The Recess Bandit Strikes Again
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Why put up a fair fight when you can just slither through? President Bush pulled a few more fast one's on Wednesday using the Senate recess as another opportunity to appoint individuals that would have faced strict opposition on the floor. Here's a quick summary of who we're stuck with until January 2007:
Julie L. Myers as Head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau at the Department of Homeland Security. Myers is married to Homeland Security Chief of Staff, Michael Chertoff, and niece of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard B. Myers. Formerly the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce, and lacking in both law enforcement and agency experience, Republicans and Democrats alike are wondering how she can possibly be qualified for her new appointment.
Tracy A. Henke as Executive Director of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness. Henke may be most known for her demands that information about racial disparities in police treatment of blacks in traffic cases be deleted from a news release while serving in an appointed post with the Justice Department.
Ellen R. Sauerbrey as Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. Sauerbrey acted as Chairperson for the Maryland For Bush Campaign and is a staunch proponent of tax cuts, and opponent of abortion. Oddly enough, her biographies seem to leave out work relating to her current appointment.
Hans Von Spakovsky for the Federal Election Commission. Viewed as a key player in two disputed Justice Department decisions to overrule career staff in voting rights cases, Von Spakovsky has been criticized as undermining enforcement of civil rights laws.
Robert D. Lenhard, also for the Federal Election Commission. Lenhard acted as an attorney for the American Federation of State, Council and Municipal Employees in efforts to have the McCain-Feingold law, which banned soft money fundraising and spending by national political parties, ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Steven T. Walther, the last Federal Election Commission appointment, has close ties to Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid who recommended him for the position.
Gordon R. England as Deputy Secretary of Defense. As Secretary of the Navy, England made statements before the Senate Armed Services Committee calling for increased military spending. No big surprises there.
Dorrance Smith for Assistant Secretary for public affairs. As a former ABC producer her appointment, along with England and Walther's, actually makes sense.
Julie L. Myers as Head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau at the Department of Homeland Security. Myers is married to Homeland Security Chief of Staff, Michael Chertoff, and niece of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard B. Myers. Formerly the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce, and lacking in both law enforcement and agency experience, Republicans and Democrats alike are wondering how she can possibly be qualified for her new appointment.
Tracy A. Henke as Executive Director of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness. Henke may be most known for her demands that information about racial disparities in police treatment of blacks in traffic cases be deleted from a news release while serving in an appointed post with the Justice Department.
Ellen R. Sauerbrey as Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. Sauerbrey acted as Chairperson for the Maryland For Bush Campaign and is a staunch proponent of tax cuts, and opponent of abortion. Oddly enough, her biographies seem to leave out work relating to her current appointment.
Hans Von Spakovsky for the Federal Election Commission. Viewed as a key player in two disputed Justice Department decisions to overrule career staff in voting rights cases, Von Spakovsky has been criticized as undermining enforcement of civil rights laws.
Robert D. Lenhard, also for the Federal Election Commission. Lenhard acted as an attorney for the American Federation of State, Council and Municipal Employees in efforts to have the McCain-Feingold law, which banned soft money fundraising and spending by national political parties, ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Steven T. Walther, the last Federal Election Commission appointment, has close ties to Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid who recommended him for the position.
Gordon R. England as Deputy Secretary of Defense. As Secretary of the Navy, England made statements before the Senate Armed Services Committee calling for increased military spending. No big surprises there.
Dorrance Smith for Assistant Secretary for public affairs. As a former ABC producer her appointment, along with England and Walther's, actually makes sense.
