Bush Names New FTC Chief Over Democrat Opposition

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush said on Friday he would use a procedural maneuver to install a new chief of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, sidestepping opposition from some Senate Democrats.

The White House named antitrust lawyer Deborah Majoras the new chairwoman of the FTC in a "recess appointment" made during lawmakers' summer break.

Bush also named Democrat Jon Liebowitz to fill another vacancy at the five-member FTC, breaking a deadlock that had kept both nominees from being confirmed in the Senate.

The FTC is charged with enforcing U.S. consumer protection and antitrust laws. Bush named Majoras to succeed FTC Chairman Timothy Muris, who is scheduled to leave the position this summer.

The recess appointment will allow Majoras and Liebowitz to serve in the positions until late 2005, a White House official said.

Confirmation of Majoras had been blocked by Sens. Ron Wyden, of Oregon, and Barbara Boxer, of California. Both expressed concern that Majoras would not do enough to stem rising gasoline prices.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5833390&src=rss/ElectionCoverage§ion=news

[goforit]

1. Hmmmm.........This executive privalege has got to go!!!

WE will be robbed in broad daylight!!!

Enjoy your poverty America!!!

[jdj]

16. contact Reuters if you're pissed about the headline.

http://www.reuters.com/-helpSection.jhtml?p=contactus

then click on contact a Reuter's editor.

When I see 'democrat' used by people who should know better I usually send a quick e-mail.

(not a reply to goforit, just wanted to put this up top)

This is my standard response:

Dear edit:

Please refra from use incorr gramm especial when refer to the word "democratic". It only makes you look stup and prejud when you leave off the last syllab.

Sincer,

(my name)

This is in refer to you story on the FTC cheif.

[charlyvi]

2. DEMOCRATIC

Not Democrat. Don't buy into Rush's vocabulary. Don't mean to snap at you, but it's a sore spot with me.

[leftchick]

4. agreed...

chimpy* used it in a speech on Friday and made my blood boil...

:grr:

[TahitiNut]

6. It's the Reuters title on the article, required by LBN rules.

:shrug:

[charlyvi]

7. UrghghghghghghghGHGHGH

I curse Reuters! May all their computers crash big time!!

[jdj]

15. For real.

Nothing gives away a news org's bias faster than the use of 'democrat'when they mean democratic. When I saw your headline I immediatley scrolled down to see who it was. Can't say I'm surprised it is Reuters, but still, you'd think they'd realized how tacky and ignorant, not to mention partisan, it makes them look. Guess they don't care.

[Hoping4Change]

13. I'm with you that Democratic always needs to be used.

I think the repukes are using democrat to downplay the fact that the opposition is democratic. I go further and think that whenever anyone uses the word "democracy" to describe America they should Preface it with "liberal" because America is in fact a liberal democracy.


From Wikipedia,

"Liberal democracy is a form of representative democracy in which

majority rule is qualified

by respect for liberal rights such as freedom of speech and assembly, freedom of religion, the right to private property and privacy, as well as equality before the law and due process under the rule of law, and else.

Such rights are guaranteed through various institutions and statutory laws in order to protect the rights of individuals and minorities from the 'tyranny of the majority'."

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Here's Wyden's statement from his site

Wyden Placing "Hold" on FTC Nominee Deborah Majoras
As gasoline prices rise, nominee will not commit to taking concrete action to stop anti-competitive oil company practices that cost consumers at the pump

May 19, 2004


Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced his intention to place a "hold" on the nomination of Deborah Majoras to become Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Wyden, who has called on the FTC in the current and previous Administrations to take action to protect consumers from high gasoline prices, received no indication from Majoras that under her leadership the agency would take any steps to end numerous and well-documented anti-competitive practices that drive up gasoline prices nationwide and particularly in the Northwest.

Before his face-to-face meeting with Majoras, Wyden submitted a letter detailing his concerns about the FTC's inaction on oil and gasoline issues and asking whether Majoras would lead the agency to respond. (The text of Wyden's letter is below.) During their meeting, Wyden received no assurances from Majoras that the agency would change its policy of inaction to protect consumers.

