Full Version: Bush Appointments Avert Senate Battles
Bush Appointments Avert Senate Battles
Questions:
1. Why did Bush make more recess appointments, especially when both sides of the aisle had problems with these appointees?
2. With the appointment of Julie L. Myers to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau at the Department of Homeland Security has the administration not learned from the Michael Brown head of FEMA problem by making appointments of people with no experience in the departments they are to be in charge of?
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President Bush yesterday made a raft of controversial recess appointments, including Julie L. Myers to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau at the Department of Homeland Security, in a maneuver circumventing the need for approval by the Senate.
Myers, a niece of former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Richard B. Myers and the wife of the chief of staff to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, had been criticized by Republicans and Democrats who charged that she lacked experience in immigration matters.
Myers's nomination faced a bruising and potentially embarrassing fight on the Senate floor, where Democrats were prepared to argue that politics, not merit, drove her selection for an important job preventing terrorists and weapons from entering the country.
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The president avoided an abortion rights battle with the recess appointment of former Maryland Republican gubernatorial candidate Ellen R. Sauerbrey as assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration. Sauerbrey is an opponent of abortion rights.
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A Democratic vacancy will be filled by union lawyer Robert D. Lenhard. He has provoked opposition because of his participation as an attorney for the American Federation of State, Council and Municipal Employees in efforts to have the Supreme Court rule that the 2002 McCain-Feingold law is unconstitutional. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) indicated that he would fight the Lenhard nomination when Democratic leaders first announced it in 2003.
McCain and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass) issued statements critical of the appointments. Von Spakovsky may have undermined "enforcement of our civil rights laws," Kennedy said. "By appointing von Spakovsky, the White House missed an opportunity to fill this important position with a person clearly committed to these fundamental rights."
Myers, a niece of former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Richard B. Myers and the wife of the chief of staff to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, had been criticized by Republicans and Democrats who charged that she lacked experience in immigration matters.
Myers's nomination faced a bruising and potentially embarrassing fight on the Senate floor, where Democrats were prepared to argue that politics, not merit, drove her selection for an important job preventing terrorists and weapons from entering the country.
snipet
The president avoided an abortion rights battle with the recess appointment of former Maryland Republican gubernatorial candidate Ellen R. Sauerbrey as assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration. Sauerbrey is an opponent of abortion rights.
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A Democratic vacancy will be filled by union lawyer Robert D. Lenhard. He has provoked opposition because of his participation as an attorney for the American Federation of State, Council and Municipal Employees in efforts to have the Supreme Court rule that the 2002 McCain-Feingold law is unconstitutional. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) indicated that he would fight the Lenhard nomination when Democratic leaders first announced it in 2003.
McCain and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass) issued statements critical of the appointments. Von Spakovsky may have undermined "enforcement of our civil rights laws," Kennedy said. "By appointing von Spakovsky, the White House missed an opportunity to fill this important position with a person clearly committed to these fundamental rights."
Questions:
1. Why did Bush make more recess appointments, especially when both sides of the aisle had problems with these appointees?
2. With the appointment of Julie L. Myers to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau at the Department of Homeland Security has the administration not learned from the Michael Brown head of FEMA problem by making appointments of people with no experience in the departments they are to be in charge of?
1. Why did Bush make more recess appointments, especially when both sides of the aisle had problems with these appointees?
Because he can. I know that sounds trite, but this is fairly common practice for any sitting president. Are these appointments more controversial than most? Maybe. Clinton avoided some fights with some of his appointments as well.
One thing to bear in mind is that these appointments are not permanent. They expire on the next end of term for Congress, which is January 2007. Bolton's UN recess appointment expires then as well. Needless to say if the 2006 elections yield major changes in the balance of power in Congress, Bush may have some serious appointment battles on his hands. We'll see.
2. With the appointment of Julie L. Myers to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau at the Department of Homeland Security has the administration not learned from the Michael Brown head of FEMA problem by making appointments of people with no experience in the departments they are to be in charge of?
Cronyism is hardly a new exercise in power allocation. Brown was a more glaring example because an actual disaster happened on his watch. Putting Myers as head of ICE is admittedly quite suspect, as that group has some major battles on its hands in 2006 as it relates to immigration reform and border security. This selection hardly surprises me, however. Crony is as crony does
Because he can. I know that sounds trite, but this is fairly common practice for any sitting president. Are these appointments more controversial than most? Maybe. Clinton avoided some fights with some of his appointments as well.
One thing to bear in mind is that these appointments are not permanent. They expire on the next end of term for Congress, which is January 2007. Bolton's UN recess appointment expires then as well. Needless to say if the 2006 elections yield major changes in the balance of power in Congress, Bush may have some serious appointment battles on his hands. We'll see.
2. With the appointment of Julie L. Myers to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau at the Department of Homeland Security has the administration not learned from the Michael Brown head of FEMA problem by making appointments of people with no experience in the departments they are to be in charge of?
Cronyism is hardly a new exercise in power allocation. Brown was a more glaring example because an actual disaster happened on his watch. Putting Myers as head of ICE is admittedly quite suspect, as that group has some major battles on its hands in 2006 as it relates to immigration reform and border security. This selection hardly surprises me, however. Crony is as crony does
QUOTE
1. Why did Bush make more recess appointments, especially when both sides of the aisle had problems with these appointees?
Because he doesn’t care about competence; just he imprint their lips leave.Bush wanted to appoint more unqualified butt kissers/Monica’s, like Brownie, and didn’t want their incompetence to be exposed for everyone to see.
Clinton may have made similar type appointments; but no one has shown that his were as incompetent as Bush’s or unfamiliar with the Job they were being given.
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