Posted on 11/19/2014 2:53:32 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday that he will use a primetime address to the nation tomorrow night to announce his plan to protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation using executive action. In response, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has published a defiant article in Politico calling on Republicans to block all nominees, executive and judicial, “so long as the illegal amnesty persists.”
Under the headline, “Obama Is Not a Monarch,” Cruz writes that the president’s plan is “lawless” and “unconstitutional” and accuses Obama of being “defiant and angry at the American people.”
Cruz then lays out his proposal to combat Obama’s action:
If the President announces executive amnesty, the new Senate Majority Leader who takes over in January should announce that the 114th Congress will not confirm a single nominee—executive or judicial—outside of vital national security positions, so long as the illegal amnesty persists.
This is a potent tool given to Congress by the Constitution explicitly to act as a check on executive power. It is a constitutional power of the Majority Leader alone, and it would serve as a significant deterrent to a lawless President.
Additionally, the new Congress should exercise the power of the purse by passing individual appropriations bills authorizing critical functions of government and attaching riders to strip the authority from the president to grant amnesty.
Note that he says “the new Senate Majority Leader” and not Sen. Mitch McConnell. Cruz goes on to predict that Obama “will no doubt threaten a shutdown,” the “the one card he repeatedly plays,” though it is not clear how or why the president would do so.
During today’s White House press briefing, ABC News’ Jonathan Karl asked Press Secretary Josh Earnest to respond to Cruz’s threats. Watch video below, via CNN:
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
I don’t think we have a choice.
If Obama does this, it’s time to pull out the stops and tell him “You can forget about any of your nominees advancing out of the Senate between now and when you leave office”.
I’d also like to see the GOp launch a media blitz if Obama does this. I don’t care if they have to demagogue the issue. Just do it. Scare the crap out of the American people - whatever it takes.
I just figured out why Cruz’s idea is suck.
Recess Appointments.
Way to put McConnell on the spot. I love it.
/johnny
Act like Mussolini, end up like Mussolini.
Aren’t recess appointments only for 6 months and non-renewable?
Gutierrez will see all his dreams and hard work all these years finally come true with Obama's executive order.
Obama calls it executive order. I call it political blackmail.
Of course, Obama will say that the Republicans forced him to do it.
He will also say that it was "the right thing to do" several times, as if God is the one who inspired him to make such a decision.
Gutierrez will now sit back and wait for Obama's next executive order next year in Nov. 2015, when Obama will sign another executive order legalizing another 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 illegals, in which Obama legalizes those he missed this time.
No appointments is a start
Yes, but remember when Obola did a recess appointment when the Senate was in session? In 6 months, reappoint a similar and different guy, with the Senate in session.
The GOP should try it some time. It seems to work.
Will Senator McConnell cave to Obama? I think he will.
Declare war on the traitor bastard and let the chips fall.
My sentiments exactly, it kinda sounds like President Cruz is making a run for Senate Majority Leader, by, can you imagine LEADING!!
So you noticed that too. A real shame the GOP hasn’t noticed.
Well said.
I wish him total and complete success.
Can Recess appointments be defunded or not funded at all in a budget?
I’m with Ted. Be the best obstructionist you can against the Obama regime. After all, they developed those techniques. What goes round, comes round.
Congress determines if they are in recess. Never recess.
Gutierrez is a Puerto Rican, white-hating communist. If you keep that in mind, then his plans make a lot of sense. Bring in low-education leftist youth and make them into a political army for the Democrats (i.e. Castro chapter, US)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.