Tag: W Bush

Back on Thursday, March 27th, Bush pulled his nomination of ambassadorial nomination of Belgium, A Republican donor, Sam Fox (uh no, not THAT Sam Fox) was the head of Bush’s reelection effort in Missouri and gave $50,000 in 2004 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a brand name, controversial group that ran campaigns questioning Kerry’s Vietnam record and smeared his records in the public eye with beyond lies.

Then this week, with the Senate on recess, Pres. Bush railroaded the appointment back through – a tact that allowed the president to bypass Congress while they are on break, and fill vacancies – known simply as Recess Appointment Power.

Senator Kerry stated “It’s sad but not surprising that this White House would abuse the power of the presidency to reward a donor over the objections of the Senate. This nomination was withdrawn because the Administration realized it would lose in the Foreign Relations Committee,”.

Bush also used his recess appointment authority to make Andrew Biggs deputy director of Social Security. The president’s earlier nomination of Biggs, an outspoken advocate of partially privatizing the government’s retirement program, was rejected by Senate Democrats in February. (Fox News)

At this point, his political maneuvering (or is that “manuring”) should not surprise any and disgust most. This isn’t the first recess appointment, the White House installed John Bolton at the United Nations with the same action. We should even admit that Pres. Bill Clinton use the recess appointment option to install James Hormel as an ambassador to for the US to Luxembourg. Hormel was originally blocked by the republican controlled congress because he was gay, and Clinton used his authority to appoint him because he didn’t believe sexual orientation has anything to do with the ability of a person to command the responsibilities of a professional position.

Bush’s appointment is out of spite and he’s still catering to his dwindling base which at this point should be looking for more important wins than a “thank you” appointment. What bush’s actions here tell us is that for the next two years, he’s not going to get anything done, (because of the apparent opposition against him by the Dem controlled congress), and he’s use what ever opportunities that present themselves to conduct selfish political maneuvers.

I think at one time in Civics class I understood the Congress to be the branch of the government designed to provide checks and balances to the other two branches of government and in this case the authority to provide “advice and consent” to make treaties and appointments of federal officers, ambassadors, and federal judges. Bush’s actions purposely avoid those authorities, not for moral, authoritative or legal responsibilities but to appease a personal agenda. So much for democracy in terms of government of the people, by the people, for the people…