What exactly are you going to do about it?

John

I only wish that more of your collaegues would do the same. The Constitution is the bedrock of our American society and Obama and liberals are slowly chipping away at it and will eventually destroy it altogther unless men and women like you stand up to defend it. I salute you, sir. God bless America.

That is what I want to see come from this.

…by the “recess appointments,” but just as much disturbed by Senate Republicans’ intransigent refusal to confirm or reject the President’s nominee.

The CFPB is a statutorily-authorized Federal agency. If it is alleged that the legislation which established said agency is unconstitutional, then redress lies in the courts, not in a guerrilla warfare campaign in the Senate.

While a President is not entitled to have his nominee rubber-stamped, one knows that during Democratic administrations, such nominees will be Democrats, and during Republican administrations, they will be Republicans. Cordray is a milquetoast liberal (albeit a brilliant one-he was a multiple Jeopardy champion and editor-in-chief of the U. of Chicago Law Review) with no history of malfeasance or misfeasance in office, and he should’ve been confirmed summarily.

I know that the Dems have been guilty of obstructionist tactics in the past, but two wrongs don’t make a right. This is the sort of nonsense that threatens a constitutional crisis.

but given that he believes the constitution is “flawed” and some “living document” whose words can be bended to fit the miind of the reader, what can ordinary citizens hope to accomplish.

There have been blogs written, tweets sent, calls to congress regarding the appointments. We discovered two constants in his behavior and attitude – one, he doesn’t listen to us much. And two, he doesn’t know the phrase mea culpa.

I love Senator Lee, but he is misleading here. First, pro forma sessions were never intended for this purpose. They weren’t used for this purpose until 2007 when the Dems started it. The bottom line is that Senators were not present in DC to give advice and consent as they had gone home and left a place holder.

Second, the constitution gives the Senate the power to advise and consent. The founders never envisioned a scenario where a party that controlled only the House could affect appointments, recess or otherwise.

http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/President/US/Barack_Obama/scandals/Recess_Appointments_during_Session/

…for the President to go out of his way to single you out. Consider it an honor!

When will Articles Of Impeachment be offered?

“The Inconvenient Constitution” could be the title to a catalog of the most severe moral failings that the federal government has perpetrated, IMO.

Obama don’t need no stinkin constitution. It is OLD. Obama is smart enough to know that the House and Senate really really meant to be in recess.

Of course the Senate is required to pass a budget and some how the Republicans in the House and Senate managed to go meekly into the night instead of getting along to go along, and some sort of spending authorization was passed.

I want to thank you for your outspoken fight in the Senate during the Debt cieling fight – and for your post here today among everything else that you do.

You raise a bipartisan issue – may enough Democrats support you if only for fear of the next Republican president if they lack the moral fiber to do so otherwise.

May you be an inspiration to the other GOP senators, especially the leadership, who sorely could use your courage and principle.

I can’t imagine too many people thing that all the processes of the senate are a thing of beauty, but if he wants to change it, the President can propose an amendment to the constitution and see where he gets. Attempting to change it by doing what you want and seeing what sticks on appeal sounds like a lawyers approach…..

Holding up other unrelated appointments just makes Obama look justified in his illegal “recess” appointments.

I’ve read that the NLRB appointments have been taken to court. I don’t know about the consumer financial appointment, which should be even easier to contest based on the language in the legislation.

There should be something that Congress can do to over-rule an out of bounds President, only the dem Senate will never allow it to pass. The dems have started acting more and more like their union THUG supporters all of the time. Surely the people will revolt and throw them out in 2012!

I’ve read that the NLRB appointments have been taken to court. I don’t know about the consumer financial appointment, which should be even easier to contest based on the language in the legislation.

There should be something that Congress can do to over-rule an out of bounds President, only the dem Senate will never allow it to pass. The dems have started acting more and more like their union THUG supporters all of the time. Surely the people will revolt and throw them out in 2012!