"In this Administration and in the Clinton Administration, Federal Trade Commission political appointees have sat on their hands while the anti-competitive practices of the oil industry gouge American consumers at the gas pump. I have given Ms. Majoras a number of opportunities to explain to me what she plans to do differently as a Commissioner, and she has made it abundantly clear that she has no specific plan to energize the FTC to begin fighting for consumers," said Wyden. "I don't intend to allow yet another FTC Commissioner to collect a $145,000 salary to do nothing while unnaturally high gas prices jeopardize American jobs and American families."

As a matter of policy, Wyden publicly announces any "hold" he places on nominees or legislation. Wyden has led efforts to end the practice of "secret holds" in the U.S. Senate. He will place a statement in the Congressional Record today indicating his intention to hold the Majoras nomination until he receives concrete information as to how she plans to lead the agency to more aggressively protect consumers.


*************************************************

[The Doctor.]

8. Oh MYopia!

Can ANYONE in power, ANYONE in corporate america, ANYONE in the news see what is being done to this country's middle class?
For Crying Out Loud! If corporate america could see past the bottom line it would realize that competitive salaries for labor and middle management, lower gas prices, and higher quality products would energize the middle class and create a huge economic boom. Corporate America would make more money than it knew what to do with!
If any one thought farther ahead than next quarter earnings - we would have such surpluses we could fund universal health care, housing, social security, and more. Sure it may take a whole decade...
But our 'Leaders' are owned by these corporations whose only concern is the bottom line next month. (I've worked for such corporations - and seen this approach BURY them.)
It seems that the people who make it to these critical positions are all ambition and no vision. (I should talk - I'm a visionary with not enough ambition...)

That's why I liked Gore - he may have bored me to tears but he could see YEARS ahead. We've got to get rid of this national myopia!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. yep...I guess business thinks it can survive with only the rich

purchasing its products, eh?

[The Doctor.]

10. Yep - right up 'till they're bankrupt!

(And I've seen it happen.)

[Hotler]

14. Part of the problem is,

that the very small group of very, very rich are try to protect the mass monies that they control now. Most of which IMO is old, old money. Handed down from the early robber baron era. They are afraid of watering it down ( anyone else making money). They have no clue about the little people except that they clean and cook for them. They hate everybody that isn't in they're click. Bill O'Reily is the ass that he is because he now has enough money to get into their parties, but not enough to be part of their click. So, he plays the role he does to suck-up to the rich he soooo wants to be. These rpugs think everyone on welfare or assistance is lazy and/or a drug addict. Everyone that collects S.S. failed to plan for their retirement. Fricking bunch of bigots too. Thanks for letting me vent.

[The Doctor.]

19. A-men!

[Rose Siding]

5. Looks like one of the last members bailed:

But University of Maryland economics professor Peter Morici said laid-off factory workers in middle America are unlikely to land any of the new, high-quality jobs -- and they are the ones whose votes will be crucial in November.

"If there is one word that will describe the Bush defeat, it's outsourcing," said Morici, the former chief economist at the U.S. International Trade Commission, who said he is a Republican who voted for Bush but is disappointed by the administration's trade policy.

"When those jobs are replaced in the Midwest -- which is what counts -- they tend to be replaced with jobs that don't pay as well. It's really the manufacturing jobs that are killing Bush," Morici said.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=reutersEdge&storyID=5832032&pageNumber=1

[Joanne98]

11. She's not staying till 2005

If Kerry wins she's gone. PERIOD

[GaryL]

18. Watcha mean "IF"?

I'll have none of that. It's "when Kerry wins she's gone". Along with all the other belly crawlers the chimp has installed.

[SoCalDem]

12. Well Pres. Kerry will just have to initiate an investigation into

their backgrounds, and put so much heat on them, that they resign :)

[jdj]

17. Can you imagine what it will look like in front of the white

house when Kerry cleans house? It'll look like the last days of enron, or a factory closing or something, so many will be kicked out on their can.