[RatSlayer]

This is really all Bush's fault. If he had any balls, he would recess appoint these judges. Then the tables would be turned and it would and the democrats would need 60 votes to end the debate to remove them. All the gutless Repubs would need to do is keep one person on the floor to object whenever the rats called for cloture.

[WillRain]

There's something to be said for that, though, as I understand it, Bush went on record long ago as disavowing that tactic.

I'm thinking that Bush ought to addressthe nation on TV and lay out his case, with specific, truthful (even if it's embarrasing) discussion of past precedent and the current situation, then introduce each of the nominees and their qualifications and their previous approvals if any to the American people.
The problem now is that the mushy middle who never pays attention sees only names in newsprint, if Bush puts Janice Rogers Brown and Priscilla Owens and yes, even Miguel Estrada as cases in point before the American people it's going to be much harder for Teddy to get away with calling then "neanderthals"

[kayak]

Last night I saw some posts on another thread stating that persons accepting recess appointments do not receive pay unless and until they are actually confirmed later by the Senate. I believe they stated that the salary would then be paid retroactively for the full time served.

I do not know if this is true or not but those posting it seemed pretty sure of themselves. If that is the case, then it puts a whole different slant on the notion of recess appointments. How many people can afford to take months, if not years, out of their lives to serve in full-time positions with no pay? Why should they be forced into that position by the 'rats? And there is nothing stopping the 'rats from refusing to confirm them even after the appointments, thus assuring that any recess appointments would be serving on a charity basis.

If any attorneys or scholars would care to comment on this, I would welcome the information.

[pctech]

There are two parties at fault here. President Bush is one for not using recess appointments like Clintoon did, and the republican powers at be in the US Senate for not pushing to get these appointments through when we all know damn well the democrats would stop at nothing to get their appts through.