Bush "recycles" Mine Safety Chief behind Senate's back <i>again.</i>
By bluegal Wednesday Jan 09, 2008 3:21pm
(h/t MF) George Bush doesn't like the Constitution. Especially that part where the Senate has to confirm his appointments. Remember when he wanted coal industry executive Richard Stickler to head the Mine Safety agency? Stickler was turned down by the Senate twice. So in late 2006 Bush did what he does and gave Stickler a recess appointment. Now that the recess appointment has expired, Bush has found that by putting "acting" at the beginning of a job title, he can appoint people whenever he likes?
The recess appointment expired at the end of 2007. In a somewhat bizarre chain of events, MSHA removed Stickler’s bio from the agency’s website and announced Jan. 3 that Stickler’s assistant was the acting assistant secretary. But his tenure was brief: On Jan. 4, Bush named Stickler the new acting assistant secretary, a move that does not require congressional approval and is likely to last until the end of Bush’s term. After press reports that Stickler’s bio had been removed, it’s now back online.
Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts says: "The appointment of Richard Stickler to be acting assistant secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, just days after his term in that position expired because he couldn’t be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, demonstrates the deep level of contempt the Bush administration holds for the Senate and the constitutional role that body holds."
Duh.
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I'm shocked. King Bush does what he wants, and nobody in the Senate makes any noise about it.
He doesn't really want anyone in a job that knows what they're doing, because it would just make [Bush] look worse by comparison...
8)
"You get what you pay for..."
Again,
http://patdollard.com/wp-content/uploads/bush_finger.jpg
I could do this all day, but don't worry, I won't. It's just that this is what everything boils down to. The man's a sociopath among sociopaths who have successfully installed their hatred into our government.
You see now, Nancy, you twat, what "keeping it off the table" means? It didn't mean your arse.
Just when I think they can't find another way to rape the Constitution, lo and behold!
Everything that Bush has done, all decisions hes made, all of it , is.indirectly the fault of those who voted for him...Yes,and.that.includes.the.good they can run and deny and obfuscate and spin, but the simple truth is there:..they voted for him, and they're responsible for what hes done...too.blasted.bad...
[You didn't get a keyboard over the holidays, I see. Please spend the 20 bucks or ask for one for your birthday-Sitemonitor]
The DNC called me asking for money last night. I gave them an earful. I said my check book is closed to you for allowing bush to run rampant over our constitution while you cower in a corner. Until the dems stand up on their hind legs and do something about that, that man, they'll get no more money or support from me.s
The Constitution is just a god-damned piece of paper. Subpoenas for testimony from top White House aids: ditto. It's far past time to start drawing up some god-damned arrest warrants.
breakspear @ 7:
hey.as.long.as.its.legible...
[No. long posts with no breaks don't wrap in browsers. It make everyones have to scroll horizontally-which makes the whole thread illegible and annoying for everyone. Thanks for understanding-Sitemonitor]
In George Bush's new "UnAmerica", unlike in "OldAmerica" the mines are unsafe, the cabinet appointments are unconstitutional, and the President is unaccountable. It's a beautiful world for me and you, no?
And of course the spineless Dems will DO NOTHING.
Because Pelosi says impeachment is off the table.
bush and cheney should be treated like any other criminal out of control
wanted: dead or alive. bush and cheney should be on the FBI's top ten list.
You get what you vote for.
enor @ 3:
as Cyrus Arbuckle used to say!
Sounded better in coffee ads than in good government. Did I say good government, lets just say any government.
Any one who, for any reason, disagrees with the need to impeach Bush, is an ass.
Things are such a mess in the country bush can't take a chance of any competent person being in charge of anything because they might publicly speak about the mess. He needs his buddies to cover his ass for him for the next eleven months. After that, he doesn't give a shit. Right now he's in the middle east trying to broker peace so his legacy will have a positive note to it. He has taken our country into two wars and he's over there lecturing to them about peace.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
Oh yeah, W is in Bethlehem. Going to the site of the Sermon on the Mount.
Cuz Jeebus said blessed are the peace makers there.
And that obscene mofo just loves Jeebus. Just like murika.
Billt @ 8:
I got the call last morning and said that my time and effort are are being spent with individual folks and will not contribute to DNC until they put impeachment back into the congress. The lady said she would call back in a few months!
[Thanks for your feedback. I copied and pasted it to the site team-Sitemonitor]
"[No. long posts with no breaks don’t wrap in browsers. It make everyones have to scroll horizontally-which makes the whole thread illegible and annoying for everyone. Thanks for understanding-Sitemonitor]"
I was wondering what was causing the page to go wide. Really dude, get a new kbd. Or at least try holding it upside-down and giving it a good shake. There may just be something lodged under the space bar.
are you crying now?
Contempt for congress is contempt for..... umm us, right?
these people don't give a rat's ass about anybody but their own.
As Sam Kinison said: IT NEVER ENDS!!!!
boosh thinks recycling is getting back on his tricycle, after he's fallen off, while running over a security guard.
This deal reminds me that mother is half a word.
The Senate has no balls.
This, regrettably, is nothing new.
