Vacancies Threaten National Security: After Recess, President Obama Demands Senate Action

[bigtree]

from Victor Williams at HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-williams/vacancies-threaten-nation_b_461791.html


February 14, 2010

It sometimes happens during the Valentine's holiday season. A relationship needs shaking up. A dysfunctional pattern must be broken. Sometimes it takes an ultimatum; things must change or else.

That is the message Barack Obama personally delivered to Senate Republican leaders as they prepared to leave town for their Valentine's Day/Presidents' Day recess. The president delivered his valentine - a recess appointment ultimatum.

Obama's appointment confrontation did not come a day too early. Republican confirmation obstruction, which kept important government offices vacant for the entire first year of Obama's presidency, threatens national security. Vacant critical defense, state, and intelligence posts jeopardize our omni-front war against Al-Qaeda. Unfilled homeland security, justice, and court positions further weaken our domestic security.

Republican Senators holding important national security and justice positions vacant while extorting provincial pork must be exposed and shamed.

On the Tuesday evening after the president delivered his ultimatum, Majority Leader Harry Reid had a brief breakthrough -- forcing confirmations through simple unanimous consent agreements. Reid finally got Republicans to release two intelligence/national security nominees who were blocked for months . . .

read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-williams/vacancies-threaten-nation_b_461791.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Or Else He'll Call For A Televised Debate, Darn It!

Which Fox won't show, so it will change no minds.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. I agree they should be filled, but claiming it is a threat to national security is about as bogus

as it gets. Does anyone here really believe that the political appointees actually get important stuff done? That is done by the rank and file pros. Am I the only one who remembers "Heck of a job Brownie?"