Our Constitution

I attended a Constitution dinner last week .  There was a wonderful speaker there who made me realize what a wonderful thing it was to live in a country like ours.  He explained all the hardships the founders had in just getting a quorum  I felt great sitting there among people who I thought were like minded.  The gentleman across from me taught history to high school seniors.  I remarked to him that I was quite concerned that the Obama Administration was stepping all over our constitution.  I gave him the example of Elizabeth Warren being appointed as special advisor to the White House. I went on to say that Mr. Becker's appointment to Medicaid was another example of  appointing an office without the advice and consent of the Senate. As soon as I heard his reply which was lengthy I knew he was a " liberal" teaching our children about the Constitution.

The Senate should vote on all senior appointments within 60 days.  But the president should give it a chance to vote.


Robert Gibbs explained, Ms Warren has been appointed "to lead" a team of about 30 or 40 people at The Department of Treasury working in standing up the new Consumer Finance protection Bureau.  A transformation is happening in America.  The dignified Constitution emphasizes Senate confirmation of cabinet officers, but effective power is increasingly exercised by presidential assistants.  Despite Mr. Obama's campaign against the excesses of the Bush White House, he is now making his own contribution to the ongoing construction of an imperial presidency.


The Senate should change the rules to require an up or down vote on all executive branch appointments within 60 days. In exchange the president should sign legislation to require Senate approval of all Senior White House appointments.  By reaching this agreement, the president regains the powers to govern effectively and the Senate regains it's authority to approve all major appointments.  Regardless of their location in the executive branch.


In the coming few years let's hope our new elected officials will have the common sense to give up their petty privileges on the existing system and thereby strengthen our one last hope.  Our Constitution.