Commentator Urges Bush to Make Recess Appointments
by Chad Groening
December 17, 2003
(AgapePress) - A syndicated talk-show host says President George W. Bush needs to fight fire with fire by using recess appointments to fill some judicial vacancies that Democratic tactics have held up.Laura Ingraham believes the American people are not happy with Democratic senators who continue to use filibusters to block the president's judicial nominees. She thinks the Christmas holiday might be a good time for Bush to take advantage of his constitutional power to appoint judges when the legislature is not convening.
"I think the president should make recess appointments starting in December when Congress goes out of session," Ingraham says, adding, "If they have a problem with Miguel Estrada, wait till they see Ken Starr back on the Federal Court of Appeals. I think people really want this administration to fight fire with fire."
But the talk-show host points out that such appointments, unfortunately, would be temporary. However, she feels that a temporary solution is better than the alternative.
"What it would do is fill these seats in these circuit courts where you have vacancies right now and important decisions are coming down -- very important decisions that are affecting the future of our country," Ingraham says, "and I'd rather have someone in there for eleven or twelve months who's going to make the right decisions than leave it up to Clinton appointees to guide the future of our country."
Ingraham, who was once a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, says the recess appointment is a power authorized and given to the President of the United States by the Constitution and that his supporters really would like to see him use it.