We need more Senators who will take a stand like you have. Moreover, we need such a Senator as the Senate Leader instead of the current squish we have now on the GOP side.

Hopefully we can send more Conservatives to the Senate to help make that a reality.

Doesn’t Sen. Majority Leader DeMint have a nice ring to it?

Thank you for taking a stand, Senator. Wear it as a badge of honor that Obama singled you out for attack.

There is little that any one Senator can do. There is a Team of center RINO Weenies which don’t believe, truly in their hearts, that the Constitution and the powers if bestows upon the Government entities, as well as the States and the People, has any power.

There is an overpowering aura of Apathy emanating from the “Republican” party in Government.

Whereas, the drive of Socialism NEVER Sleeps, the bastions of Individual Rights and Freedom tends to take a nap every now and then.

I believe it is time to put the present Republican leaders to pasture. We need representatives for the People and the States that truly desire to keep this once GREAT Country alive.

I think you ought to come here more often. I’ve always been amazed at how engaged you are with your constituents in new media via Facebook and Twitter.

I appreciate your commitment to holding Obama accountable in your sphere of influence…

I think a big problem we face in conservatism is helping activists to understand the “therefore what?” that was alluded to previously.

Clearly we as activists need to spread the word regarding Obama’s overreach here. We also need to know which of your colleagues we need to call, and remind to stand with you… It’d be nice to know we’re not just holding Obama accountable, but that we’re getting others to become accountable to fighting unconstitutional actions.

How about defunding the executive branch’s funds until next year?

Personally I think there’s plenty the O could be impeached on. In my opinion the narrative of racism has been long overplayed out regarding the current POTUS for anyone not a kool-aid drinker for anything and everything leftist.

“Let’s make a stand” is nice platitude. I’d rather see the O either impeached or rendered a lame duck instead of the R’s taking another sucker run after sucker run at Lucy’s football.

Of Republicans being all show and no go. Well actually, they aren’t even showing much these days.

When Germany wanted to overthrow it’s Chancellor Hitler sent out his black shirts and completely bypassed the laws that the German government enacted to prevent such a thing from happening, and we all know now how that turned out.
Obama bypassing the Constitution so he could put his appointments in office is the same thing that happened in Germany pre WW2.
If We The People are so ignorant to see what is happening under our current Administration, where will it stop, the Constitution will not be worth the paper is was written on and what we call the President of the United States will become the Dictator And Chief, marshal law will be his order and the government as we knew it will collapse.
It is up to We The People to prevent this from happening since our government officials are either afraid of this “War Lord” or they are closing a blind eye since they are part of the conspiracy to overthrow out way of government.
If this man is voted in for a second term, in 5 years we won’t be voting anymore, we will be just another country such as Kenya, pre war Germany of any other country ran by a dictator.
Wake up America, time is running out, it is obvious that a new world order is in the plans with the likes of Obama, George Soros and the rest of these radicals picking off one Constitutional Right at a time.

“I call on all Americans – Republicans, Democrats, Independents – to stand with me in defense of this blatant and egregious encroachment on our basic constitutional liberties.”

this clown isn’t serious is he?

we ALREADY stood with you – we swept the house into power two years ago and you have been betraying us ever since (yes i realize you’re in the senate).

what obama has been doing is not just wrong… and is not just as simple as “unconstitutional” – it’s treason. the whole of the house should have impeached him and the senate should have convicted and dumped him.

it’s not us who are refusing to stand with you – it is you who have abandoned us.

Dear Sir,

With all due respect, I must agree with the first poster and the first reply to his post: talk is cheap and inciting the base is not opposing what you have clearly stated is an unconstitutional act. Apparently according to some obscure judicial ruling that makes no sense whatsoever to me, I do not have standing to bring my complaint before the courts. You do. If you don’t take that action, you are as worthless as the functionary who wrote the excuse Obama used to make the appointments.

Thank-you.

