Merry Xmas: Harry Reid Blocks Recess Appointments

I am still holding back the Red Ryder BB gun, but Harry Reid deserves an apple in his stocking this Christmas, after all.

After taking a righteous beating from Chris Dodd and attentive bloggers over a bewildering attempt at capitulation to the Administration (TelCo amnesty in the FISA update legislation), Reid has regained his Democratic legs.

Politico (via TPMmuckraker) reports that Reid has broken off negotiations to move nominees toward senate confirmation before the upcoming break, and will again hold pro forma sessions in the Senate to block any recess appointments.

Following hours of intense talks that ended in a standoff, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) decided late Wednesday to move several dozen nominees but still keep the Senate in business over the monthlong holiday break to block President Bush from making any controversial recess appointments while Senators are out of town....

But the two sides didn’t see completely eye to eye, as Bush pushed to include in the deal Steven Bradbury’s nomination to be assistant counsel to the attorney general. Bradbury is unpopular with Democrats for his controversial role in formulating the administration’s position on torture.

"I tried very hard to work with the president but he indicated he would still use the recess ... to appoint objectionable nominees," Reid said on the Senate floor Wednesday night. "My only solution is to end this and call a pro forma session again."

This is not a meaningless manuever.  There is no doubt that Bush would stuff our stockings with such unpalatable nominees as Hans Von Spakovsky and Steven Bradbury.  (For a detailed exposition by two former DOJ Civil Rights lawyers about von Spakovsky's pitfalls, see this link at TPM Cafe; h/t The Maven)

Chris Dodd gave us a wonderful Christmas present in blocking FISA Legislation that includes TelCo amnesty, and now even Reid is on board to ensure we don't get any scratchy woolen socks from Uncle Decider.

Although who will sit and bang the gavel daily over the Holidays has not been announced yet, chances are local boy Jim Webb will (like he did on our behalf over Thanksgiving) make the short commute to keep the drooling Unitary Executive in check.
If we learn who it will be, I will post a new diary with contact info so anyone reading will take the time to place a supportive call to the Senators and Staffers who will forgo a bit of Christmas on the Hearth to stand up on our behalf.

And although he is still on my shit-list for the FISA capitulation, we shouldn't forget to thank Harry Reid.  He is doing something right, and we should let him know it matters to us.  Most importantly, his staffers probably took a LOT of grief over the past week, from us (500,000 calls?), so they'd probably appreciate a happy holiday's call:

528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone] / Fax: [phone]