Sucker punch

So, please, would you trust any deal with Bush?

Perhaps a little wiser after seven months in the majority, Democrats have strategized to prevent the White House from utilizing some of its sneakier powers while Congress is in recess.

There'll be no recess appointments this time around, Roll Call reports (sub. req.), meaning the White House won't be taking advantage of Congress' vacation to install any contested nominees. That's due to a deal between Bush and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

Last recess, the White House made a number of controversial recess appointments, including Swift Boat backer Sam Fox as ambassador to Belgium. In order to prevent that sort of thing from happening again, Reid had plotted to keep the Senate in "pro forma" session during the recess -- whereby the Senate floor personnel show up every three days to make it an official session. But now Reid and Bush have made a deal, according to Roll Call. Bush won't make any recess appointments and Reid has promised to move some of his nominees when Senate gets back in session.

I'm betting the first recess appointments will be made in days. And, then Harry Reid will be fuming but without any power to do anything because he's let his guys go home. These guys are liars from the beginning to the end, and they'll laugh all the way home when Bush recess appoints the 10th Supreme Court nominee. What will Congress do then? Cough and spit and roll over and play dead.