The New Republic

Now, since the Republicans have refused, without precedent!, to respect the understanding about the ideological balance to be maintained when filling these positions, the president should go ahead and make recess appointments of Democrats to the other two vacancies. Obama needs to play offense, not just defense. Republicans have to be punished for obstruction.

- roidubouloi

March 27, 2010 at 5:25pm

How come when the Republicans wage an unnecessary war, cut taxes, and run up the debt big time, it's okay, but when the Democrats appoint someone to be head of a department, it threatens government?

- Nusholtz

March 27, 2010 at 8:42pm

"How come when the Republicans wage an unnecessary war, cut taxes, and run up the debt big time, it's okay, but when the Democrats appoint someone to be head of a department, it threatens government?" That's easy. The Republicans are God-fearing patriots who only have the best interest of the country at heart in everything they do. Democrats are baby-killing (or was it baby-eating?) Muslim-loving, terrorist-friendly monsters that only go against the American public and will drag the US into a socialistic hell, like trying to get health care for all. Them people are turrble, just turrble. They must to be stopped at every chance with every means possible or the country will dissolve into the ocean and be swallowed into Hades. Now you know the answer.

- tnmats

March 27, 2010 at 9:59pm

Citizens United, Citizens United, Citizens United. Card Check is a horrible idea (and not just because it violates the principle of the secret ballot, which is reason enough for anyone to oppose it). But labor can now make unlimited expenditures on behalf of individual candidates -- they flexed their muscles during the health care debate. The problem is the US Chamber of Commerce and business allies have even more to spend -- they could become to Obama what the NRA was to Clinton and the 1994 Dems. This appointment isn't about policy at all -- whether it's a good thing is political strategizing beyond my pay grade.

- Lymon1

March 28, 2010 at 9:51am

The White House might as well act boldly now, because it's going to be weaker after the 2010 elections. The Democrats, even in health care looks better than it has, are going to lose seats in the House and the Senate, and I find it unlikely that Republicans will prove more conciliatory after such gains, even if they are moderate. The end of reform is either on us or is fast approaching. Any big moves have to happen quickly, because the last couple of years of Obama's first term are going to entail small-ball measures geared toward re-electing the president. Sound familiar? How immigration reform plays in all of this is the wild card. Obama needs to reach out to Hispanics, but his approval among white males is already disappointing. Immigration reform will be a tough needle to thread.

- propjoe

March 28, 2010 at 10:23am