So It's Come to This: Webb Defends Senate Against Bush Sneak Attacks
By: TheGreenMiles
Published On: 11/20/2007 6:28:34 PM
The Senate came to order for 22 seconds this morning to prevent President Bush from sneaking through controversial appointments. From WashingtonPost.com's The Sleuth blog:When Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) strolled into the Senate chamber Tuesday at 9 a.m., turned on the lights (ok, a clerk did that for him), sat down in the presiding chair, looked out over a sea of empty desks, the Vietnam veteran -- armed with nothing but a gavel -- had but one mission: to pre-empt an enemy attack on the Senate.
Webb almost cracked a smile at the absurdity of it as he banged the gavel, declared, "The Senate stands in recess until Nov. 23rd, '07 at 10 a.m.," and then gave another bang to close the joint until the next chosen senator, Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), gets a tour with the gavel the morning after Thanksgiving.
Asked how he got chosen for duty, Webb, ever mindful of his local and freshman status, told us, "I'm from Virginia, I'm in town, and I'm very, very junior." Plus, he said, "I'd much rather be doing this than allow the president to skirt the confirmation process in the Senate. This is an exercise in protecting the Constitution and our constitutional process."
Must've been a long drive into the office for 22 seconds of working. Can't the Senate telecommute or something?
Comments
I love it! (Doug in Mount Vernon - 11/20/2007 7:16:52 PM)
I am so proud to have Senator Webb in office! I am proud of Virginia for standing up and protecting the US Constitution! After all, we had a lot to do with it in the first place!
Congratulations (GinterParked - 11/20/2007 8:43:27 PM)
I was proud to hear about Jim Webb's role today on the radio. Majority Leader Harry Reid deserves our congratulations for drawing a line on recess appointments - including the appointment of a Surgeon General who believes that same-sex orientation is a "pathology."
When does it become redundant ???? (Used2Bneutral - 11/20/2007 9:02:55 PM)
We have an amazingly gutsy freshman(?) senator named Jim W ebb..... at the risk of self promotion.... He really rocks!!!! intellect, ethics, and moral responsibilities.... darn.... I feel so justified !!!!! If you read this Senator, THANKYOU for being everything we knew you would be!!!! and Happy Thanks-Giving... you are part of my families prayers.... Damn, we so are blessed !!!!
Finally, Harry Reid gets a clue. (pol - 11/20/2007 10:46:25 PM)
Why hasn't this been done before, to prevent more controversial appointments? Does John Bolton come to mind? I just read that Bush has made 167 recess appointments.
From the Axcess article (TheGreenMiles - 11/20/2007 11:11:31 PM)
With 14 months left in his presidency, Bush is already #4 all-time for recess appointments: "With 165 recess appointments, President Bush ranks No. 4, behind Presidents Reagan, Truman, and Eisenhower. President Clinton made 140 recess appointments, according to the US Senate Historical Office."
There is simply nothing more important I have done in my public life than work to elect Jim Webb (dsvabeachdems - 11/20/2007 11:37:48 PM)
We have only just begun to see what our efforts have wrought. He has been in office less than a year. Do you recall that by this time, Felix had grown bored? It is so refreshing to see someone live up to his word and promise.
Jim Webb makes me proud (vadem - 11/20/2007 11:55:34 PM)
There's little else to say. I'm so grateful to him for running, and for all who believed in him and worked to elect him. He's doing his part...in spades. Thank you, Senator Webb.
Excellent metaphor (Teddy - 11/21/2007 8:06:01 PM)
Senate called to order, Senate adjourns after doing nothing. So, what else is new?
Wonkette Praises Jim Webb (PM - 11/21/2007 8:11:21 PM)
I think it's the newest blogger, Anonymous Lobbyist:
We have a lot to thankful for this year, most of it having to do with the fact that Jim Webb is in the Senate. Happy Thanksgiving, bro.