News item:
President Bush named Republican fundraiser Sam Fox as U.S. ambassador to Belgium on Wednesday, using a maneuver that allowed him to bypass Congress where Democrats had derailed Fox's nomination.
Bullshit!
Presidents have been abusing this power for decades.
The Constitution is very clear:
From Article II Section 2:
The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.
There is no way that the Framers intended that the President can just wait until the Senate left for recess and then appoint anyone he wants to. What would keep him from withholding nominees altogether until a recess? What would be the point of this?:
Article II, Section 2:
He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States
Fox's appointment is not what was intended by Article II, section 2. It was meant as an emergency appointment for a vacancy that occurred during a recess. If the Senate was still in session when the vacancy occurred, and it was important enough to require delaying their recess, they would delay the recess and fill the vacancy. If the appointment can wait until they are back in session, then it can wait. This is the Senate's authority.
The President can whine and complain all he wants. The Senate is given the POWER to approve all ambassadorial nominees.
This appointment is bullshit.
This Executive abuse of power has to stop, and stop RIGHT NOW
Or just impeach the bastard!