President Obama, looking at the very possible future of partisianship blockages, has decided, on the advice and counsel of his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, to exercise some of his Executive powers to get his agenda going again. On his list are policies regarding energy, the environment, and fiscal issues on a domestic scale. Congress just isn’t cutting the mustard these days, and our President is none too happy.
Emanuel is ready to get Obama’s agenda moving again, and right now.
“We are reviewing a list of presidential executive orders and directives to get the job done across a front of issues.”
An American President pressuring Congress into action or making decisions of his own accord is not a new event in DC. Both Presidents Clinton and Bush did their own versions of such actions. Rahm himself is again no stranger to this, as he carried water for President Clinton when Clinton held office.
Some political savants regard this new mode of leadership for Obama to adopt is only natural in any President’s second year. Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director chimes in:
“The challenges we had to address in 2009 ensured that the center of action would be in Congress. In 2010, executive actions will also play a key role in advancing the agenda.”
One of the more media-prominent issues that Obama will be moving on are the nominations he has made that Congress just won’t approve. With the Senatorial recess approaching, it would be the perfect time to confirm those he wants with no fuss. In a meeting at the White House, President Obama told Mitch McConnell of Kentucky that he would use his Executive power to confirm nominees if the Senate didn’t get them done before their recess.
Don Stewart, a spokesman for Mr. McConnell, said:
“All presidents get frustrated with the pace of nominations, and all Congresses say they’re doing their best, so it’s not a surprise. But the fact is nominees are being confirmed, particularly those nominated since December.”
While it is true that Mr. Obama has the right to exercise his Executive power in such fashion, it is enough to make many Americans nervous. With the Senate out on recess, one must wonder what else Mr. Obama will pass, approve, confirm, or decree now that he will be unchallenged. Lately it has been common practice to pass legislation behind closed-door meetings or after-hours.
Mr. Obama may take this opportunity to enact several smaller pieces of his agenda to create a strong base when the time comes to really push his plans for America.
February 15th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I want to pose a challenge to all readers of this comment. Go to http://mittromneycentral.com/resources/books-by-mitt-romney/no-apology-the-case-for-american-greatness/ and listen to some of the clips from Mitt’s upcoming book. Once you have listened to a clip or two, then tell me how Mitt Romney wouldn’t be 100x better than Obama.
As a side note, just wait to see how little media attention the left gives Mitt’s book compared to Sarah’s. Mitt’s entire book and even name is an attack on liberalism and progressism, but I’m willing to bed the lefties will try to sweep it under the rug because they don’t want people to hear what Mitt has to say. Mitt articulately and intelligently rips them to shreds and he scares them to death. The left’s best hope is for Mitt to lose the GOP nomination in 2012.
February 15th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
@dan,
In the spirit of fairness, allow me to present this link to balance yours:
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_14391463
Now let’s see if Romney would be 100X better than Obama.
Oh, and thanks for stopping by! Cheers!
February 16th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
[...] with the failure of his legislative agenda. He has promised to use his Executive powers to implement his agenda that has of late, been stymied in [...]
February 18th, 2010 at 5:35 am
[...] has failed to confirm a number of his Cabinet nominees. As Donald Borsch Jr. writes on RightPundits.com, Emanuel has been quoted as saying: “We are reviewing a list of Presidential Executive Orders and [...]