FSTDT Forums
Community => Politics and Government => Topic started by: CaseAgainstFaith on January 04, 2012, 02:16:02 pm
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WASHINGTON (AP)  In a defiant display of executive power, President Barack Obama on Wednesday will buck GOP opposition and name Richard Cordray as the nation's chief consumer watchdog. Outraged Republican leaders in Congress suggested that courts would determine the appointment was illegal.
With a director in place, the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can start overseeing the mortgage companies, payday lenders, debt collectors and other financial operations often blamed for practices that helped tank the economy. Even before Obama announced the move in an appearance in Ohio, Cordray said he would begin work right away.
Politically, the move immediately raised the level of confrontation for a president seeking re-election by championing the middle class and challenging an unpopular Congress. Acting right after Tuesday's GOP presidential caucuses in Iowa, Obama sought to grab attention and show he would not be slowed by making his most brazen leap-frog over Congress.
Republicans have halted Cordray's nomination because they think the consumer agency is too powerful and unaccountable. Leaders of the party responded in blistering fashion.
The Senate's top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, accused Obama of an unprecedented power grab that "arrogantly circumvented the American people."
Added House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio: "It's clear the president would rather trample our system of separation of powers than work with Republicans to move the country forward. This action goes beyond the president's authority, and I expect the courts will find the appointment to be illegitimate."
It was unclear who might undertake a legal fight. But people familiar with the matter said an outside private group regulated by the consumer agency might be in the best legal position.
By his move, Obama essentially is declaring that the Senate's short off-and-on legislative sessions are a sham intended to block him and do not count.
Yet it was his own party that started the practice when George W. Bush was president.
The White House braced for fallout, but said Obama was left with little choice to get the consumer agency fully running after months of stalemate.
White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer announced Obama's move on Twitter after senior administration officials first confirmed it to The Associated Press. Obama spokesman Jay Carney said White House lawyers have determined Obama is within his bounds to appoint Cordray now.
Cordray is expected to formally take over the job later in the week and stands to serve for at least the next two years, covering the length of the Senate's session.
source - http://news.yahoo.com/using-recess-power-obama-putting-cordray-job-162516090.html (http://news.yahoo.com/using-recess-power-obama-putting-cordray-job-162516090.html)
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Look at the republicans BAAAW. Go figure it took a election year for Obama to find his spine...and balls all at once, now lets hope he keeps them found and doesn't lose them down the road.
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... Indeed. He just raised his chances of getting a vote from me.
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GOP: "Bawwwwwwwwwww."
This is like a bully whining and crying foul after his victim had enough and slugged him in the jaw.
Normally, I would think this is a pretty shitty and underhanded move from Obama, but given the circumstances, I think it is perfectly excusable. It's not okay to do something just because "the other guy did it to me too" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque), but you have a valid reason when that person is purposely obstructing everything you do to sabotage your career. It's kind of like how shooting someone is okay if they hold a gun to your head; it's "self-defense" so to speak. It has been known since day one that the Republicans are playing politics and strategically blocking anything Obama does to ruin his chances of re-election, and this is not just speculation on my part: they've even more or less said that was their plan. If the other side doesn't want to play nice and be reasonable, then you have to stoop to their level to get anything done and prevent them from running all over you.
Either way, this was perfectly legal and within his power, AFAIK (though someone correct me if I am wrong). Still, rules and laws are not made to be mindlessly followed, but rather to ensure justice and fairness. Breaking them is sometimes not only justified, but it is also the right thing to do (e.g. the Civil Rights movement, which would have gotten nowhere by "following the rules").
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Translation: "How dare the President take a page out of our playbook!"
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Exactly.
Or maybe they're jealous that they didn't think of that idea themselves.
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They really don't like it when things don't go their way huh?
Ironbite-good for Obama.
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The republicans are crying foul? This from the party who didn't say a word when Bush Jr pulled that shit 171 times? (http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/01/04/397589/president-obama-has-made-far-fewer-recess-appointments-than-any-recent-president/)
Hypocrites.
