all” of his blocked nominees:

REID: I mean it’s disgraceful. The Republicans are holding these people up for reasons that have nothing to do with their background, morality competency of these people. … I think, frankly, the President should recess all of them. All of them. He has been given very little recognition for the importance of the job that he has trying to find the best people in America to fill this position. No one can say Democrats did this when we were in the minority — we didn’t do this. There were people that were held up, but this something that is beyond the pale.

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMrKM8vednI&feature=player_embedded

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/10/reid-recess-appointments/

[HelenWheels]

1. I agree, it's a no brainer

For once Reid is onto something.

[annabanana]

2. It does my chilly heart good to hear Mr. Reid speak with some passion.

And I agree with him. Dawn Johnson especially should come out of this with the job.

[Lasher]

3. Republicans are behaving this way because there has so far been no downside for them.

This would be retribution for them, in that they would have no say about any appointment. But for the life of me I can't see Obama doing it, or anything close to it. Then again I'm surprised to see Reid daring at long last to even suggest such a thing, even if it's coming almost too late in the game to matter much. Over half of the 111th Congress has been significantly wasted already, as planned by the GOP.

But we shall see.

[4_TN_TITANS]

10. "surprised to see Reid daring at long last to even suggest "

Reid is getting good at demanding others take bold moves to deal with the Repubs, but don't expect him to be as gutzy anytime soon.

[FailureToCommunicate]

4. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day...

[Jim__]

5. Absolutely. Time to show the repubs that they are impotent! - n/t

[denverbill]

6. Personally, I think it's 'nuclear option' time on this and HCR.

Pukies threatened to 'go nuclear' because Democrats held up a tiny handful of the most reactionary right-wing retard judges, and Lieberman and pals formed a group to 'save the Senate' which essentially forced Democrats to release their holds on every single one of them. It's time for 'Joltin Joe' to 'save the Senate' again and force Republicans to allow votes on all these nominees AND on HCR.

[LiberalAndProud]

16. Me too. RepubliCons are abusing the fillibuster, so the rules need to change.

It is time. Overdue even.

[LongTomH]

7. In a spirit of bipartisan ship, Senate Democrats should............

...............leave some space in the aisle for Republicans to roll on the floor in their usual temper tantrums - which is what they always do when they don't get their way!:evilgrin:

[Sherman A1]

9. I believe that this is a superb idea!

:bounce:

[priller]

8. So funny to hear Reid encourage someone else to get tough

Reid is a wet noodle. Basically saying Obama should do something about it because he won't. Problem is, Obama always runs away from conflict, too. I'll be surprised if he actually does it. He seems to care so much what Pukes think about him.

[Demeter]

12. Good Point

That is in fact one reason I preferred the unknown Obama to Hillary. Hillary wasn't tough enough to deal with her spouse; why would I expect her to do better with the horrible world leaders out there? So now Obama wimps out, too.

It would be nice to have some REAL leaders in the Democratic Party, it's been far too long since LBJ.

[Demeter]

11. Because Ole Butterfingers Reid Will Screw It Up Otherwise

good advice, Harry.

[DFW]

13. To put it in familiar terms:

"What's good for the Bush is good for Obama."

[yurbud]

14. when can he start pulling out the procedural stops on LEGISLATION?

[No Elephants]

15. Why worry about the Constitution with respect to recess appointments when we don't worry

about the Constitution at any other time?

Besides, who would take the case to the SCOTUS? Not the appointee. Not the Democratic Congress. So, it's all good.

:sarcasm:

Did these vacancies arise while the Senate was recessed?

"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."