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Ear to the Ground

Obama Plays Rough at Recess

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Posted on Mar 27, 2010
Official White House photo / Pete Souza

Between meetings on health care reform, President Barack Obama plays a game of H-O-R-S-E with Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff for the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, on the White House basketball court March 21.

In alleged retaliation for Republican stonewalling, President Barack Obama will bypass the Senate and make recess appointments to 15 high-level administration jobs. For context, George W. Bush made more than 170 such appointments; Bill Clinton made nearly 140.

Many believe that the move—which, if history is a guide, will be blown out of proportion by conservatives and Fox News—is sure to deepen the divide between Democrats and Republicans in Congress. —JCL

The New York Times:

Fed up with waiting, President Barack Obama announced Saturday he would bypass a vacationing Senate and name 15 people to key administration jobs, wielding for the first time the blunt political tool known as the recess appointment.

The move is sure to deepen the divide between the Democratic president and Republicans in the Senate following a long, bruising fight over health care. Obama revealed his move by blistering Republicans, accusing them of holding up nominees for months for the sole purpose of trying to score a political advantage on him.

“I simply cannot allow partisan politics to stand in the way of the basic functioning of government,’’ Obama said in a statement.

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By CaptRon, March 28, 2010 at 9:29 pm Link to this comment

The GOP chose the course and dragged their feet by choosing to not participate in government anymore per John McCain. They cry and say they weren’t listened to simply because their suggestions weren’t taken. “Stop HCR and start all over” they screamed after having no plan but publicly chastising the DEM plan. Ideas they had were incorporated into the bill but that’s not enough. They didn’t stop government so they could be the hero. Have you ever worked around the guy who complained about his job but when you watched what he did he did nothing but complain about everybody else. The people have caught on or are catching on in larger numbers. The GOP can’t even decide to side with the Tea Party people, afraid that TP people will get the credit instead of the GOP old fogeys. So don’t complain because Obama pushed his agenda to get some action in government and don’t complain that he initializes his appointments while on recess. Like Reconciliation, it has been done before and this man has begun to take the reins based on the GOP negativity. He ultimately gets the blame so it needed to be done and he did. More power to him. The GOP will either start to govern for the people instead of their careers or pay the consequences losing seats to Tea Party candidates. The eyes are watching John McCain in Arizona. Will Sarah Palin save his butt or will they both lose. I’m betting on the TP guy with hopes Palin takes a hit as well, the overpaid mouthpiece that she is. Things aren’t perfect but I’m glad there is progress. Start participating GOP or keep doing what you’re doing. It’s not the best government yet when you work FOR the people instead of…...

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By ofersince72, March 28, 2010 at 8:18 pm Link to this comment

He is putting on his MAKEUP

  for his REMAKE…

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mrfreeze's avatar

By mrfreeze, March 28, 2010 at 6:57 pm Link to this comment

Timing is everything for a good chess player. Obama is a good chess player.

Now if the Democrats as a block can capitalize on the newly energized agenda, we may finally see the dismantling of the Reagan legacy which, to a large extent, created the America of today: a mean and nasty refuge for the uber-rich at the expense of the middle class.

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By Inherit The Wind, March 28, 2010 at 6:24 pm Link to this comment

Obama has finally realized, after 14 months, that the Republicans in the House and especially in the Senate WILL NOT PLAY NICE!  They have simply made all b-partisanship impossible in their desire to make Obama ineffective and look weak.

So it’s time to use the power of the majority and his mandate.  Health Care is over the main hump for the first time in 100 years of trying.  Now it’s time to clear the other dross out of the way.

And the Re-thuglicans will squeal like frightened pigs, and growl like rabid dogs and….encourage the violent ones to try to intimidate the majority. 

It’s NOW finally the time to stand firm and get stuff done.

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By gerard, March 28, 2010 at 5:24 pm Link to this comment

It’s really crazy when organized Corporations, Chambers of Commerce, Real Estate Associations etc., get their clout boosted by lop-rulings from the Supremes, that’s okay.  But—if Organized Labor gets a boost— No, no!  That’s bad!

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By ofersince72, March 28, 2010 at 3:16 pm Link to this comment

Obama sure is showing them !!!!

  What a tough guy !!!!!!  WOW…..WOW…WOW…..!!!!!!!

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By Steppin' Razor, March 28, 2010 at 1:24 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Obama will either appoint Republicons or Regressive-Democrats UNLESS he wimps out and seeks bi-partisanship and asks the Republicons who they would like appointed.

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By hammering in the morning, March 28, 2010 at 8:55 am Link to this comment

Well, it is about time!

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By Rodney, March 28, 2010 at 5:45 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Time to do it without the Republicans. That’s why we voted for you!

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