 |
 |
   During a recession, should college presidents face the same pay cuts as CEOs?
 Forty years of writing from Taylor Branch, James Fallows, Katherine Boo, Marjorie Williams, Joshua Micah Marshall, and more.
 With help from Washington, the for-profit college industry is loading up millions of low-income students with debt they'll never pay off.
 The best recent memoir from republican Washington is a hoax. That should tell you something.
|
   |
|
|
June 29, 2009
HOLDS.... Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) explained over the weekend that he's put a hold on Harvard law professor Cass Sunstein's nomination to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Sunstein easily cleared the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in May, but Chambliss doesn't want him to get a floor vote, because of something Sunstein once wrote about animal rights. If this were just an isolated delay, it would hardly be cause for concern. It's not. This is, regrettably, quickly becoming the norm.
That may sound hyperbolic, but Ornstein makes a very compelling case that good governance is undermined by these "capricious" holds. He explained, "We need political appointees in place to make decisions and sign off on policies. Of course, there are talented career executives. But they often lack the authority, or the will, to make tough or controversial decisions that are not normally in their purview. Some of the delays in implementation of the stimulus package have undoubtedly occurred because no official able to expedite the normal vetting process for projects or grants has been in place to do so. It is also important to keep in mind that incoming officials cannot start operating at 100 percent the day they are sworn in; it takes a while to learn the ropes and the procedures, so these delays will be even longer and more damaging than they appear." I'd just add that while the holds are themselves frustrating, I'm not even sure why the Senate has to confirm all of these officials anyway. Regardless, there was at least some progress last week, with Harold Koh's confirmation. It'd be even more encouraging if Dawn Johnsen (OLC) and Robert Groves (Census Bureau) could overcome holds and get up-or-down votes, too. —Steve Benen 8:35 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (85)Comments
What a bunch of mean wittle kids! They'd take their ball, and go home, but it is no longer their ball. They tried holding their breath until they turned blue, but that didn't work out either. Hence, the holds. I wonder if any red state voters are watching. . . Posted by: DAY on June 29, 2009 at 8:36 AM | PERMALINKTwo questions: 1) When the Republicans were running the Senate, did they permit anonymous holds that went on for weeks or months? 2) Can something be changed so that holds don't count unless someone takes "credit" for it?
The something that needs to be changed is the Majority Leader. A vertebrate in that position would quickly put a stop to this nonsense. Posted by: Steve LaBonne on June 29, 2009 at 8:47 AM | PERMALINKIs it possible to publicize a list of the Senate holds and how long each has lasted? Once that list is published, then TPM or some similar news organization can mobilize the blogosphere to find out who is responsible and what the alleged reasons are. This is inside the beltway work that, if the results were made public, could really politically effect the Senate. Posted by: Rick B on June 29, 2009 at 8:48 AM | PERMALINKThank God for patriots like Saxby Chambliss. Liberals will get full control of the government only when they pry it from our cold dead hands. Posted by: Al on June 29, 2009 at 8:49 AM | PERMALINKnot even cass sunstein deserves to live in a universe where someone like saxby chambliss is a senator -- though i'm sure ol' cass could make up a plausible scenario in which saxby is exactly right for the job... republicans are left with their naked hold on power... diminished and diminishing as it is... nearly each and every thing they do is just an iteration of "behold, i am the sun..." Posted by: neill on June 29, 2009 at 8:53 AM | PERMALINKIn my America, Chambliss, and anyone like him, gets his ass kicked to the curb! -Kevo Posted by: kevo on June 29, 2009 at 8:53 AM | PERMALINKThank God for patriots like Saxby Chambliss. Liberals will get full control of the government only when they pry it from our cold dead hands. Two words here: Recess Appointment. Consider it pried.... Posted by: S. Waybright on June 29, 2009 at 8:54 AM | PERMALINKToo bad the Senate Majority Leader is that completeley useless POS Harry Reid. We need a majority leader that just ignores the BS "holds". Posted by: Napoleon on June 29, 2009 at 8:58 AM | PERMALINKThe filubuster and other extraordinary means were designed to protect minority rights. But their promiscuous abuse is taking us into an era of minority rule. Posted by: Ted Frier on June 29, 2009 at 9:03 AM | PERMALINKI wonder if any red state voters are watching. . . I'm sure the red state Republicans are in full support of these holds, as they wish for Obama's administration to fail and anything they can do to help it move towards failure is considered a win on their side. It's the job of the Democrats to bring this wish (and work) for failure to the attention to the red state voters who are NOT Republicans. Posted by: a different phil on June 29, 2009 at 9:11 AM | PERMALINKremember too that chambliss is the the classy guy who, in order to get elected, smeared Max cleland and called him a traitor, even though Cleland served in vietnam and