Obama Plays Rough at Recess

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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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.