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riversedge

(69,727 posts)
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 06:49 PM Apr 2020

Trump threatens to adjourn both chambers of Congress

Source: the hill.




By Brett Samuels - 04/15/20 06:30 PM EDT

..................................

.......................................

"The Senate should either fulfill its duty and vote on my nominees or it should formally adjourn so I can make recess appointments," Trump said. "We have a tremendous number of people that have to come into government. And now more so than ever before because of the virus and the problem."

The president threatened to use his "constitutional authority" to adjourn both chambers of Congress, which would allow him to make recess appointments to vacant positions.

"The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony pro forma sessions is a dereliction of duty that the American people can not afford during this crisis," he said. "It is a scam, what they do. It’s a scam. And everybody knows it and it’s ben that way for a long time."

Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution grants Trump with the power to "on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper."

As a result, the GOP-controlled Senate which have to adjourn while the Democrat-held House objects to adjourning in order for the president to step in and dismiss both.


"Perhaps it’s never been done before, nobody’s even sure if it has," Trump said. "But we’re going to do it. We need these people here. We need people for this crisis, and we don’t want to play any more political games."

The Trump administration has long been plagued by vacancies across the government. Trump has declined to nominate full-time appointees to key positions, instead relying on acting officials............................................

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493044-trump-threatens-to-adjourn-both-chambers-of-congress



I tuned in about 15 minutes ago. Trump looks and sounds like he is on uppers. hands flapping, mouth flapping.



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Trump threatens to adjourn both chambers of Congress (Original Post) riversedge Apr 2020 OP
He's really getting into this 'Total Authority' thing now. keithbvadu2 Apr 2020 #1
I believe he ALWAYS was in the dictator/king mode... FarPoint Apr 2020 #18
Trying to follow his buddies Modi and Duterte no doubt. Initech Apr 2020 #34
Wow DENVERPOPS Apr 2020 #49
I really, REALLY hope he tries. dchill Apr 2020 #2
Hey, I have no problem with the Senate being forced to vote on HR 1 2019, for a start. flor-de-jasmim Apr 2020 #3
Mitch is responsible for the calendar. nature-lover Apr 2020 #4
GOLLY GEE i wonder what bluestarone Apr 2020 #5
Donald's job performance review. keithbvadu2 Apr 2020 #51
Article II, Section 3, Clause 3 also authorizes the president to adjourn Congress elleng Apr 2020 #6
As long as the Senate continues pro forma sessions, they aren't in "disagreement"... Fiendish Thingy Apr 2020 #33
Concur. TomSlick Apr 2020 #45
Bill Barr? BadgerMom Apr 2020 #52
Lord, I hope not. I would recommend talking to a lawyer. TomSlick Apr 2020 #53
Nah, Kellyanne. She graduated from law school the same year I did. no_hypocrisy Apr 2020 #55
And if the governors don't do what he wants ... left-of-center2012 Apr 2020 #7
Good luck; our governor cant even keep us home down here oldsoftie Apr 2020 #40
::cough:: Merrick Garland precedent ::cough:: nt EarthFirst Apr 2020 #8
first thing I thought of (n/t) MissMillie Apr 2020 #10
That's Funny! sfstaxprep Apr 2020 #12
I'm so exhausted by this phuck Joinfortmill Apr 2020 #9
It's simple....it's only really about judges. Not the voice of America ashredux Apr 2020 #11
And while this Nero uses his fiddle.....and wants the court packed with unqualified individuals.. turbinetree Apr 2020 #13
"...he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper." Girard442 Apr 2020 #14
My first question upon reading that too ... SomewhereInTheMiddle Apr 2020 #61
It's a stunt a day with this slacker MySideOfTown Apr 2020 #15
+1 I was reading thru before posting the same thought. RGinNJ Apr 2020 #38
The current practice of leaving town while dweller Apr 2020 #16
Did he just call McConnell a slacker? lmao Johnyawl Apr 2020 #17
He should respect McConnell's madeup rule: no appointments in the last year of his presidency. . .nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2020 #19
Sad smile! n/t mtngirl47 Apr 2020 #46
It's never been used before probably because... WePurrsevere Apr 2020 #20
That's the way I'm reading it too Bayard Apr 2020 #36
The Way I Read That... ProfessorGAC Apr 2020 #37
That's an interesting point and... WePurrsevere Apr 2020 #60
THIS from the man who has left literally THOUSANDS of vacancies Haggis for Breakfast Apr 2020 #21
Appointments smoke screen. He wants Total Authority with no oversight or hindrance. Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2020 #22
Sounds like a test case for Electoral College voting to me bucolic_frolic Apr 2020 #23
Yep. We'll see who prevails. Was always going to come to this. Here we are. FU GOP. Evolve Dammit Apr 2020 #27
Yeah, because the last shutdown worked so well for him. Sloumeau Apr 2020 #24
NOW? NOW he want to follow the constitution! moonseller66 Apr 2020 #25
Let's ajourn his ass in November. Chicago1980 Apr 2020 #26
Someone somewhere.... paleotn Apr 2020 #28
Lowest yet? Lulu KC Apr 2020 #29
quid pro quo for the relief checks? Marthe48 Apr 2020 #30
So what? He can call a session or adjourn one. Big deal. degage Apr 2020 #31
Just thinking outside the box........... Whats really scary is that if he does suspend Congress, my turbinetree Apr 2020 #32
electors are selected by the states and meet regardless if Congress is in session or not. Kaleva Apr 2020 #41
Hey Trump, you can take those nominees and go shove them up your ass! Initech Apr 2020 #35
So sick of daily drama. Biden can't become president fast enough. Politicub Apr 2020 #39
He didn't come up with this on his own. thenelm1 Apr 2020 #42
Perhaps adjournment does not mean what Trump thinks it means aeromanKC Apr 2020 #43
Oh, Trumpy, we are so looking forward the day your stinky ass is gone.... Tiger8 Apr 2020 #44
Let's adjourn the presidency instead. Let the governors rule. Xipe Totec Apr 2020 #47
We have passed the point of "by any means necessary." Orrex Apr 2020 #48
The Senate is today's scapegoat Tweedy Apr 2020 #50
"...he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper." LastLiberal in PalmSprings Apr 2020 #54
He always finds a way to make news. He always find a way to be more of a monster. TryLogic Apr 2020 #56
Sorry, election year. OneCrazyDiamond Apr 2020 #57
"The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us." mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2020 #58
It worked well for Charles I, disbanding Parliament. JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2020 #59

