Republicans have blinked on appointments. The wheat-from-chaff technique requires a hard shake every now and then:
“Mitch, this is unprecedented,” the president said, gesturing forcefully on the Cabinet Room table, according to aides. “If you don’t move any, I’m going to do some [recess] appointments.”
The 27 confirmations mean no recess appointments will be needed during this break, top administration officials said. Recess appointments, which a president can make when Congress is not in session, are temporary and generally last to the end of the year.
That Hail Mary pass Richard Shelby wanted to throw Parker Griffith never actually got thrown; the play ended in a sack. The GOP has started the string of losses they’ll be taking into November, and the first will be the Republican establishment candidates. Expect Parker Griffith to spend gobs of money just trying to get through the primary.
I expect the wingnutosphere to try and make this an example of Obama’s “arrogance,” but it’s only going to make independents like Obama more. I think middle America is ready to see strength from him — they’ve had a year of bipartisanship outreach that was unreturned.
