Debbie Schlussel: ICE Princess on Ice?: U.S. Senate Says NO to Julie Myers Recess Appointment

By Debbie Schlussel

It's long been the position of the incompetent, never-confirmed Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Julie L. Myers a/k/a "The ICE Princess" and her Bush Admin cronies that her annoying, undeserved recess appointment by President Bush, last year, lasted until the end of next year or even the end of 2008.

Perhaps the U.S. Senate doesn't buy her or Bush's cockamamie, Rube Goldberg claims about her nomination. On December 9th, the Senate rejected her nomination and returned it back to the President. Think he'll finally get the message and nominate someone serious about enforcing our nation's immigration laws (and with the law enforcement background to do so)?

Here's what the official Senate record reflects on the much-appreciated, far-too-late rejection of The ICE Princess:

NOMINATIONS FAILED/RETURNED

The following Executive Nominations were returned to the President, pursuant to Senate rules, or were disapproved by the Senate during the current Congress.

Dec 9, 2006 . . .

PN1314 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Julie L. Myers, of Kansas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, to which position she was appointed during the last recess of the Senate.

Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Does this mean no more taxpayer waste on stupid ICE recruitment videos featuring The ICE Princess, The ICE Princess, Fat Chicks, and The ICE Princess?

Here's the official Senate floor procedure for what comes next:

Nominations Returned to the President

Nominations that are not confirmed or rejected are returned to the President at the end of a session or when the Senate adjourns or recesses for more than 30 days (Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6). If the President still wants a nominee considered, he must submit a new nomination to the Senate. The Senate can, however, waive this rule by unanimous consent. For example, on November 19, 1999, at the close of the first session of the l06* Congress, Majority Leader Trent Lott asked and received unanimous consent "that all nominations received by the Senate during the 10ChCongress, first session, remain in status quo."

We sure hope Trent Lott doesn't screw America with any more "Myers Time," but aren't holding our breath. We don't count on President Bush to do the right thing. Only an idiot would have picked her in the first place (and three idiots--Bush, Chertoff a/k/a "Mr. Burns," and The ICE Princess, herself--did).

Only in America.

Posted by Debbie on December 12, 2006 03:26 PM to Debbie Schlussel