Bush Bypasses Senate Foreign Relations Committee To Install ‘Loyalist’ In Arms Control Position
Bush Bypasses Senate Foreign Relations Committee To Install ‘Loyalist’ In Arms Control Position
In the Washington Times this morning, Bush administration officials are boasting that they “outmaneuvered” the Senate Foreign Relations Committee “to install a loyalist in the top arms control post” at the State Department.
In Feb. 2007, President Bush nominated John C. Rood as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, a position previously held by former UN Ambassador John Bolton. Rood’s Senate confirmation stalled, however, after Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE) and Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) objected to his nomination.
The administration considered installing him as a recess appointment, but Biden said they would “not get another single nominee for anything at all” if they did. So instead, Bush simply appointed him as “acting” undersecretary, which doesn’t require confirmation:
But the White House then realized there was a way to put Mr. Rood in the position and still honor its commitment to the Senate. “In late September, the president decided to designate Mr. Rood as acting undersecretary,” an administration official said. [...]
The main issue now appears to be the length of the appointment. According to the 1868 Vacancies Act, it should not exceed 120 days. But the law allows for a longer period if the Senate takes no action on a pending nomination.
The installation of “loyalist” Rood is only the latest chapter in the Bush administration’s efforts to avoid Senate confirmation for positions that require it. In June, the Washington Post reported that Bush used recess appointments to place 105 people in full-time positions and 66 in part-time slots, which is more than Bill Clinton installed in his entire presidency. The New York Times notes:
With only 15 months left in office, President Bush has left whole agencies of the executive branch to be run largely by acting or interim appointees — jobs that would normally be filled by people whose nominations would have been reviewed and confirmed by the Senate.
In many cases, there is no obvious sign of movement at the White House to find permanent nominees, suggesting that many important jobs will not be filled by Senate-confirmed officials for the remainder of the Bush administration.
The President’s efforts to avoid Senate confirmation fights for his divisive nominees have become so bad that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will hold pro forma sessions over Thanksgiving break to deny Bush the opportunity.
Reid has good cause to worry. Dr. James Holsinger, Bush’s homophobic surgeon general nominee, has said he expects a recess appointment over the break.
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So we’ll have acting idiots staffing these positions for the next year.
Hope they don’t fu(k up too much in the year they have.
Somehow that doesn’t make me feel safer.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:50 pmHA! We’re going right back to the Revolution. Bush is the tyrant appointing his loyalists.
Revolution!
November 16th, 2007 at 12:51 pmPerfect illustration of why the previous story is so important.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:52 pmSo now, Bush appointees will be “acting”. Sounds appropropriate, since they will each be given a script and told to memorize their lines.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:52 pmI didn’t see any reference to the ability of the appointees in conducting their duties.
Perhaps Bush is simply tiring of constantly having any nominee he selects being pounded into the ground over every little thing, the recent Mukasey debacle being living proof.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:54 pmRevolution!
Comment by Picklee — November 16, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Ok, you start it off.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:54 pmThe guy looks goofy in the pic, plus I bet he is a closeted hypocrite too.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:56 pmOh God, we beseech you! Please make the President see that anyone who is loyal to him above America is, by definition, unfit for the position. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:58 pmPerhaps Bush is simply tiring of constantly having any nominee he selects being pounded into the ground over every little thing, the recent Mukasey debacle being living proof.
Comment by Minotaur
“Clean-up on isle 5, clean-up on isle 5″.
Yo brain trust, that’s what confirmation hearings are for, in a practicing Democracy.
Idiots like YOU who prefer the dictatorship could/should move to Pakistan.
Although studying Government and History in school was “optional” for you, abiding by this Nations laws IS NOT.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:00 pmOh great, “ACTING” like they know what they are doing….just great.
We have a bunch of “Clowns Acting” in government, well, it’s certainly is a “Sell Out”, and I can’t wait for this show to end.
Buck Fush
November 16th, 2007 at 1:03 pmPerhaps Bush is simply tiring of constantly having any nominee he selects being pounded into the ground over every little thing, the recent Mukasey debacle being living proof.
Comment by Minotaur
Yeah, it must be tough to watch your king not get everything he wants, huh? If you want a king, leave! if you want a monarchy, leave! If you can still – I mean still – support this administration, please leave! You are unfit to be an American. You cannot support Bush and the Constitution at the same time.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:07 pmPerhaps Bush is simply tiring of constantly having any nominee he selects being pounded into the ground over every little thing, the recent Mukasey debacle being living proof.