John Rizzo has been the acting general counsel for the CIA for most of Bush's two terms, even after having had a hold placed on his his approval last year, when Bush finally got around to thinking about appointing him as permanent counsel.
And he's one of the leading figures in the CIA torture tapes case, what with him being the final say in the CIA about what's legal or not legal.
I'm wondering how Bush is going to slip Abramoff's appointment as Secretary of the Treasury through, even though he's in jail.
This should be fun to watch.
This is old news...
Tungsten carbide drills? What the bloody hell are Tungsten carbide drills?
The boy-king shows time and time again that he has no respect for Congress, the concept of checks and balances, and the Constitution. May he rot in a fiery hell.
Frybread @ 33:
Being an atheist, people like Bush and his more sinister corporate masters make me want to believe in Hell, just so they can go there.
Another example of domestic terrorism by the Bush administration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYn5hxeFt10
When we had the Sago mine disaaster, and then the Crandall Canyon disaster, I, like everyone else in the country, felt the pain of miners' families. But then I got angry when I saw that the head of the MSHA was yet another Bush crony. And the victims' families and their representatives in Washington did and said nothing. Now, Bush has found yet another loophole to keep his cronies in power, stealing from the government (that's you and me, folks) and making the citizenry's lives worse off.
That said, isn't it incumbent upon the citizens of a nation to speak up and do something when the leaders take advantage?
When the next mining disaster occurs, don't expect my sympathy. Miners and their families had the opportunity to force Bush to nominate a real mine safety advocate, and yet...
Kind'a like "acting" President I guess.
COWARDS
This can only be read as a big middle finger extended to miners.
I believe the current crop of dems like bush and his bullshit just as much as george does. That is why THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. They like the war, deficits, the patriot act, no child left behind, all of it. I'm writing in Kucinich and I doubt I will vote for congress. What the hell for? Pelousy and Reid run that show and are worthless so what the fuck....
This is so lame, it's ridiculous. If the Congress had even a single, semi-functional testicle, they would subpoena Richard Stickler, put him under oath in a public hearing, and have him explain exactly how his duties as "acting assistant" head of mine safety are any different than what they were when he was the official (recess-appointed) boss. And ask him what conversations he had with the administration about his bogus, non-approved re-appointment.
Then they should subpoena the administration people he spoke to. Get everything on the record. If the admin refuses to cooperate, so be it. That's just proof that checks and balances have been discarded. All the more justification for the next step, passing a bill declaring Stickler's appointment invalid.
Congress has the power, they are idiots if they fail to use it. Too many miners have died due to self-serving Republican complicity in poor worker safety.
Maybe Bush just misread the job title as "assistant secretary of Labor for My Safety and Health"?
Once again the mouse is out of the country when the appointment is announced.
COWARD.
Perhaps they've run out of incompetent Bushies to appoint so they have to keep recycling the ones they've got left.
Two points: first, this is as bad as Bush appointing a veterinarian to head the office of women's health. Did that on a Friday night, too. Took down the web page as soon as Senator Mikulski started to scream. Then said that they hadn't really done it. But the web page survives.
Second, the UMWA should sue; if he was not appointed correctly (and he wasn't) then his actions will be void and this endangers all types of actions coming from that agency. Will someone please try to hold this administration accountable. What's next? Acting Cabinet secretaries and ambassadors all over the world?
enor @ 3:
... and we are paying dearly for bush.
ringers at every regulation agency. Second gilded age marches on
Keep digging, coal monkeys.
For the GOP , "mine safety" is an oxymoron. On the other hand, many of these mines are located in depressed areas that still manage to regularly elect Republicans to Congress. "Mine safety" being secondary in their list of priorities to the Bible, keeping Gays out of town, and of course heaven help them that a government should actually impose regulations on the mining companies (jobs over safety).
specialed5000 @ 49:
well, at least everyone in Congress got a NICE pay raise...thats the important thing...
I am sure the didn't delete the emails explaining exactly what they were up to.
Well, after all, Stickler's doing a heckuva job.
This is just blatant and shameful. If Bush Felt shame, which he doesn't... never mind.
And the republicans wonder why so many independents are flocking to the Democrats.
Its time for the democrats to shut down the gov't and impeach this guy. What will it take? Even if he's not breaking the law on this one, he's breaking the spirit of it. I'm so embarrassed to live here. I think we need some new parties.
The article above said; George Bush doesn’t like the Constitution,,, and evidently all the talking heads of the TV media, and I mean everyone of them,, do also, because they keep po poing and slandering as crazy, naive and living in the past, the only candidate for president who has for the last 20 years consistently voted against unconstitutional bills which have been introduced into congress, and which then have been passed on to be signed into law by the Constitution hater Bush.
Evidently we have a whole country of people (except maybe some 10 %) who only pay lip service to this document which this country was/is based and then after paying lip service about freedom sneer at thoughs who stand up for it and their constitution loving candidate. So I hope all the people who fall into the lip server and in the closet constitution hater category will be happy and finally quit whining about how crappy the government has gotten after they do not vote for a true constitutionalists and instead vote another lip server into office.
Live free or die is still an idea to live,,, or die for.
