NYT wrote:
CLEVELAND — President Obama threw a gauntlet before Congressional Republicans on Wednesday, defying deep opposition to appoint Richard Cordray as director of a new consumer protection agency in a move that ignited a possible legal challenge and Constitutional fight.
The decision to install Mr. Cordray without Senate approval under the Constitutional provision for making appointments when lawmakers are in recess was a provocative opening salvo in Mr. Obama’s re-election strategy of demonizing Congress.
The president, announcing his decision before a political rally-like crowd of 1,300 at a high school here in Mr. Cordray’s home town, seemed to welcome a contentious second session of the 112th Congress, in which any attempts at bipartisan compromise appear in danger of being lost in all-out election-year war.
The decision to install Mr. Cordray without Senate approval under the Constitutional provision for making appointments when lawmakers are in recess was a provocative opening salvo in Mr. Obama’s re-election strategy of demonizing Congress.
The president, announcing his decision before a political rally-like crowd of 1,300 at a high school here in Mr. Cordray’s home town, seemed to welcome a contentious second session of the 112th Congress, in which any attempts at bipartisan compromise appear in danger of being lost in all-out election-year war.
Honestly, I saw this coming. The Republicans made so much noise about Elizabeth Warren that there are rumors Obama brokered the deal for her to run for Senate instead of heading the CFPB, which she had set up. (All rumors - no proof. And Warren doesn't like Scott Brown at all and wants to get back "Ted's seat" for the Dems.) So he went with what was supposed to be the less controversial option, the former Ohio AG Richard Cordray.
Senate Republicans held the appointment hostage, demanding that the bureau be gutted before they agreed to appoint anyone to the position, effectively crippling it one way or another.
Obama decided to stop being Mr. Nice Bipartisan President and went t-_-t to them instead, which was long overdue if you ask me.
Whining from Republicans ensues, as Congress is technically still in "pro forma" session to prevent such a thing from happening. (If I remember my civics right, that means one lone senator stuck in Washington opens and closes the Senate each day so that the President can't do what he just did.)
Edited, Jan 4th 2012 3:25pm by catwho