Of course they are. But that's not really germaine, unless your point is that the "advice and consent" role of the Senate should be scrapped altogether in favor of straight "recess appointments" all the time.
Personally, I think Bush should go all the way and squeeze in every possible recess appointment he can because the scumbags, particularly Leahy, will not give Bush the time of day at this point.
I think that jungleboy's point was that this was not the way it was supposed to be. The founders certainly envisioned an advice and consent on appointments.