lost 3 limbs in the process. Chambliss, there is a hot place waiting for you, and a-holes like you. Posted by: In what respect, Charlie? on June 29, 2009 at 9:14 AM | PERMALINKIf the Senate wasn't an ossified barrel of fail they would amend the 'hold rule' so it had a time limit. A hold for 30 days is plenty o' time for any Senator to make get more information and/or persuade his colleages about whatever bug is up his honorable ass. Holds beyond a certain point give an individual Senator a bizzaro negative power of appointment and that's not how the Constitution was written. But I'd put big money on Harry Reid doing absolutely nothing to fix the situation. Of course doing nothing is always the chalk bet when it comes to the Greatest* Deliberative Body in The World. * - not Posted by: joejoejoe on June 29, 2009 at 9:22 AM | PERMALINKOT: There is a SmartCar frequently parked on my dense, urban, cobalt blue street. It's festooned with Obama, Coexist, Out of Iraq, pro-choice, etc. bumper stickers...and among the predictable progressive stickers is one that says "Hunters for Saxby Chambliss." I keep hoping to run into the person getting into or out of the car so I can ask him/her what's up with that. Posted by: shortstop on June 29, 2009 at 9:46 AM | PERMALINKIt all makes sense if you accept the premise that no Democratic administration is a legitimate administration. A royalist party in a parliament has no real interest in increasing its share of votes in that body, never mind cooperating with the small-r republican parties in governing. Their purpose for being is to shut it down, or at least neuter it, so that there can be a restoration. The Congressional GOP's present position is analogous to the royalists and Bonapartists in the French assemblies of the 19th century. They have no interest in the smooth functioning -- any functioning -- of a body whose legitimacy they fundamentally do not accept. They only want a rapid transition back to a monarchy. The weirdest transformation of political terminology hasn't been what happened to the word 'liberal' since John Stuart Mill -- it's what happened to the word 'republican'. Posted by: Davis X. Machina on June 29, 2009 at 10:16 AM | PERMALINK"cobalt blue street" - Ah, how lovely if many planted the wonderfully aromatic yellow Graham Thomas rose nearby. If, only more hunters could sight in on Saxby. No fire for effect, of course. However, this is another of the archaeic Senate rules. Another mis-use has been by the Oklahoma Senator Coburn. He has delayed many a wilderness designation in other states. He blocked one for several years in Washington State and he blocked one surrounding Mt Hood in Oregon which was co-sponsored by both Oregon Senators - Wyden, the Democratic one and then Senator Gordon Smith, the Republican. Coburn is currently trying to pull stimulus money from several projects in both Oregon and Washington. One involves marijuana testing for pain relief at Wazzoo's Vancouver, WA campus. Senator Coburn, stay the hell out of the PNW and commit your political malpractice in the Senate. Posted by: berttheclock on June 29, 2009 at 10:21 AM | PERMALINKrepeal the whole "holds" thing...it's a ridiculous entitlement that gives any POli with a grudge to hold up the works. It's like having one person on a bus hold the entire trip hostage because they don't like the seat they've taken. "He said mean things about the waitress at Cracker Barrel, wa wa wa wa..." What happened to Reps that had a mandate to do what's right for the country, and not the party they belong to? What is wrong with this Georgian CHICKEN HAWK? Is he being influenced by some barnyard friends, and other Repub CHICKEN HAWKS? Posted by: Ted76 on June 29, 2009 at 10:44 AM | PERMALINKSome of the delays in implementation of the stimulus package have undoubtedly occurred because no official able to expedite the normal vetting process for projects or grants has been in place to do so. The whole function of the social conservative in life is to cause as much damage to society as he can while pretending to some higher purpose. Posted by: alan on June 29, 2009 at 11:04 AM | PERMALINKberttheclock: I believe even Oregon's only Republican US congressman, Walden, approved of the Mt Hood wilderness expansion. I agree with whomever said there should be a limit on holds - 30 days is plenty. It's ridiculous that the Rs are such obstructionists. Posted by: Hannah on June 29, 2009 at 12:16 PM | PERMALINKOnly spinelessness of Democrats, in the majority, prevents them from overturning this "hold" capability - ? Even if it's tradition, Republicans are too irresponsible to have the option. Posted by: N e i l B on June 29, 2009 at 12:24 PM | PERMALINKIs anyone really in a hurry to get Cass Sunstein to where he can do the most damage? http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/casskills Posted by: Capt. Jean-Luc Pikachu on June 29, 2009 at 1:37 PM | PERMALINKIt all gets us back to the media's dereliction of duty. When it was Bush nominees, all you heard on the news was Republics [sic] whining about the president being unfairly deprived of an up or down vote on his nominee. Anyone heard reporting of the current situation except framed in a way that makes the president and his staff look bad and the obstruction Republics [sic] look like heroes? I was forced to listen to WBUR for two hours today while driving in my car (sadly, my CD player has stopped working and I can't listen to recorded books) and Robin Young commiserated with one of her guests that the American public is to blame for the lack of