Posted on 01/04/2012 8:26:28 AM PST by montag813
President Obama will challenge Senate Republican foes of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by naming Richard Cordray as its director while Congress is out of town, according to a senior administration official.
Testifying before Congress in September, Mr. Cordray said he would make judicious use of lawsuits to enforce financial regulations.
That would allow the agency to establish new regulations over financial institutions, putting into effect elements of the financial regulatory overhaul that was one of the administrations main achievements in Congress.
Mr. Obamas exercise of constitutional powers to name top officials without Senate confirmation while Congress is in recess is a stiff challenge to Republicans, who have attempted to block the maneuver by holding pro forma sessions over the holidays.
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, objected strenuously, saying Mr. Obama was overstepping the bounds of his executive power and leaving the agency open to legal challenges.
Although the Senate is not in recess, President Obama, in an unprecedented move, has arrogantly circumvented the American people, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
You should read the comments at the end of the article.
Talk about brain dead syncophants. OMG.
Great post and great point.
True but using this excuse that the economy demands that he act, what exactly is his check and balance now? I just want the Republicans to educate the American people on how far left Obama actually is, Obama’s goal in this election will be to win independents and moderates, he can only do that if he can convince Americans that he is right. In this he is extremely wrong and giving red meat to his base only. Using the Presidents own logic now he is saying that he will act without congressional approval on anything. Republicans must act, their response must be measured and balanced but they must do something.
And that my friend is exactly how the Republicans should frame it for the American people. Obama The far left radical extremist president strikes again.
Yes ...now go back to class (1st grade? 2nd grade?) and study some more. Maybe you could address my arguments rather than whining about my use of a few CAPS and exclamation points.
Reporter: “Senator X, do you believe this appointment is unconstitutional?”
Senator X: “Yes.”
Reporter: “What do you plan to do about it?”
Senator X: [crickets]
What you ask for will be granted if you make your arguments in a more civil manner. Allcaps (yelling) and exclamation points (more yelling) do not qualify on that point. Similarly on the childish insults.
Yeah? So? Watcha gonna do about it? He’s on TV now, before a group of Leftist weenies and 5th generation welfare recipients, daring Congress to stop him.
As a fellow Ohioan, that’s always been the impression I’ve gotten from him. I just can’t believe that a 5-time Jeopardy champion could be so stupid when it comes to politics.
If he were Bush and Pelosi were Speaker, "impeachable offense" would be on people's lips.
You may be correct in you assessment but I don't think the Supreme Court has ever made a definitive ruling on the subject. It is clear the original intent was to provide for continuity of government, not a method to circumvent the confirmation process.
Reasonable people, even when they disagree, learn to coexist and while both parties have abused the recess appointment, neither has gone to such an extreme as to challenge the confirmation requirement itself. Oboma, in his arrogance, may force this issue and if the Supreme Court is required to rule, I don't think even the liberals would support such an obvious circumvention of the checks and balances that are one of the guiding principals of our Constitution.
An even better reply. Thanks!
Once again The Kenyan wipes his ass with the Constitution.
Good point. I hope you're right about the libs. But I have my doubts. FWIW I have a problem with recess appointments no matter who makes them because it tends to circumvent the Constitutional role of the Senate in advise and consent. In that sense it waters down the checks and balances, as you note.
Of course, like many here, I tend to take a somewhat idealistic view of the process. It would work as we desire if Senators would actually be statesmen first and put the interests of the nation ahead of party and personalities. But as we've seen, that is more often the exception than the rule. While both sides are guilty, my impression is that the 'Rats are more prone to put partisan interests ahead of principle.
The A$$hat just did again by appointing 3 members to the NLRB. I goes that is now a totally RAT union organization.
This Jackanape needs to be stopped NOW!
Thanks for the ping. We’ll see if the Republicans can find enough of a collective spine between them to do anything more than complain about Imam Obama’s unconstitutional power grabs.
SEC. 1066. INTERIM AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) IN GENERAL.The Secretary is authorized to perform the functions of the Bureau under this subtitle until the Director of the Bureau is confirmed by the Senate in accordance with section 1011.
(b) INTERIM ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY.The Department of the Treasury may provide administrative services necessary to support the Bureau before the designated transfer date.
Source: PUBLIC LAW 111 - 203 - DODD-FRANK WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
At the least, it can be argued that the Director cannot perform any of his duties, and they must continue to be performed by the Secretary of the Treasury, until confirmed by the Senate.
McConnell needs to go NOW. He is a useless empty suit. Initial bluster followed by inevitable surrender. When is one of these politicians, all of whom have sworn to defend the Constitution, actually going to do something to defend the Constitution?
Thanks for your reply. I agree that recess appointments are not necessary in these times and, when used, actually do more damage to the system than they are worth. Whether it is a John Bolton or this current Cordray, no person is indispensable.
While democrats are generally more aggressive in pursuing their agenda, their leadership is usually mature enough to avoid putting the opposition in an untenable position. Neither side in the Senate wants a constitutional confrontation over recess appointments because they both have more to lose than to gain. Oboma, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to recognize any limits or to care about the long term consequences.
Regardless of whether they are liberal or conservative, the Supreme Court is the Establishment and their existence is dependent on upholding the system. While they would not want to be involved in this, if the case is brought to them, they would likely deal with it like an earlier court did with United States v. Nixon.
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