Barack Obama Needs to Force Congress Into Recess, Make Appointments - The Daily Beast

The House of Representatives refuses to adjourn - in order to prevent the President from making appointments during recess. This is part of the conservatives "just say no" strategy which has created many vacancies at high levels of government and has obstructed appointment of many qualified and desirable nominees. Michael Tomasky has a bold suggestion. - GWC

Barack Obama Needs to Force Congress Into Recess, Make Appointments - The Daily Beast:

"I’ve been wondering lately the same thing as a lot of liberals in Washington: when and how will the president ever grow some backbone? Sure, the post-debt-deal polls show that he came out of the mess looking somewhat less terrible than the Republicans. But he looks weak, and he’ll keep getting pushed around until he throws down on something. I’m planning an occasional series about what that something could be, and here’s idea No. 1: force the Congress into recess and make a slew of appointments.

What? Force the Congress into recess? Yes. The president has the power under the Constitution to do exactly that. Read Article II, which is, of course, on the executive branch, Section 3, titled “State of the Union, Convening Congress.”"