I and members of Congress of both parties who care about the Constitution must take a stand.

WTF are you waiting for? It has been a month since this usurper made this power grab ans all I have seen is a blog post about it.

DO SOMETHING.

Our Congress has been neutered ! They did it to themselves by not standing up for the Constitution and for not holding to the Oath they took to protect the Constitution. There should be a punishment for Oathbrakers but there are none.
BTW, what did Congress do when McCain had to prove he was a US Citizen but Obama did not? Why didn’t the Republicans make Obama prove it? Did they already know he couldn’t? Were they afraid to push it? Why?
Why haven’t the Republicans held Obama’s feet to the fire for the many times he’s gone around the Constitution? I guess if one is neutered they might as well leave office. No sense in drawing a salary for being a coward and breaking your Oath to protect the Constitution.

Why did he not say he was going to start impeachment proceeding against Obama? After all the under handed tricks that BHO has pulled I would say there is more than enough to impeach him. Starting with:
*ineligibility
* Not honoring his oath of office to defend and up hold our Constitution
* Not requiring Eric Holder to prosecute the NBPP for voter intimidation
*Continuing to give money to ACORN
* Permitting Eric Holder to sue the state of AZ when they try to defend themselves. Look up Article IV Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States of America. This covers invasion of illegal aliens and proves Holder and Janet Napolitano are not upholding their oaths of office.
*Refusing to uphold the Marriage Act
* Obama violated our Constitution by not getting Congressional authority to launch war against Quaddafi
* The Obama Administration today announced a virtual amnesty-by-decree for hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, whose deportations will be “indefinitely delayed”. In addition, Obama finally announced a jobs program – but for ILLEGAL ALIENS, not citizens – as those 300,000 illegals will also become eligible for “work permits“. When unemployment rate is 9% and above most months.
* . Lawmakers specifically blocked funding for salaries and offices for four of his nine czars: health care (who coordinates Obamacare), automobile industry (“car czar”), urban affairs and climate change. The president protested that defunding those positions “could prevent me from fulfilling my constitutional responsibilities, by denying me the assistance of senior advisers and by obstructing my supervision of executive branch officials.” Thus, he’s going to interpret the law as he sees fit. BHO signed the bill into law then broke it without thought or any consequence
* Selective Enforcement of Federal Law: Rather than push Congress to repeal federal laws against marijuana use, Obama’s Justice Department decided in 2009 that it would simply stop enforcing those laws
* Not approving the Keystone Pipeline which would create over 20,000 jobs and millions in revenue to the towns, states, and the federal government.
I have more but I will stop for now.

the very day after he made the “recess” appointments. The President’s arrogance astounds me. One of my Senators is a Democrat – Claire McCaskill – and definitely one of his pals. However, in good conscience and in light of the egregious and unconstitutional overreach by Obama, she should (but won’t) work to reprimand him and/or overturn anything he does.

The constitutional provision for recess appointments is clear, and the reasons for that were and are still appropriate. The definition of recess was co-opted by some lawyer looking for a loophole so that the powers that be at that time could get their way. These facts are pretty straighforward. (name calling and finger pointing do not change the facts here)

The issue is this: The constitution was written by men who expected that future users of the document and leaders of this country would make sure the best interests of the country were put ahead of any other reasons for a decision. THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE.

“I completely agree with what you said, but wonder what you plan to do about this egregious usurpation of power by the President. Have you begun discussion in regard to possible action by the house for impeachment? Are you going to file suit with the other branch of government namely the Supreme Court?
I am sure there are others who would be with you, but are looking for a leader, you can be that leader Senator. Strong words demand strong action.

Chair, Republican Party
Kinney County TX.”

Probably won’t be read by him because I am not a voter in his state but thought I would try anyway.

The problem is not how we got here, but what we do to fix it. If we can’t find some people of integrity and loyalty to this country, we can’t get it back on track. If Senator Lee and his fellow men of principle can do something to fix the problem, then lets get behind them. If this is just noisy rhetoric, then it is a waste of our time.