keithbvadu2

(36,369 posts)
1. He's really getting into this 'Total Authority' thing now.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 06:51 PM
Apr 2020

He's really getting into this 'Total Authority' thing now.

FarPoint

(12,209 posts)
18. I believe he ALWAYS was in the dictator/king mode...
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:15 PM
Apr 2020

He is just fighting to hold on to the presidency and is projecting to his base what he believes is in his power as a pResident...... This is a sales pitch to his base that really is clueless about Democracy. I believe the media/ journalist will help minimize the impact of his lies...

DENVERPOPS

(8,679 posts)
49. Wow
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 09:07 PM
Apr 2020

Power Corrupts, and ABSOLUTE power corrupts ABSOLUTELY.......

This is the closest the Republicons have come to declaring a Corporate Fascist Tyrannical Dictator.......

After yesterday and today's rants by Trump, I'm beginning to think we won't even make it til the election.

Holy Shit

flor-de-jasmim

(2,124 posts)
3. Hey, I have no problem with the Senate being forced to vote on HR 1 2019, for a start.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 06:53 PM
Apr 2020

Long before they should consider judges, there is a backlog of great bills that should take preference.

elleng

(130,156 posts)
6. Article II, Section 3, Clause 3 also authorizes the president to adjourn Congress
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 06:56 PM
Apr 2020

if the House and Senate cannot agree on the time of adjournment; no president has ever had to exercise this administrative power.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution

Fiendish Thingy

(15,369 posts)
33. As long as the Senate continues pro forma sessions, they aren't in "disagreement"...
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:01 PM
Apr 2020

And Trump’s Article II powers cannot be Constitutionally exercised.

TomSlick

(11,035 posts)
45. Concur.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 09:00 PM
Apr 2020

If Trump tried to adjourn the Congress, I would expect even Moscow Mitch to ignore him. Any "recess" appointments would be challenged in the Courts. I don't think even the Roberts' Court would side with Trump on this one.

I'm wondering where Trump is finding his legal advice.

TomSlick

(11,035 posts)
53. Lord, I hope not. I would recommend talking to a lawyer.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 09:39 PM
Apr 2020

Better yet, a lawyer with two functioning brain cells to rub together.

sfstaxprep

(9,998 posts)
12. That's Funny!
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:04 PM
Apr 2020

Merrick Who?

