GOP vows to permanently block Obama's two pro-union appointments to the NLRB

[banned from Kos]

http://www.mcknights.com/obama-announces-two-pro-labor-nominees-to-the-nlrb/article/219821/

"Observers don't expect Block and Griffin to gain confirmation by the Senate, as some Republicans, such as Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), has threatened to block any nominees to the board for the duration of Obama's term, the Associated Press reported. The nominations are feeding speculation that Obama will include Block and Griffin in a series of recess appointments to avoid lengthy confirmation fights. Obama formally withdrew the nomination of current board member Craig Becker Thursday, according to reports."

The NLRB will be unable to function after Becker is forced to leave. It won't have the votes to forward any action at all.

[spanone]

1. if democrats can't expose the rethugs for what they are, shame on them.

[Anatos]

10. Are you a democrat?

So if you can't expose the rethugs for what they are, shame on you. Get going.

[spanone]

13. when i get to congress, i'll call you

[Anatos]

14. Good luck. Honestly.

[Angry Dragon]

2. graham is acting no different than a terrorist

he is holding my rights hostage and should be brought up on charges unless he can give an intelligent reason for holding up the vote


It is past time to start calling these people what they are

[Scuba]

3. Maybe Immelt can win a nomination. Or Jack Welsh. n/t

[banned from Kos]

4. these are two strong nominees - pro-labor all the way. AFL-CIO and NLRB.

"Block is the Labor Department's deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs. She previously served as senior attorney to former NLRB Chairman Robert Battista.

Griffin is the general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers, and served on the board of the Lawyers Coordinating Committee at the AFL-CIO since 1994. Both are viewed as being pro-labor, Bloomberg News reported."

[pinto]

5. In re: recess appointments, I've heard talk that Senate R's will keep the Senate in order

under the pro forma maneuver, or whatever it's called. One senator can trigger it. Essentially used to block recess appointments.

[Sheepshank]

6. Oh look here's a new tactic....

...many here are sure to forget in a couple of weeks, and blame Obama for something related his failure to confirm pro union members *roll eyes*

[Robb]

7. IIRC Obama appointed the last two NLRB members in recess, too.

Apparently it's the only time things can get done. I've got no problem with that.

[banned from Kos]

8. but they are rolling off as the article says. The GOP has disabled the NLRB because it needs

three votes of five to decide anything.

Now, there are only two on the board.

Its DEAD for a year.

[wiggs]

9. Regarding these obstructions to government function, Dems don't get NEARLY the political mileage

from these outrageous abuses of process and GOPrs don't pay much of a price. There should be a weekly summary posted by DNC, by congressional dems, by moveon, or by the White House listing all the filibusters, blockages of nominees, etc. We're talking about key, important positions. The doubling of the filibuster average by these guys is mentioned once in a blue moon.

Why not point out what's happening more, aside from Maddow? Why isn't PObama giving a statement anytime he tries to get govt to function and is blocked? What will happen due to this vacancy and others?

Horrors! A NLRB member who is pro-union! What's next...an education secretary who's pro-teacher?

[Anatos]

11. Please don't do that.

"PObama"? I hope that was just a typo; it looks really bad if you did it on purpose.

"Why isn't PObama giving a statement anytime he tries to get govt to function and is blocked?"
Because that would make him look less effective to most of the electorate, and convince many of them that the Republicans are right to block as much as they can. In other words, because he knows what he's doing. Just vote straight D in 2012, and everything's going to turn out fine.

Education secretaries are allowed to be very pro-teacher. They're just not allowed to be pro-teachers union.

[libtodeath]

12. Fuckers n/t