Trump's nominations are, for the most part, uninspiring to horrible. Most of them would be very difficult to get through Senate confirmations in a Senate composed of strong people who understood their job.
"Their job?" you ask? Yes! The Founders never imagined that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches were coequals. Their intent, made plain in the structure of the Constitution, was for Congress to be supreme. That’s why Article 1 is about Congress—literally the first branch—and its powers. And on such things as important administrative appointments, Congress (in this case, the Senate) has the final say. Yes, the President may nominate anyone he chooses, but no he cannot dictate that his nomination is going to be accepted.
By asking (okay telling) the contenders for Senate leadership that he expected an immediate recess, so that he could make (completely unnecessary) "recess appointments," I believe Trump is testing his will against all those Senators who've been groveling at his feet these past 8 years -- and he is sincerely expecting them to cave, giving him what he wants and believes he deserves: totally unchecked power.
Will they do it? Are they so cowed in fear of Trump that they will hand him the reins and say "lead us where you will?" Are there any Senators who will "man-up" (I use quotes because I suspect that there are women more likely to than men) and remind him that he runs the executive branch -- but he is not the government?
"Their job?" you ask? Yes! The Founders never imagined that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches were coequals. Their intent, made plain in the structure of the Constitution, was for Congress to be supreme. That’s why Article 1 is about Congress—literally the first branch—and its powers. And on such things as important administrative appointments, Congress (in this case, the Senate) has the final say. Yes, the President may nominate anyone he chooses, but no he cannot dictate that his nomination is going to be accepted.
By asking (okay telling) the contenders for Senate leadership that he expected an immediate recess, so that he could make (completely unnecessary) "recess appointments," I believe Trump is testing his will against all those Senators who've been groveling at his feet these past 8 years -- and he is sincerely expecting them to cave, giving him what he wants and believes he deserves: totally unchecked power.
Will they do it? Are they so cowed in fear of Trump that they will hand him the reins and say "lead us where you will?" Are there any Senators who will "man-up" (I use quotes because I suspect that there are women more likely to than men) and remind him that he runs the executive branch -- but he is not the government?
