Today Barack Obama threw a temper tantrum and declared war on the United States Constitution.
How did he do that?
He made four recess appointments. The Constitution allows the President to make an appointment if Congress is in a recess.
The problem? Congress is not in recess.
From the Washington Times:
Defying Congress, President Obama used his recess appointment powers Wednesday to name a head for the controversial Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three new members to the National Labor Relations board — moves Republican senators said amounted to a constitutional power grab.
The president acted just a day after the Senate held a session, breaking with at least three different precedents that said the Senate must be in recess for at least three days for a recess appointment. Mr. Obama himself was part of two of those precedents, both during his own time in the Senate and again in 2010 when one of his administration’s top constitutional lawyers made the three-day argument to the Supreme Court.
Mr. Obama tapped Richard Cordray to head the CFPB and named three others to the labor board — all of which had been stymied by congressional Republicans who said Mr. Obama is accruing too much power to himself through those two agencies.
In strikingly sharp language, Republicans said the Senate considers itself still in session for purposes of blocking recess appointments, and the move threatened to become a declaration of war against Congress.
“Although the Senate is not in recess, President Obama, in an unprecedented move, has arrogantly circumvented the American people,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican.
GOP House Speaker John A. Boehner called the move “an extraordinary and entirely unprecedented power grab by President Obama that defies centuries of practice and the legal advice of his own Justice Department.”
Great, the GOP has issued statements. The GOP is angry and to show their anger, they are going to issue statements to say how angry they are.
Obama made the moves he made because he does not fear the GOP. He knows the Republican leadership will sputter than complain and in the end, do nothing.
How about a little courage and action from the GOP? Senators could start by suing Obama to stop the appointments. The GOP in the Senate could start filibustering EVERYTHING bill that comes up until Obama backs down. The House can refuse to pass any bills until Obama backs down.
Given the lack of courage the GOP leadership displayed in 2011, we should not hold our breath for any courage in 2012.
Barack Obama certainly is not worried about the Republicans.
Tags: constitution., declares, obama, on, war
Permalink Reply by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on You said it Judson. The Gop is worthless.
Permalink Reply by OneCitizenOfTheRepublic on I believe that "blaming" the GOP has done absolutely nothing to improve our situation...perhaps it is time to quit blaming them and look in the mirror to see what needs to happen next.
Permalink Reply by Dave3200 on @OneCitizenOfTheRepublic:
That statement is the most intelligent comment I've seen on the pages of TPN this year. We need to look in the mirror to see the real problem.
Thank you!!
Permalink Reply by Robert H. Woodman on And once we have looked in the mirror, what then do we DO? Consider the following points:
So what, exactly, would you have us DO?
Permalink Reply by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on It seems to me many citizens are siding with Obama; he is playing the GOP for fools. The entire government knows the citizens will complain then forget. So if it were me, I would start a nation wide recall and show our worthless, spineless, spend thrifts that I will not tolerate any more. If we do not, we are lost.
Permalink Reply by Roc29 on The problem is that you can't run against Santa Claus and win--even if Santa Claus is a thief. The Democrats have been playing Santa Claus for over 50 years. Those who oppose the Democrats are evil Grinches that want to steal Christmas. Even if the Republicans occasionally win, Santa Claus just ups the ante.
Permalink Reply by OneCitizenOfTheRepublic on 1 Corinthians 13:11...When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
It's time for Americans to "man up" and start acting like responsible adults...and for those of us who are adults, it time to stop making excuses for those who are not acting like adults.
The federal government is not, and never has been Santa Claus...
IT IS TIME FOR SOME TOUGH LOVE FOLKS
Permalink Reply by Laurie Brown on AMEN!
Permalink Reply by Doug Nicholson on Judson is absolutely correct. If Congress (both houses) do not take a stand on this issue, they will be irrelevant from now on and Odumbo will have unchallenged dictatorial powers. Truth be told, Odumbo should be impeached for this (among many other things).
Permalink Reply by Ronald Sorrells on Permalink Reply by OneCitizenOfTheRepublic on (1) Quit blaming "the GOP" or anyone else whom you have no intention of talking to personally. Then physically get face-to-face with each and every one of your elected representatives...If they have done a good job, tell them, thank them, encourage them...BUT, if they have not done a good job...tell them where they have violated your trust and let them know clearly and passionately that you will vote for someone else, campaign for someone else, give as much funding as you can to someone else...and then tell them who it is...That means that you must actually have a candidate that you have personally vetted, that is running for office, and is qualified to run, and has the values you want in your representative...that is citizenship.
(2) see rule one above! THEN REPEAT
Note: The sense of powerlessness comes from blaming other people or things which we have no control over. We can take control (power) back by asking the simple question, "what can I do personally, right now?" Then we are in the right ball park.. We do have control over what we do, what we say, what we think...And once we accept that, we begin to create change in our lives.
Permalink Reply by Thomas Angle on A large number of us could easily march on the House and take it peacefully. State our demands and the constitutional backing for each.
© 2013 Created by Judson Phillips.