Comment by Minotaur — November 16, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Perhaps if all of his appointees hadn’t failed so miserably in their jobs, he wouldn’t be facing the wrath of the American people through their representatives. You don’t really like democracy, do you? that’s why you like bush: party over country, every time, for you traitors.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:08 pmIt’s going to be obvious the guy is NOT qualified for the position. We will find out that he kisses Bush’s butt and is just a Republican toady.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:08 pmMinotaur sez:
“Every little thing”? You mean like torture?
Jackass.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:09 pmWhat is this ‘d-e-m-o-c-r-a-c-y’ you speak of?
November 16th, 2007 at 1:09 pmWhat could be wrong with having a homophobic religious Jesus freak as Surgeon General?
Richard Carmona had too much integrity and honor to continue to lie for the Bush freaks. After he resigned in disgust he called the fanatical Bible thumping administration out for promoting ideology and rejecting science.
Bush obviously can’t let that happen again.
And Billy Hill, when you finally get the balls to put that AR-15 to good purpose, be considerate enough to spoil the pelt outside please. Better the coyotes clean up the mess than your poor husband.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:10 pmWe need to stop negotiating with this clown.
It’s time for impeachment!
November 16th, 2007 at 1:11 pmWhat is this ‘d-e-m-o-c-r-a-c-y’ you speak of?
Comment by Bob
Well, if apathy hadn’t killed our power through the right to vote, we might still have a dog in this fight left.
WHEN 70% OF THE POPULATION DOESN’T VOTE, THEY’RE SAYING THEY DON’T CARE.
That’s why politics has become so ineffectice and corrupt: APATHY
November 16th, 2007 at 1:12 pmWell, give my best to your sisters…er wives.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:15 pmObviously, someone as politically impotent and incompotent as Der Shrub can NOT get what he wants through due process.
It’s his life story. He’s NEVER earned anything legitimately, and everything he’s touched turned to sh*t.
What a LOSER.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:17 pmWow. Bush using an “interim” appointee to make an end run around Congress…?
Who’da thunk it??
Dayum! Things’d sure be one helluva lot easier if he was dictator.
/sarc off
November 16th, 2007 at 1:17 pmdébutante concubine.
Yea, I bet your cousin is REAL “purty”…
November 16th, 2007 at 1:18 pm12 – Strat — well said!! Oh, very well said!!
November 16th, 2007 at 1:19 pmBushlickers are like Chia Pets,
Just water them & they grow big & powerful.
Trouble is, they’re just as dumb as plants…
November 16th, 2007 at 1:23 pmPerhaps Bush is simply tiring of constantly having any nominee he selects being pounded into the ground over every little thing, the recent Mukasey debacle being living proof.
Comment by Minotaur — November 16, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Bush is tired of debacles? What are you the God of Irony? Maybe he should stop creating so many and maybe you people should stop encouraging him.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:23 pmWhy does our President hate the Constitution so much?
November 16th, 2007 at 1:24 pmThe last time I had my “arms†in a controlled position was on the grip of my AR-15, laying low in the Bushes. As a country Democrat I am hoping that GW will not increase the size of the Revenuer Board. There is enough of them now.
Comment by Billy Hill — November 16, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
He’s a country Democrat and I’m the freakin’ Queen of England. Flag these trolls.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:26 pmWhy does our President hate the Constitution so much?
Comment by raynman — November 16, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
Because if he obeyed it he wouldn’t be president.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:26 pmPerhaps Bush is simply tiring of constantly having any nominee he selects being pounded into the ground over every little thing, the recent Mukasey debacle being living proof.
Comment by Minotaur — November 16, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
it’s called politics. the repubs would, and have done the same damn thing. in fact, they wrote the book on it. perhaps your appointed leader would have better luck if so many of his nominees were not right-wing extremists. just doesn’t sit well with the majority of americans.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:27 pmSo Bush delights in undermining the will of the People? Nothing new there.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:28 pmWasn’t Bush appointed before he was anointed?
November 16th, 2007 at 1:31 pmHe looks a lot like the guy who lived in his parent’s basement on that VH1 show the Pick Up Artist. If anyone saw that show or the scenes, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:31 pmIt’s not within the Bush Crime Family’s DNA to do something which is righteous, is it? I’m beginning to believe that the propensity toward criminal activity is something which this fool was born with. He can’t make a solid judgment or an altruistic choice if his life depended on it.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:33 pmWho really wants to ruin their careers and work for such an incompetent president . Only brown nosers will take these job.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:34 pmOh and of course Loyal Bushies !!!!!!!
12 – Strat — well said!! Oh, very well said!!
