Asking two questions - Can President Obama do recess appointments?

[akbacchus_BC]

Second question, why is President Obama still looking to work with the Republicans? My opinion, about time he cut them loose and stay with his promises to the American population.

Dunno, trying times on here!

[Hardrada]

1. He can't because some repug might start to cry. (Besides Boehner)

[akbacchus_BC]

3. Are you saying that the yellow man is in control?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. He sure can, and he just did...

Surgeon General, I think...

I don't know if he's still trying to make nice with the Republicans. My feeling is he isn't; he's been attacking them for standing in the way of relief for the many Americans who cannot find work.

:hi: my dear akbacchus_BC!

[akbacchus_BC]

5. Dear CP, thanks. You worked so hard for President Obama to get elected,

can some of you message him to let him know that the republicans are not interested in working with him. For goodness sake, even Dems in the Senate and the House voting against some progressive bills. Who are these Dems?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Obama knows the Republicans don't want to work with him.

He's a bright guy, and he knows.

I think he's way overdue to be tough on them and their contrariness.

Way Overdue.

There are lots of Blue Dog Dems, who come from states where liberals do not get elected.

[akbacchus_BC]

9. I know, that is why you all need to elect progressive Dems. The President's

own people are voting with the Republicans.

For instance, President Bush (give him his due) did recess appointments, the minute President Obama attempts to do the same the republicans crying foul. No matter what this President does, nobody will be happy!

[sandnsea]

4. 3 today, 15 in March

and I think there was another one or two before that.

Have you not noticed this 60 vote problem in the Senate?

[akbacchus_BC]

6. Yes, I have noticed but am not American and I have no idea why Dems

voting against progressive bills. Isn't it time that voting democrats vote those assholes out of the Senate and Congress. Get people elected who are for Americans and not the corporations!

BTW, I love your avatar

[sandnsea]

10. Some Dems aren't progressive

Some Dems are barely Dems. I think until the 1960s the only reason the south was Dem was because Lincoln was a Republican and they equated Republicans to Yankees. It took a complete race betrayal by Johnson, in their minds, to get them to even look at the Republican Party. I think a lot of them are Democrats out of habit more than anything. They give us the majority which means Dems set the agenda and much of the rule maneuvering. But there's no way around the requirement of 60 votes to bring a bill to a vote in the Senate. The concept is that it guarantees the minority still has a voice, which worked to our benefit when we filibustered the Arctic Refuge drilling, for instance.

American people are completely selfish. Most don't really care about anything unless they think they'll get something out of it. You might notice some of the health care arguments even here, about half are from people who are just mad they didn't get something for themselves. It's just another version of, me me me and nobody but me. Then there's the racism, which clearly hadn't gone away despite so many people insisting it wasn't a problem anymore. It's pretty easy for Republicans to convince white men that women, minorities, and gays are all "other" -- weak greedy leaches who want the poor put upon white man to pay for everything. There are Democrats in some part of the country who are too afraid to fight that and actually perpetuate some of those ideas themselves. It's crazy and there is no strategy to go into these red areas and turn them around. Very frustrating.

[akbacchus_BC]

8. Note to self! Never come on here questioning the staus quo!

However, President Obama needs to stop this bipartisan crap and get on with what he promised he will do.

Suddenly, Gitmo not going to be closed, that is sick! He don't need Congress or the Senate to do what he promised!

Invasive occupation in Afghanistan still going on with no end and who knows when the troops from Iraq will come home!

[sandnsea]

11. Iraq withdrawal is on schedule

Gitmo will be closed as soon as this Congress approves another place to put the prisoners.

Yes Afghanistan is still going, just like he said it would when he ran.

He is doing what he promised to do.

[SpartanDem]

12. He doesn't need Congress?

Really? Since it takes funds from the approval of Congress to close Gtimo and they've so far have refused to do so, pray tell how PRESIDENT Obama, not dictator, avoid that whole separation of powers thing?

[vaberella]

14. As I've said before...people want a Bush version for the Left or a Dictator of the left.

Those are the only two who said fuck Congress and don't see their role.

[vaberella]

13. If I remember, recess appointments have a time limit.

It's not like they can stay on indefinitely. Not the entire term anyway.

Another point, do you have any understanding of basic politics?! I ask this because Congress is made up of the House and Senate...they are not apart. Secondly, in order to close Gitmo he needs Congress on board or you're about to see impeachment proceedings real soon because the president went unilateral. Further more where does he put the prisoners when State Senators don't want him to put them in their State.

As for Iraq...okay you have no clue then. It's a silent news...troops have been coming out of Iraq the summer he was in office. As for Afghanistan we start our withdrawal of troops in July---even Maddow showed this.

[Hawaii Hiker]

15. If he can, he should make some recess appointments on his judicial nominations

namely at the Court of Appeals & District Court level...He has had too many of these nominees waiting too long for the full senate vote...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Barack_Obama

[onenote]

16. very unlikely that he will do so

While earlier in our history recess appointments for judges were not that unusual, the practice has been pretty rare in the past few decades. Chimpy only did it twice, both in the fourth year of his presidency. Clinton did it once, it the final month of his eighth year in office. Reagan and Bush I didn't make any judicial recess appointments and Jimmy Carter did it once (also in the last month of his presidency).

I'm not saying that it couldn't or shouldn't be done. Just pointing out that its unlikely that President Obama will depart from the recent history and make judicial recess appointments at this stage of his presidency.