That has as much precedent as the 2000 Installation Of Shrub by the Supremes.

turbinetree

(24,632 posts)
13. And while this Nero uses his fiddle.....and wants the court packed with unqualified individuals..
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:04 PM
Apr 2020

history repeats itself yet again..................


https://undark.org/2018/03/16/book-review-harper-fate-of-rome/

61. My first question upon reading that too ...
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 11:28 AM
Apr 2020

If the president chooses to not reconvene Congress then the executive branch runs out of money and there is no new funding. Only Congress can make a budget and allocate moneys. Also the House has to ratify the presidential election results so there would be no president come January.

These are medium term difficulties, but I don't see a constitutional way around them. Not that the current president could not do a lot of damage before these things happened.

Johnyawl

(3,205 posts)
17. Did he just call McConnell a slacker? lmao
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:12 PM
Apr 2020

This is just more posturing and deflection. He can't get anything done and the governors are showing him up, and now the business leaders on his opening the economy team have told him they can't open the economy until we have widespread testing, which we are not set up for, thanks to him.

He can't solve the virus problem
He can't restart the economy
he can't boost the stock market
He can't take responsibility for any of this.

He's been pointing the finger and blaming everybody looking for a scapegoat so he can wiggle off the hook, so I'm not at all surprised that he's throwing McConnell under the bus. As a matter of fact I think Nancy and MoscowMitch should call his bluff and recess the congress. Go ahead ya big orange buffon, make all the recess appointments you want, it's not going to solve any of your problems.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
20. It's never been used before probably because...
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:16 PM
Apr 2020

it doesn't mean what he thinks it does...

"on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper."


I don't think this means that a president can pitch a hissy fit and send them all home just to get his way because they're supposedly not pushing through the craptastic people he has nominated fast enough for him. If a president could do this any time s/he wants to it that would give the president a lot more power then I'm pretty sure framers of the constitution intended.

Bayard

(21,806 posts)
36. That's the way I'm reading it too
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:04 PM
Apr 2020

Its when the two houses of Congress disagree on when to adjourn. Why would they be adjourning now?

I'd like to hear a Constitutional scholar weigh in on this.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
37. The Way I Read That...
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:08 PM
Apr 2020

...his privilege to assign adjournment is contingent upon him convening Congress for a special session.
It doesn't use the word "or" with regard to adjournment. It uses the word "and".
This suggests that this constitutional power applies to a convening at the President's request.
This Congress was already convened.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
60. That's an interesting point and...
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 10:36 AM
Apr 2020

certainly one that could make a difference in how it might be interpreted.

Either way it's certainly not something Trump can pull in this particular case and I'm sure Madam Speaker won't tolerate that nonsense even if McConnell might.

Haggis for Breakfast

(6,831 posts)
21. THIS from the man who has left literally THOUSANDS of vacancies
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:16 PM
Apr 2020

all across government agencies, leading to the chaos and malfunction of our lives.

Mr. "Acting" . . . . GO FUCK YOURSELF, with a fire hydrant, sideways, ungreased.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,789 posts)
22. Appointments smoke screen. He wants Total Authority with no oversight or hindrance.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:19 PM
Apr 2020

It's a bad clause in the Constitution that should be fixed. It is ridiculous that if he can adjourn them he can keep them adjourned until he chooses. Very bad clause not to have limits.

bucolic_frolic

(42,676 posts)
23. Sounds like a test case for Electoral College voting to me
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:20 PM
Apr 2020

Donnie's playing dictator .... what's anybody gonna do about it?

moonseller66

(430 posts)
25. NOW? NOW he want to follow the constitution!
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:23 PM
Apr 2020

After ignoring it for 3 plus years, now he thinks he can use it?

Maybe it's time for the military to step in.
Can't be much worse.

paleotn

(17,781 posts)
28. Someone somewhere....
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:33 PM
Apr 2020

I hate to say it....but someone needs to take one for the country. Go where you will with that.

Marthe48

(16,692 posts)
30. quid pro quo for the relief checks?
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:40 PM
Apr 2020

taking advantage of a country staggering from the disease he unleashed on it?

 

degage

(103 posts)
31. So what? He can call a session or adjourn one. Big deal.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 07:59 PM
Apr 2020

His staff finally convinced him he can't order the governors of the states to do anything because his powers are not "absolute." Instead, they found him some authority, any authority, to exercise to make him not feel like the weak, toadstool-penis, diaper-wearing, incompetent he is and to allow him to save face among his cult worshipers.