Comment by Leftside Annie
Thanks for saying so. It is getting frustrating to continue arguing with the right side about their need for a king. And they want Bush to be that king.
This republic has been around +/- 230 years, and in no time I can recall has the shouts for a monarchy been so loud. We survived the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Cold war, Cuban Missile crisis, Vietnam, recessions, depressions, labor strife, natural disasters, 10,000 nukes pointed at us, etc…I have never experienced such a disgusting need to change the course of our country by the right side. I thought they were tough and brave. Guess not.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:37 pmshe’s like, 30 or so and still lives at home
Hmm, sounds like a real “winner” there.
whats up with that?
Well, nobody really gives a rats ass. This isn’t a “chat-room” for in-bred swingers…
November 16th, 2007 at 1:41 pmDo American remeber their REVOLUTION????
November 16th, 2007 at 1:43 pm“Perhaps Bush is simply tiring of constantly having any nominee he selects being pounded into the ground over every little thing, the recent Mukasey debacle being living proof.
Comment by Minotaur ”
Yes, that’s it. Mukasey was not voted in, good example. idiot.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:44 pmIsn’t “criminal conspiracy” a “high crime or misdemeanor”?
November 16th, 2007 at 1:46 pmI found out two weeks ago that one of my close friends is related to one of the recent cabinet members that left told them that the reason why she left is because “they were told what to do and what to decide on every single little issue, and were never allowed to make any decisions about anything at all, ever.”
And that is why only Bush loyalists are appointed, they are simply robots being told what to think by Bush/Cheney.
Buck Fush
November 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pmThis administration & their loyal supporters remind me of WWE wrestling. You know it’s all fake & choreographed but you cheer anyways. And when your favorite breaks all of the rules you cheer louder because he’s YOUR favorite. If the other guy does anything wrong you complain loudly to the ref, completely forgetting/ignoring that your guy did worse 2 seconds ago.
The sad thing is that while this administration is fake the consequences of their actions aren’t. They’re painfully real to those that aren’t millionaires or the innocent people who happen to live in a country that holds resources that the U.S. covets. So while you Reps cheer for your favorite villain just remember that even in WWE there’s always a turnaround. This shit will come back and hit you. All of these nifty rights that GWB has given himself will pass on to the next President and you may not be so happy with that person. I’m sure you’ll see the value of the Constitution then, but for now you’re happy that it’s your guy headstomping the opposition. Rules be damned!
November 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pmOnly a year and two months to go….until the next one.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:51 pmTherapy for the recovery of incontinence suffering agoraphobic prognosticators of political persuasions?
Comment by Billy Hill
That shoe fits you quite nicely. Why don’t you buy a pair?
November 16th, 2007 at 1:51 pmMinotaur exemplifies the typical inability of conservative right wingers to understand what a democracy stands for and the gravity of substantive issues concerning our form of government and liberties.
Minotaur does not understand that the purpose of confirmation hearings is to prevent a president from being able to stack important government positions with ideologues who are too far outside the mainstream. The minoity can act as a check when necessary (Democrats were moderate in their use of filabusters when in the minority while Republicans use them as an every day tool to frustrate the will of a majority of the electorate.) A party in control of Congress, especially after a party change in the middle of a sitting President’s term of office, has a mandate to effect change and can be expected (and has a charge) to be more aggressive. The President will have his ability to place into positions those who are attuned with his politics since he makes the appointments. He will be constrained from the more extreme appointments that this President seems to love.
We see opinion pollls that indicate the low rating of Congress. However, a review of the reasons for that low rating stems from the fact that a new majority elected by the people has failed to confront an un-democratic idelogue who refuses to listen to the views of the majority of the electors.
Republicans and conservative right wingers do not believe in democracy and they do not believe in the foundations of this nation. Minotaur seems to believe that a serious debate of the use of water boarding is a trivial matter. Like most fascists, Minotaur is unable to grasp the meaning of human rights, international law or the proud traditions of a democratic government that has always found such actions to be a violation of law. Minotaur, you are un-American. You hate democracy, freedom and human rights. You are no better than the terrorists that you allegedly fight. You would have the same narrow ideological/theocratic rule in the United States. However, the very safeguards in the system that you scoff at, are the same safeguards that will prevent scum with the same view point as yours from destroying this country.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:59 pmMukasey was pounded into the ground?
Gee, I don’t think even he would go that far.
Do you expect that the Senate shouldn’t ask any tough questions?
Funny how, even with the Senate beating all of these nominees into the ground we STILL came up with a batch that appears to be the epitome of how NOT to run anything, much less a governmental agency.