coverage of substantive stories and the wall-to-wall coverage for days on end of Michael Jackson. Three minutes later Robin Young informed the listeners that starting at three there would be an hour of coverage of ... Michael Jackson. Posted by: karen marie on June 29, 2009 at 3:35 PM | PERMALINKFour year presidential terms. Block key nominees from working for 6+ months. More than 10% of this administration's time to act is now history. I agree with the royalist analogy, the Republicans have no interest in governing. The amazing thing is how they've managed to get so many people to vote against their own interests for so long. Posted by: Jeff Wenker on June 29, 2009 at 9:29 PM | PERMALINKSomebody put Chambliss up to this hold. I'm from Georgia and believe me he is not intelligent enough to know how himself. Posted by: don on June 29, 2009 at 11:20 PM | PERMALINKI want to say - thank you for this! Posted by: buy online us viagra on August 3, 2009 at 11:43 AM | PERMALINKI bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job! Posted by: what is valium used for on August 3, 2009 at 9:59 PM | PERMALINKIf you have to do it, you might as well do it right. Posted by: cheapest generic adipex o on August 3, 2009 at 11:27 PM | PERMALINKI want to say - thank you for this! Posted by: medication tramadol hcl on August 4, 2009 at 12:51 AM | PERMALINKIt is the coolest site, keep so! Posted by: adipex diet supplements on August 4, 2009 at 3:41 AM | PERMALINKVery interesting site. Hope it will always be alive! Posted by: tramadol side effects canine on August 4, 2009 at 5:06 AM | PERMALINKGreat site. Keep doing. Posted by: viagra without a prescription ontario canada on August 4, 2009 at 1:47 PM | PERMALINKIf you have to do it, you might as well do it right. Posted by: soma therapy essential oil on August 4, 2009 at 3:55 PM | PERMALINKIt is the coolest site, keep so! Posted by: tramadol abuse on August 12, 2009 at 12:02 AM | PERMALINKExcellent site. It was pleasant to me. Posted by: ativan tramadol hydrocodone on August 12, 2009 at 2:41 AM | PERMALINKIt is the coolest site, keep so! Posted by: online consultation xanax on August 12, 2009 at 12:50 PM | PERMALINKPerfect site, i like it! Posted by: discount adipex no prescription on August 12, 2009 at 3:44 PM | PERMALINKVery interesting site. Hope it will always be alive! Posted by: buy adipex paypal on August 12, 2009 at 6:38 PM | PERMALINKVery interesting site. Hope it will always be alive! Posted by: tramadol schedule on August 14, 2009 at 1:45 AM | PERMALINKI bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job! Posted by: how much tramadol on August 14, 2009 at 4:40 AM | PERMALINKVery interesting site. Hope it will always be alive! Posted by: vetranarian tramadol on August 14, 2009 at 7:41 PM | PERMALINKExcellent site. It was pleasant to me. Posted by: generic to viagra on August 15, 2009 at 4:21 AM | PERMALINKIt is the coolest site, keep so! Posted by: consumer insights to viagra on August 15, 2009 at 9:40 PM | PERMALINKI bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job! Posted by: valium online usa on August 16, 2009 at 5:47 AM | PERMALINKI bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job! Posted by: low cost tramadol on August 16, 2009 at 8:34 AM | PERMALINKVery interesting site. Hope it will always be alive! Posted by: drug use tramadol on August 16, 2009 at 5:05 PM | PERMALINKIf you have to do it, you might as well do it right. Posted by: xanax sweating hot anxious on August 17, 2009 at 5:19 AM | PERMALINKPerfect work! Posted by: taking xanax for achohol withdrawls on August 17, 2009 at 8:23 AM | PERMALINKIt is the coolest site, keep so! Posted by: viagra max coplaints on August 17, 2009 at 6:17 PM | PERMALINKIf you have to do it, you might as well do it right. Posted by: consequences of valium overdose on August 18, 2009 at 3:00 AM | PERMALINKIf you have to do it, you might as well do it right. Posted by: cheapest adipex diet pill on August 19, 2009 at 3:49 AM | PERMALINKVery interesting site. Hope it will always be alive! Posted by: soma technology on August 19, 2009 at 4:01 PM | PERMALINKPerfect work! Posted by: difference between clonopin and xanax on August 20, 2009 at 5:51 PM | PERMALINKI want to say - thank you for this! Posted by: a useing viagra on August 21, 2009 at 1:39 AM | PERMALINKI bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job! Posted by: adipex weight loss diet on August 21, 2009 at 7:21 AM | PERMALINKGreat. Now i can say thank you! Posted by: cheap tramadol canada on August 22, 2009 at 5:32 AM | PERMALINKExcellent site. It was pleasant to me. Posted by: adipex retard rss feed on August 22, 2009 at 11:41 AM | PERMALINKGreat work, webmaster, nice design! Posted by: soma hernandez pics on August 22, 2009 at 5:53 PM | PERMALINKI bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job! Posted by: viagra instuctions on August 26, 2009 at 2:21 AM | PERMALINKI bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job! Posted by: buy tramadol online with prescription on August 26, 2009 at 11:28 AM | PERMALINKExcellent site. It was pleasant to me. Posted by: ara chang soma on August 26, 2009 at 1:17 PM | PERMALINKExcellent site. It was pleasant to me. Posted by: tramadol to curb appetite on August 27, 2009 at 2:12 AM | PERMALINKIf you have to do it, you might as well do it right. Posted by: valium and drug tests on November 6, 2009 at 8:14 PM | PERMALINKPost a comment
November 2009
October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 |
|
|
    |
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