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The republicans are crying foul? This from the party who didn't say a word when Bush Jr pulled that shit 171 times? (http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/01/04/397589/president-obama-has-made-far-fewer-recess-appointments-than-any-recent-president/)
Hypocrites.
Teddy did 193 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/recess-appointments-nobody-did-them-like-teddy/2011/12/08/gIQAJK1IgO_blog.html) at once.
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Fuck Bitches
Recess Appointments
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Ahhh, the tears of the criminally stupid. I do love them so. I can't say the GOP didn't have that coming.
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Guess he figured out calling his base whiners wasn't helping him.
Sorry to be so cynical but would this have happened if it wasn't getting lose to elections?
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Sorry to be so cynical but would this have happened if it wasn't getting lose to elections?
Probably not, but hopefully this will set the tone for the next four years if he wins and therefore has nothing to lose.
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(http://i917.photobucket.com/albums/ad17/adamcetin/1291664255_obama-kiks-door-open.gif)
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Sorry to be so cynical but would this have happened if it wasn't getting lose to elections?
Probably not, but hopefully this will set the tone for the next four years if he wins and therefore has nothing to lose.
Didnt' we think that 3 years ago?
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Don't know about that, but the current term is different because he's up for re-election. If he is elected in '12, it'll be his last term and therefore he has less to lose by standing up to the bullies trying to ruin the country. He won't have to worry as much about public opinion, to the point where he can actually get shit done, that is, not meaning he could do whatever he wants.
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Rep. Diane Black (Tenn.) and 71 other House Republicans introduced a nonbinding resolution today voicing concern over President Barack Obama’s recess appointment of four administration nominees last week.
“It’s astounding to me that the president is claiming these are recess appointments and within his authority, when Congress was not in fact in recess,†Black said. “These appointments are an affront to the Constitution. No matter how you look at this, it doesn’t pass the smell test. I hope the House considers my resolution as soon as we return to Washington so we can send a message to President Obama.†[emphasis added]
http://www.rollcall.com/news/house_republicans_file_resolution_on_recess_picks-211422-1.html?pos=hatxt
that's right. The republicans in congress will show Obama that they were not in recess.... just as soon as they get back from recess.
there is not enough face palm for this
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Oh.......oh dear.
Ironbite-I'll be in a corner nursing my head
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*laughs* way to go Obama! About bloody time he found his balls!
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At this point, virtually any underhanded trick or clever scam (within the law) would be legitimate. This is not normal politics- this is war, minus the shooting. If the Dems lose, America dies. If the liberals lose the battle for the Democratic party, America dies. Simple as that.
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Update
President Barack Obama had the power to make recess appointments last week when Congress was taking a brief break, the U.S. Justice Department said in a memo released after Republican complaints of a “power grab.â€Â
The Constitution and precedent support the conclusion that the appointments can be made when lawmakers hold pro forma sessions in which no business is conducted, according to the 23- page memo written by Assistant Attorney General Virginia Seitz and released today.
Republican lawmakers criticized Obama’s decision to name a consumer financial watchdog, Richard Cordray, and three National Labor Relations Board members on Jan. 4 during the congressional recess. They asked the Justice Department to provide information on whether it offered advice about the legality of the appointments.
The Justice Department memo, to the counsel to the president, was dated Jan. 6 and said it was putting in writing and elaborating on advice the department previously provided. The conclusion was provided orally prior to the appointments, according to an administration official, who wasn’t authorized to speak about the matter publicly.
source - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-12/obama-has-recess-appointment-power-justice-department-says.html (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-12/obama-has-recess-appointment-power-justice-department-says.html)
Well looks like it has been confirmed that the repubs can only bawww about Obama's appointments but nothing else as the DOJ made its official statement siding with Obama. Another sad day for republicans and another wave of republican tears predicted.
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THE DOJ HAS A LIBERAL BIAS! WE HERE IN THE HOUSE ARE ANNOUNCING THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT THAT'S ONLY ANSWERABLE TO US. AND BY THAT WE MEAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!/said in caps because of the crying going on in the background.
Ironbite-I honestly expect them to do something like this...they're that butt hurt about it.