The Recess of Long Knives

OK, before we jump to conclusions and begin incoherently screaming that the Democrats are stabbing the President in the back, let's remember a couple of things: Demanding pro-forma sessions, or staying behind and keeping at least one person in the Senate to block recess appointments by the executive branch, is perfectly within the Senate Minority Leader's legal purview and Senator Mitch "Balls in Chin" McConnell is making full use of them. This move prevents the minority GOP from sending back to the White House any number of Obama's more "controversial" nominees like unwanted Xmas gifts.

So, we got that out of the way, now we can scream bloody murder.

This rarely-invoked Senate rule that demands pro forma was also in the purview of Harry Reid back when he was the Senate minority leader prior to the 2006 midterms. However, he did not invoke the pro forma rule, thereby allowing George W. Bush to appoint as our ambassador to the UN a group sex-loving UN-hating psychopath named John Bolton.

And perhaps "Give 'Em Head" Harry didn't bother to demand pro forma sessions because he rightly knew that the childish, obstinate, obstructionist and power-drunk GOP would never entertain for a second any deal with the Democrats and Reid simply never thought to send George W. Bush's often laughable nominees packing for the Rose Garden.

But it doesn't come close to passing the smell test. The simple fact is, when their President and standard-bearer for their party is criss-crossing the country stumping on their behalf, when their president is busting his hump trying to help them keep their jobs, the Democrats decide now is the time to stab that man in the back by playing ball with the minority GOP.

That's the only way to look at it. When Congressional rules give certain powers to the minority party, the Democrats never take advantage of it but the GOP will use any and every single sliver of leverage to continue being the Party of No. This is part and parcel to a wet-legged Democratic Party that is about to pay the ultimate political price for being perceived as by far the more craven, cowardly and conciliatory of the two parties.

If you can vote green, red, purple, rainbow or polka dot, do that. Do not vote for either party if you can at all help it. If you insist on staying alive in the political process, this is your only option. Send a message that we're tired of both Democrats and Republicans alike and that we're especially sick and tired of invertebrate Democrats who actually aid and abet the Republican Party in their usual obstruction of the President's policies and agendas.

I'm no fan of Obama, God knows, but acting against our President in a troubling election year when he's busting his hump trying to help you keep your job is just political Hara-kiri.