Recess appointment: epitome of Obama arrogance

by John in Oregon

Obama’s arrogance is just stunning when he makes recess appointments while the Senate is in session.

A little background:

The US Constitution – Article 1 Section 5 says that Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings.  Instead Obama decided he makes the rules.

Article 1 Section 5 also says, “Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.”  The house has NOT given permission to recess, but Obama decided he gets to decide when the Senate is in recess.

Article 2 – Section 2 says that “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.”

To put President Obama’s “recess” appointment in perspective, let’s take a look at the next conservative president using Obama’s precedent:

Walk this way said Professor Peabody as he opened what looked like a submarine pressure door.  “Unlike the way-back machine this one goes forward in time.  You, my friend, have been selected for the first projection in the way-forward machine.”  This first trip will be approximately 1 year into the future.  I shook Bullwinkle’s hoof and POOF

Bright lights.  It’s Saturday January 26, 2013 and I have stepped into the glaring lights of a major news conference.  President Michele Bachmann steps to the podium.  Let’s listen in….

Thank you all for coming today.  As you know this is a perilous time for our country.  One doubly so with the unexpected resignation of the FED Chairman and the tragic traffic accident taking the life of a Supreme Court Justice.

Over 5 days ago I placed my slate of agency and staff nominations before U.S. Senate and no action has been taken.  This inaction is an outrageous attack on middle class Americans who are reeling from the mess I inherited from my predecessor.  Delay is unacceptable.  We can’t wait. President Bachmann paused for a moment and then continued.

Last night after the Senate adjourned for the weekend Vice President Cain and I met with Speaker of the House Jason Chaffetz and Senate Majority Leader Jim DeMint.  Senator DeMint relayed a message from Minority Leader Reid.  Reid said that, with the aid of three Progressive Republicans, he would block all presidential nominations.  Reid declared it’s the Republicans that shut down the government by refusing to nominate from the progressive list.

Vice President Cain then suggested we contact a constitutional expert as my predecessors Justice Department and Solicitor General had rushed forward an opinion that only the Progressives were allowed to make administration nominations.

We contacted Professor Snidely Whiplash Chairman of the Constitutional Law department at Wossamotta U.  Professor Whiplash said the best way out of the constitutional crisis is to use recess appointment authority.  My predecessor’s use of recess appointments while the Senate is in session provides more than ample justification the Professor told us.  I then asked Majority Leader DeMint if the Senate was adjourned for the weekend.  Senator DeMint said yes, and Speaker of the House Chaffetz agreed.

Ladies and Gentleman, as president of the United States I am proud to announce that last night I made the following recess appointments.  The individuals have already been sworn in and the government is now operational.  I am pleased to introduce:

Rick Perry – EPA
Mitt Romney – Commerce
Rick Santorum – Treasury
Miguel Estrada – Justice
Newt Gingrich  – Congressional Liaison
John Bolton – Secretary of State
Mark Levin – Supreme Court
Ron Paul – Federal Reserve Chairman.

I saw reporters interviewing Minority Leader Reid.  Wandering over to listen in I heard Reid say: The Senate sets its rules, not the President.  It’s outrageous. The senate has the right to refuse to act.  Only Progressives are allowed to take extra-constitutional actions.  It’s a stunning power grab and I won’t stand for it.  Reid was furious.

I heard a hum, then a pop.  Suddenly I was back in January 2011.  As I stepped out of the way-forward machine I heard Majority Leader Reid in a TV news conference.  He was saying the President could decide when the Senate is in session.  A reporter asked, are you worried that a Republican President might take advantage of the precedent allowing recess appointments while the Senate is in session?  Reid responded I’m not worried at all.  A constitutional conservative would never do anything like that.

Then I knew that way-forward machine would never work.  It’s true. A constitutional conservative would never do anything like that.