Fascinating how the Republicans continue to tell us how poorly run the federal government is, and they prove time after time that they are right. The Republicans don’t seem to be able to run the federal government. Maybe if they’d show the American people that they were good at running the government, Americans would vote them into office again.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:00 pmBush probably needs him there to help build their case against Iran. Plus, of course, getting all of those missile “defense” sites set up all over the world.
This was Rood last May:
‘Iranian intentions are also of concern. For example, in October 2005 President Ahmedinejad called for Israel to be “wiped off the map” and in that same speech called for achieving “a world without America.” These statements obviously take on greater significance given our concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile efforts and its pursuit of nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community, UN Security Council resolutions, and its international obligations.’
http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/roo050307.htm
November 16th, 2007 at 2:06 pmFrom the end of the Wash. Times article linked above:
‘In 1998, Senate Republicans were outraged when they found out that 20 percent of the positions requiring Senate confirmation in the Clinton administration had been filled with “acting” appointees.’
snip
‘Jon Wolfsthal, senior fellow at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, said “acting” appointments are common at the end of every administration.
What is different is this case, he said, is that there are not many experienced candidates for Mr. Rood’s position who agree with the Bush administration’s policies in that field.
“It’s hard to find a top arms control or nonproliferation expert who is in sync with this administration,” Mr. Wolfsthal said.’
November 16th, 2007 at 2:10 pmTherapy for the recovery of incontinence suffering agoraphobic prognosticators of political persuasions?
Comment by Billy Hill
That shoe fits you quite nicely. Why don’t you buy a pair?
Comment by DieNowForPeace — November 16, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
They don’t wear shoes where hillbilly’s from so he probably can’t understand you comment. They used to be able to afford one pair a year but that was back when Bill Clinton was President.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:11 pmFollow the rules if it’s in your interest, circumvent them if they’re an obstacle, break them if you must and pretend they weren’t a rule in the first place. All hail your uber lord, Emperor George W. Bush!
November 16th, 2007 at 3:02 pmWho needs to the Senate when you’re a dictator? Why should Dubya have to be bothered with those Senators anyway. They are violating the US Constitution by hold confirmation hearing anyway, right? The entire Congress is just in the way. Things are so much easier now that we have a Dictator in office. Things get done faster, with no tangles. Just think what this dictators sucessor Rudy will do when he becomes Dictator. He can make all of his crooked friends junoir dictators and we will not need Congress at all. Besides the weak democrat Congress might as well not even in power anymore. Maybe Rudy will do what the Emporer in Star Wars did, and just desolve the Congress and use Regional Governors to run the Republic. Finally the Republic of the United States has come true under the leadership of the Emporer “Dubya” and his apprentice “Darth Dick”.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:03 pmDumb Question (I don’t know a thing about this guy): but as Neocons tend to be associated with the NRA / pro-gun crowd. What does a NeoCon do for arms control ?
November 16th, 2007 at 3:07 pmShouldn’t these “appointees” think long and hard about signing up to enable Bush’s crime-spree against America and its people? Accessories to a crime often face the same punishment as the one who actually commits the crime. These people might be swinging on a rope right next to old Bushie when he gets executed. Think long and hard appointees about the fate that awaits you. Bush will swing. And so will you. And none of you will be missed.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:12 pmIt shouldn’t take much effort to write legislation which closes the loophole Bush is exploiting.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:40 pmI don’t get it. Under the Vacancies Reform Act, I thought you had to be a first assistant when at the time of the vacancy in order to get an “acting” position
November 16th, 2007 at 3:53 pmThe macho-boy king is further consolidating his power. Long live King George, NOT!
November 16th, 2007 at 4:11 pmSo, what was all that from Feinstein about having to support Murkasey b/c we just can’t live with interim appts? Lies. And now Reid moves to stop them anyway?
November 16th, 2007 at 4:57 pma homophobic “acting” surgeon general?
or, an “acting” homophobic surgeon general?
… guess it’s not the latter, as he really IS homophobic…
November 16th, 2007 at 6:53 pm…
Can someone please explain how Bush is “taking care that the laws be faithfully executed“, when he is clearly trying to get around the procedures called for in the constitution? Why has he not been impeached yet? Why has Nancy no Thatchers? Why is Steny crapping his adult diapers over the prospect of actually having to impeach Cheney? (They have the easy part, the Senate has to try him.) Why is the Democratic leadership cutting and running on the voters who put them in power?
November 17th, 2007 at 3:08 amanother loyal Bushie! Nice!
November 17th, 2007 at 3:21 pm