We are spending entirely too much time and energy in this country chasing down each and every percieved error or slight. Our purpose and focus needs to be on the prize! Defeating Obama and getting our country back to a Democratic Republic, instead of a Socialist Democracy. We are letting the Liberals throw us bones to fight over and chewing each other up while they laugh at us and continue their march into the Pit.

Stop with the name calling and nit picking! We have more important work to do!

The President claims that his appointment of Richard Cordray, was never brought before the Senate, but he forgets that it was blocked by a procedural vote in the Senate on Dec. 8th. The President acted in contravention of the consent of the Senate as well as ignoring the Pro Forma actions of the Senate to forestall such appointments. When Harry Reid and the Democrats used this procedure to block President Bush, he recognized the Pro Forma sessions and did not try to circumvent them. Yet here is President Obama, claiming power he does not have and appointing people who have never come before the Senate and one who has and was rejected by the Senate. I don’t know if this is a “High Crime” or not, but it really is something that needs to be fought. There is a Court Case in progress let us see what happens.

If the Republicans in the Senate had any real intent to put an end to Obama’s assault on the constitution, they would filibuster every single piece of legislation until these illegal recess appointments were rescinded. Not one single thing would be done until Obama was made to back off.

However, the truth is, Mitch McConnell is on the same page as Obama. While the Republicans act outraged and blow smoke up our back-sides, they do not exercise the power that they have to stop the raid on our freedom. It’s clear that they are all in the same camp.

Be afraid. Be very worried. Make preparation for the day when anarchy strikes. It cannot be far off!

I’m in agreement with Mr McClanahan’s concerns as to the powers the President’s have abused. Especially the present acting president, his actions have caused me great concern from his initial running for office to present day. We as natives of this country should keep the man in prayer concerning his actions and other issues of his life etc. In fact the elected officials should be the Trumps and Peroes of our society (Run the government as a business which it has become instead of an enitiy that doesn’t even have an agenda to correct itself) to correctly run the show.

your article is just more Political double talk and so far I haven’t seen nor heard of any action the congress is taking to stop Obama. When we let the DOJ decide what is and isn’t constitutional we even take the Supreme Court out of the deal. Everyday we seem to get closer and closer to the Hugo Chavez approach to government. Hack away at it until that pesty constitution goes away.

I am really interested about how many votes & statements you made regarding the Dick & W. Show.

A 1905 report of the Senate Judiciary Committee said:

“It was evidently intended by the framers of the Constitution that it [Article II, sec. 2] should mean something real, not something imaginary; something actual, not something fictitious. They used the word as the mass of mankind then understood it and now understand it. It means, in our judgment, in this connection the period of time when the Senate is not sitting in regular or extraordinary session as a branch of the Congress or in extraordinary session for the discharge of executive functions; when its members owe no duty of attendance; when its chamber is empty; when, because of its absence, it can not receive communications from the President or participate as a body in making appointments…. This is essentially a proviso to the provision relative to appointments by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. It was carefully devised so as to accomplish the purpose in view, without in the slightest degree changing the policy of the Constitution, that such appointments are only to be made with the participation of the Senate. Its sole purpose was to render it certain that at all times there should be, whether the Senate was in session or not, an officer for every office, entitled to discharge the duties thereof.”

The Senate was in a fictitious session. It could not “receive communications from the President or participate as a body in making appointments” when the recess appointment was made. It would have been constitutional for Bush to make appoints during the pro forma sessions that Harry Reid held just as it is for Obama.

Except for a precious few, such as Senators Lee, DeMint, Rubio, and Ron Johnson. With more and more elections, I pray we can weed out the Snowes, Collins, Scott Browns and all the other statists in sheep’s clothing.

Senator Lee, please keep up the good fight. It’s what America is all about, and she needs you now, more than ever.