When people are living in bondage many years from now, and trying to sleep, remember these times, and that we as a people had a chance to really change the direction of this country but did not because we were afraid of being ridiculed by others for taking a stand and doing what was right. How many times does the chance for real and true change come before it is gone forever? Then all you have left is the choice of bloody revolution without the weapons to win.
If we have any leaders left among the politicians in this country I would hope the convene a Constitutional Convention. We need to look at every loophole this lawless bunch used to circumvent the Constitution and plug them. This way when the next President, Republican or Democrat, that tries to appoint themselves dictator will be stopped in their tracks. Granted it won't stop people like this gang of cowards and I don't propose to think otherwise. At least they'll have to start from scratch instead of building on what Bush has gained and that would at least be a start.
Bush needs his ass kicked out of that job and sent right to prison.
Pursang @ 58:
But do we really want or trust this bunch that we have in congress and senate TOO convene a Constitutional Convention? Hell I am afraid what they would do with an opening like that to change the Constitution. Crap,, they may do anything.
It's time to Impeach - Indict - Try - Convict and Incarcerate both Bush and Cheney
NOW so they can feel the utter Contempt in which they are held by the majority of the American People!!!
Well that's all right. Based on the elections I would say that Bush was technically only the 'acting' president. After all, he wasn't elected by popular vote. Maybe we can get the history books to show that his presidency wasn't really official. I'm fully expecting electoral reform coming from any administration who fully evaulates the situation after taking the reins from this disasterous thunder-fart.
I understand it gets even worse!!! The guy who is (was) the new Acting Secretary (former Acting Assistant Secretary) held that position for all of three days, and then announced that he is stepping down.
SO.......Mr. Stickler is now the "Acting Secretary for Mine Safety" once again - and Bush will have him in that position until the end of his term.
Neat end run around Congress. Can't do recess appointments anymore thanks to Harry Reid and Jim Webb? Well, just play this little game a few more times and we should have an entire population of idiots "ACTING" like they are permanent appointments to all kinds of positions - including the entire top management at the Justice Department. No Senate Approval Necessary.
.
WHY DOES PRESIDENT BUSH HATE MINORS?
.
I can't believe all these hate comments about Bush! Bush is not the problem, the American people elected a fascist so we got a fascist, we got what we deserve. Bush is just doing the job he was elected to do, to screw the people of America and the World to the maximum for the benefit of the neo-con oligarchy. I really don't want to hear one more complaint about Bush. The problem is the Democratic congress, they should have impeached Bush as soon as they got the majority in 2006. They should not have waited one day.
On day one they should have initiated impeachment procedures against Cheney and Bush together. They didn't, so they failed us. They WERE elected to impeach Bush, they did NOT do their job.
They should all be fired with the exception of people like Kucinich who DOES his job. Bush is doing the job he was elected to do and that is screw us royal, we elected him to do that so we shouldn't complain, yet as for congress we elected them to impeach and they did not do their job, they are the guilty culprits, Bush is not corrupt the Democratic congress is.
Don't forget the Rethugs are as usual busily working on subverting the Democratic vote.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5487
Shrub to pussies in Congress: "Deny me twice, shame on you."
Pussies in Congress to Shrub: "Shame us once, we'll get fooled again."
Of course Shrub would try something like this again. Why not? Give him props for consistency and perseverance.
Doesn't anyone in Congress have a calendar to track these inevitable lobs? Fucking pathetic...
The miners are still unionized?? Who fucking knew?
Time and time again I see posts all over the internet just like this. Surely there are enough of you to make a difference? Now the question remains ... how to get organized? I don't think the internet is enough. The old generation of politicians need to see the public face to face.
This is why the constitution has an impeachment process in it.
This is why Pelosi and Reid should be replaced with a real democrat....
So, when will bush be arrested and imprisoned by the military? He has repeatedly violated the Constitution and the military is sworn to uphold the Constitution, so, Army, Navy, Airforce Marines, I'm waiting... Not only that, but the military is supposed to be able to lock up ranking commanders/superior officers if they are treasonous, crazy or inept. bush qualifies for ALL THREE. There's no excuse for the military to not do their duty; surely they can overpower/outrank the wimpy secret service. Oh, wait, I forgot what's important; the generals and admirals who could expedite this can't/don't want to endanger their pensions...
The deepest level of Bush's contempt is reserved for the people who work in mines, and by extension all working people. I wonder how many of those people he has dissed with this latest act voted for him and will continue voting either Republican or Corporatist?
Kay @ 1:
They aren't at home. They're out campaigning.
There has to be a congressional and judicial reaction to what in effect is a blatant circumvention of the intent of our laws. Doing nothing makes the exercise of confirmation of appointments pointless. Aren't there any real American judges, lawyers, politicians that give a heck about these maneuvers and the tremendous implications.
I wonder if anyone in the Senate has bothered to read Article 2, Section 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution which states "The President shall have the 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".
Please read again the part that says "vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate."
Again: "that may happen".
I can't find any indication that it is permissible for the Chief Executive to wait for a recess to appoint a crony or (especially) to reappoint anyone who has been denied confirmation by the Senate.
According to this, the first recess appointment of this individual was illegal under the Constitution.
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