I'm betting $10 that Bush will do a recess appointment to fill the AG slot

[LynneSin]

There is no way that the Senate Judiciary committee is going to allow another stooge to get a floor vote. Bush will wait til a recess, appoint the person he wants and that person will serve until 2009.

That's my prediction

[FormerDittoHead]

1. I'd give odds as well. That $10 is safer than if it was in the bank. n/t

[The Wizard]

2. Any truth to the rumor

he's considering some guy named Draco?

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. That's a sucker bet

And why so many people here are calling for Reid to reconvene the Senate early, to prevent that possibility.

[MiniMe]

7. Reid doesn't have to call the Senate in early, the Senate just has to be in session

He can have a local Senator (Mikulski, Cardin, or Webb) hold a Senate Session. He mentioned that he was going to do that anyway to prevent recess appointments.

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. Interesting

I would have thought a quorum is necessary to call the Senate into session, but I defer to the legal eagles.

[Junkdrawer]

4. We're in a recess... n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Today would be the day to do it then

since they're in a recess now.

My, oh my oh my oh my!!! Go away for a few weeks and... WOW! my oh my oh my!!!

:hi:

[bdamomma]

6. I heard that Paul Clements would be acting AG.

[madinmaryland]

8. That's the only way he will fill the AG slot. Unless,

he nominates Patrick Fitzgerald.

[bryant69]

9. It's hard to say

I think there's a good chance - at least 50% he'll recess appoint someone - he needs a safe harbor. That said he might gamble that he can get a relatively safe nominee through congress.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Jim__]

11. You're probably right.

But, if the new AG is a recess appointment, he'll get as much respect as gonzo got. A recess appointment will just be further evidence of bush's contempt for justice.

[LynneSin]

13. Yes but what does Bush have to lose

He's out of office in 2 years, the appointment would stay until the next major election which would be 2008. Say what you will about Harry Reid - that's not the guy Bush has to get his AG choice past. He has to get it past Leahy, Schumer, Biden, Kerry, Feingold and the remaining members of the Judiciary Committee. And I don't think they'll let him slide, unless Feingold decides the pResident has the right to have the AG of his choice (he did that with Asscrap)

[Junkdrawer]

12. A (face saving for Reid) Compromise...

It will be a "temporary" AG (that is remote-controlled by the usual gang) that kind of rides out the rest of Bush's term because the confirmation hearings on his "real choice" gets bogged down....

[LynneSin]

14. Reid has absolutely nothing to do with the AG vote - that's Leahy's game

You have to get the AG through the Judiciary Committee. And say what you will about the 'ineffectiveness' of the Senate Democrats, I highly doubt that Leahy will allow another Gonzaelez clone through the committee.

[Junkdrawer]

15. Exactly my point...Reid promised to stop an interim appontment...

so when Leahy stops the formal appointment, he, in effect, allows the temporary appointment to stand.

This, in turn, allows Bush to interim appoint without embarrassing Reid.

[Quixote1818]

16. I am betting no, there would be incredible outrage from a lot of people if that happined. nt

[LynneSin]

18. But his approval rating is so crappy - it just doesn't matter to him

the AG is the one person who stands between Bush and impeachment, which is why the democrats have been silent about doing anything with impeachment - they needed to get rid of the crony first.

Bush needs protection and will think nothing of doing a recess appointment since his approval rating already sucks and he's a lame duck anyways

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. No, not this time.

I heard that the Solicitor General is going to fill in until the Senate confirms the new AG.

I don't think that he can do a recess appointment even if he wanted to. The fact that the Senate will be back in session when Gonzo leaves and there is a provision that provides for a temporary replacement until confirmation by the Senate.

He's 'screwn' on this one.