Obama's recent recess appointments in the face of Republican's political strategy of obstructionism. There are more nominees held up by Republicans now than for any other president in history.
Here's a strategy to take control of the situation and make it work for us.
There are well over a hundred similar positions still being held up, still being filibustered by the Republican Party and their strategy to gum up the works for political gain.
We Democrats, Liberals, Progressives should OWN this issue. We need to go on the offensive. Stop playing defense. It seems like that's all we do.
My dream is to do something big to move this topic front and center. The press only responds to "ohnohedinnit" actions. So do something.
My dream is to have Obama recess appoint 1/3 of the filibustered nominees. The most liberal. The scariest to the right. Tomorrow.
ohnohedinnit.
And then tell the Republicans that they have 48 hrs to come up with a deal for the remaining 2/3. If there's no deal, then the recess appointment orgy begins.
Now the press has something exciting. Now Obama seems in charge. Now the story is on the obstruction. Now the Republicans have to make a deal on the rest of the 2/3 (with the most egregious to them already appointed) or risk making the obstruction issue very real and coverable by the MSM.
And, shucks, if there is a deal and 20% of the remaining 2/3 need new nominees, then so be it. At least that's give and take and Obama looks good for setting the agenda and forcing a deal.
If, as I suspect, there isn't a deal, then he should recess appoint another 1/3 of the nominees. Again, they should be the 1/3 of the remaining pool of nominees that the Republicans have the most problem with. Obama should then scold the Republicans -- on tour, if possible --for holding up the process. Obama should claim obstinately that it was his duty, his responsibility. He should point out that the Republicans continue to shirk their duty, their responsibility. The idea is to keep it in the press for another few cycles.
Set one more 48 hr deadline. Keep it in the press.
At this point the remaining 1/3 should, weirdly, be the most moderate, the most conservative nominees. The ones that the Republicans should agree to, but through their anger, and their strategy, they just can't agree to. Make them look so batshit angry that now they look like fools.
The Republicans won't agree to anyone. Make it clear to them that their practice of obstruction is very real.
If we're going to have another August of crazy, then we should set the agenda. The agenda should be that the Republicans have a strategy of obstructionism, that no matter what they want government to fail, and set a picture of what a post-election Republican win will look like. That is the issue, but through this process the president not only gets his nominees, but this fact becomes even more clear.
And, of course, the Republicans will think that there best strategy at this point is to not agree to a deal since all of the nominees are centrist anyways.
My dream then ends with the fantasy of having Obama substitute super Liberal replacements for that remaining moderate 1/3 -- and recess appoint them.
Just a big reminder that their are consequences to inaction. Their are consequences to a strategy of obstruction. There are consequences to shirking of responsibility and duty.
Obama comes off strong.
The Republican strategy of obstructionism is now exposed through the MSM and the national conscience.
Plus, they just seem like losers.
As I said, it's a dream.
But really it's a strategy.