Bush defies Senate, appoints mine agency head

[Barrett808]

Bush defies Senate, appoints mine agency head
By Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush appointed former energy executive Richard Stickler to head the federal mine safety agency on Thursday, even though the U.S. Senate rejected Stickler's nomination twice in two months.

Bush made a "recess appointment," taking advantage of the congressional break to put Stickler temporarily in the position, a choice he made when he appointed John Bolton the ambassador to the United Nations.

Currently Stickler, who directed Pennsylvania's mine safety agency for six years, is a contracted adviser for the Department of Labor, which oversees the Mine Safety and Health Agency.

"Richard has extensive experience in mining and protecting miners' lives that he will use to strengthen enforcement of mine safety laws and help ensure the safety and health of miners nationwide," Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement.

Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, originally put a hold on the nomination for three months and it was automatically rejected when the Senate adjourned for its August recess. Bush then renominated him in September, but the Senate once again refused to act before it left for the pre-election recess.

(more)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19388207.htm

[spag68]

1. I hope this doesn't surprise you!!!!

[MidwestTransplant]

9. I hope this gets lots of attention in WV and PA.

[maddezmom]

2. well if Elaine is on board

so am I. :sarcasm:

[MADem]

7. The gay comedienne with the charming daytime TV show?

Or did you mean Elaine Chao, souless demon?

If Senators Byrd and Kennedy and UMW don't like the guy, that's enough for me.

Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, originally put a hold on the nomination for three months and it was automatically rejected when the Senate adjourned for its August recess. Bush then renominated him in September, but the Senate once again refused to act before it left for the pre-election recess.

Byrd and fellow Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts have said that Stickler, who worked for Massey Energy <MEE.N> and the former Bethlehem Steel, puts industry interests ahead of safety concerns. The United Mine Workers of America have also opposed the appointment.

[maddezmom]

11. yikes, typo

Ive edited it. :hide:

[MADem]

15. Heh, heh...I've done it myself!!

I just thought the idea of "Ellen" supporting a Monkey recess nominee was sorta funny!!!!!

[Cooley Hurd]

3. I propose Shields & Yarnell...

Wait, you said "mines?"

My bad...:silly:

[spag68]

5. lol

I'm old, but i'm starting to like these abreviations.

[williesgirl]

4. * fucker doesn't follow any rules and repukes don't care - recommended

[Taoschick]

20. The recess appointment

Is specifically allowed for in the constitution. I'm pretty sure every president in my lifetime has used it. It's generally done before an election in the hopes that there will be a power shift that will allow confirmation.

Ain't gonna happen this year. :)

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I'm so bored with this shit. The man is devoid of any new ideas, but

to appoint people based on cronyism. Someone should tell him that this method is going into the history books as an antiquated, 19th Century idea.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

8. still spendin that political capital i guess, what an asshole!

[Straight Shooter]

10. Do miners need any more proof that bush doesn't care about working people?

The Decider has decided that peons live and die by his word.

[Up2Late]

12. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

:mad: :argh: :hurts: :banghead: :nuke:

[Pachamama]

13. Bush really has no respect & complete disregard for Congress & the checks

and balances...

He thinks he's King and he'll do whatever the f*ck he wants....

:kick:

Today its regarding an appointment - earlier this week it was about allowing torture and total disregard for habeas corpus and the Bill of Rights...

What I'm most afraid of: of what is coming....he's getting more power and he's getting hungrier to use it...and more dangerous by the day... :scared:

[Kagemusha]

14. In this case the Senate refused to vote rather than voted him down.

Therefore, I consider 'rejected' to be sloppy and inaccurate writing in the originally posted article. Not the poster's fault obviously.

I really, really dislike Bush's latest signing statements though. However, this recess appointment is legal under rules that preceded Bush and do not belong in the same category of abuse of power.

[The Brethren]

16. the chimp defies

anything that gets in his way. Laws are just an obstruction for his ego.

'Bush made a "recess appointment," taking advantage of the congressional break to put Stickler temporarily in the position, a choice he made when he appointed John Bolton the ambassador to the United Nations.' he's the most underhanded, effing sleaze-ball of a prez we've ever had.

[rodeodance]

17. You'd think the Senate would get tired of being treated like a dirty old

mormat! a slap in the face.

[rodeodance]

18. Headline: Bush slaps Senate in face AGAIN--they say Thank you.

[pinto]

19. This loophole Administration is a blight on our Constitutional

guidelines. They just don't give a shit. Recess appointments after repeated Congressional disapproval, executive signing statements, etc. They've long ago graduated from being smarmy Eddie Haskell-like delinquents to being full fledged political sociopaths.

[MonteSano]

21. kick

[Miss Chybil]

22. All hail the King. nt