Interesting Current Events

The world of appointments in the Executive side of the government is full of current events which are often less important than they are interesting.  This page points out of the items we see during our daily research on appointments.  If you find items which might be interesting for this page, please send them to Director@Presidential-Appointments.org.

Sunday, February 03, 2008 07:26 PM. .

. .

PR Guy Gone

Last week a FEMA PR guy threw a press conference with phony reporters from FEMA and no real ones.  Philbin - the guy in charge - a Presidential Apppointee - said he was headed for a new job in for the National Intelligence Director.  Today 10-29-06 - he is headed for a new job out of government - he learned about "Pleasure of the President" service and got canned for a really stupid move in calling the fake press conference at FEMA.  10-29-07

Holsinger Hearing

     Dr. James Holsinger, an MD and professor at the University of Kentucky has been nominated by the President to be Surgeon General of the United States.  The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will question Holsinger on July 12. The Doctor has published controversial research on gay issues which is stirring up a fight.  The proceedings of the hearing will be reported on the committee's site at www.Senate.gov.  The transcript will be available at that site, as will a video presentation by the day after the hearing. July 7 2007

White House - Senate Battle on Recess appointments on Recess page:  Important application of "Checks and Balances" Constitutional policy at work!  11 19 07

Pink Slip Time

     Top Bush appointees around the country are getting notices that January 20 2008 is the end of their appointments.  Many will be carried over into the new administration, surely, but it will require a new appointment at that point.  It is an easy bet that many of those appointees will be looking for jobs on Monday, and if one comes along - there will be another Lame Duck vacancy for the White House. 10 28-07

     In recent months the Bush White House placed about 600 young political appointees in agencies across the government.  Their common denominator was political connection into GOP political operations.  Those who have had to work with them say they are particularly not qualified and difficult about their close ties to the White House.  10-6-07  

     A Senatorial anonymous hold has been put on the Nussle appointment to Office of Management and Budget.  The issue seems to be his commitment to block Democratic budget plans.  The Majority Leader can bring the nomination to the floor overriding the "hold" if he thinks it has been on too long.  In the past, several years was acceptable. Confirmed

     The United States Senate is full of quaint but important unwritten rules, policies, deal, schemes, rights, and traditions.  One of these is the Thurman Rule on confirmation of the nominations of United States Federal Judges near the end of a Presidential term.

    As one Presidency ends, there is an itch to fill all the jobs with specific terms or some permanency with friends and political pals.  Federal Judges are lifetime appointments, of course, so the influence of a retiring President could be extended into decades of influence-something an opposing party and Presidential candidates do not want to see happen.  Hence, the Thurman Rule:

     It's simple - don't confirm Federal Judge nominations in the last six months of an administration, or - recently - extend that prohibition to a year - and now it looks like the Senate is going to cripple the ability of the Bush Presidency to get any more confirmations from now to January 2009.  A part of the current issue is the frustration with the White House and its unwillingness to provide information or witnesses.  In short - it is payback time!

     There has been a sub-rule over the years that occasional consensus candidates should be confirmed.  For now, there won't be many Federal Judges confirmed.  July 7 2007.

Attorney General

     It appears that Judge Mukasey will be confirmed for Attorney General tonight (11 8 07) after a long floor debate.  This is a good example of how thoroughly the Senate can enforce and use its power of Advice and Consent.  If Mukasey is not confirmed - it is a good bet that the President will make a recess appointment, probably of Judge Mukasey - over the Thanksgiving recess.  (confirmed)

The President is fending off conservative operatives on the nomination of Mukasey - they don't like the business of a Conservative Jew being head of the primary Justice operation in the country. 9-22-07

     Four Senators are blocking the confirmation of Gene Gretz as Ambassador to Libya because Libya refuses to pay compensation for terrorist damages.  

     Gretz was to re-establish diplomatic relationships with Libya.  July 12 2007

     Governor Ritter of Colorado has been trying to have some influence in BLM leases for drilling.  The Secretary refused a request for four months to study the project.  Senator Salazar D, CO retaliated by putting a hold on the President's nomination of James Caswell to head the BLM until the governor gets time to study the drilling plan.  

     Senators use the "hold" technique to manipulate power, such as in this case, or just to be cussed, sometimes.  This nomination won't be heard until the hold is released, or until "blasted" out of the Senate by 60 Senators.  Won't happen in this case!! July 7 2007