Yep, that's about it. "WHAAAAA! I can't make those mean governors do what I want, so I'll use what little power I have to look like I'm a man and in charge."

turbinetree

(24,632 posts)
32. Just thinking outside the box........... Whats really scary is that if he does suspend Congress, my
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:01 PM
Apr 2020

question is.................

he saw what #Moscow Mitch did with Garland, basically through out the Constitution, then he saw what happened in Wisconsin and the 2018 election, and if there is no Congress in session, then how can there a seating of the electoral college............if #Moscow Mitch can't agree with Pelosi.................maybe I am just paranoid, but I will put nothing past this traitor..............nothing, he knows he is going to lose the election and Wisconsin was just a harbinger of what is coming next...........is ass is going to jail along with some others..............

Politicub

(12,163 posts)
39. So sick of daily drama. Biden can't become president fast enough.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:14 PM
Apr 2020

We can't have a single day without Trump creating stress. As a narcissist he gets off on it.

thenelm1

(843 posts)
42. He didn't come up with this on his own.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:44 PM
Apr 2020

Gotta wonder what numbnuts thought to suggest this to him? Some fool from his crack legal team?

I'm sure his idjit brigade would think this was just hunky-dory, but does this fool really think this is going to get him the election?

I've seen it suggested that he might try to cancel the election, but I don't think that is something he really has any control over. Elections are controlled by each of the individual states and the dates for the election of his office are Constitutionally mandated. The pubbie states might do what he says, but nothing he says can compel Dem controlled states to play along - I hope. Would the Supreme Court really cede their authority to his whims? One would hope that even Roberts would see the folly in participating in that game.

The pubbies have been cheating to keep their hold on power for years, but in the end, they are still the minority party. If they really tried a stunt like this? The French had a solution to this in the early 19th century. What's the old adage, those who refuse to learn from history are bound to repeat it? Their BS is wearing thin. The lies, games and ratfuckery only work for so long, and our current situation is bringing it all to the forefront for all to see. I'd like to think they've way overplayed their hand and are ready for a big fall.

aeromanKC

(3,307 posts)
43. Perhaps adjournment does not mean what Trump thinks it means
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:53 PM
Apr 2020

constitutional scholar seems to disagree with Trump on this

"Under the Constitution, the president has the power to adjourn Congress “to such time as he shall think proper” when there is a disagreement between the House and Senate on when to adjourn.

But University of Texas constitutional law professor Stephen Vladeck said in an email, “He has the power to do it if — and only if — the chambers disagree as to the date of adjournment. As of now, they don’t — it’s January 3, 2021.” Recesses during a session -- such as Congress’s August break -- don’t count as an adjournment, he said."

 

Tiger8

(432 posts)
44. Oh, Trumpy, we are so looking forward the day your stinky ass is gone....
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 08:59 PM
Apr 2020

...from the Oval Office, WH, DC, NYC and you are placed into government housing more suitable....a nice SuperMAX Facility.

We will even allow you conjugal visits. Not sure if Malaria will show up, but I’m sure you’d prefer Ivanka anyway.

Tweedy

(628 posts)
50. The Senate is today's scapegoat
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 09:09 PM
Apr 2020

because our "very stable genius" president wants to fill our judicial branch with more unqualified judges.

Does this man think no-one remembers yesterday? We all know he likes "acting" better, because he is the expert on all things.

By the way, some of them may actually be legally dumber than this president; there is even a judge who wrote a concurring opinion to the majority opinion when he authored the majority opinion.

54. "...he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper."
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 10:15 PM
Apr 2020

As long as he can make recess appointments while Congress is adjourned -- he determines when to call Congress back -- Fat Donnie will consider the "proper time" to be when he is forced out of office.

TryLogic

(1,721 posts)
56. He always finds a way to make news. He always find a way to be more of a monster.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 10:32 PM
Apr 2020

He always finds a way to function as a fool.

OneCrazyDiamond

(2,029 posts)
57. Sorry, election year.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 11:02 PM
Apr 2020

Can't be doing that in election years with Republican majority Senate. We all know the rules. It's better they get less time appointing anyway.

mahatmakanejeeves

(56,897 posts)
58. "The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us."
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 06:01 AM
Apr 2020
"The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away."


JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,283 posts)
59. It worked well for Charles I, disbanding Parliament.
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 06:53 AM
Apr 2020

Poor Charlie wound up being executed for treason. Not advocating for any particular outcome, just saying.

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