And he was appointed to positions by people who were rightfully elected. To say that their appointments are not valid is like saying laws are not valid because we don't have referenda on them all.
We're in a @#$&* democratic republic, much as that pains the liberals to admit.
But it really is amazing how Democrats who score lower on standardized exams are viewed as smarter than their GOP opponents, or how Algore can flunk out of theology school but be called intellectually superior to W, who has an Ivy League graduate degree.