Why are Idaho’s senators willing to shirk their constitutional duty on appointments? | Opinion

Senators

I am extremely concerned to learn that Senator Crapo has expressed that he is willing to allow President-elect Trump to use recess appointments to fill some cabinet positions. If he is allowed to do so, it would result in no background checks being done on people he has chosen for his cabinet. Senator Crapo was elected by Idaho citizens to do the job of a United States senator. Part of that job is to vet the people a president names as choices for cabinet positions. If he and/or Senator Risch allow Trump to dictate recess appointments, then they will abdicate their responsibility in the Constitution to advise and consent to the appointments. This is totally unacceptable. The people of Idaho pay their salaries and voted for them to do the job, not to shirk it. They need to do so.

Audrey L Numbers, Boise

Recess

Recess is when bullies are most active on the school grounds. Donald Trump wants to use “recess appointments” to bypass the Senate’s role in vetting and approving who will be in charge of the most important departments in our government. It is a short step from schoolyard bullying to Congressional bullying. His choices for Cabinet members are examples of how his incompetent bullies are selected so they can use intimidation and ignorance to dominate others. The MAGA hats should now read MAAD. Make America A Dictatorship.

Sheila Robbins, Boise

Patel

The US Senate’s advise and consent role is a vitally important part of the Founders’ co-equal branches model of government. We understand our Idaho Senators want to allow President-elect Trump broad discretion in choosing his cabinet appointments, but the choice of anti-government ideologue Kash Patel to as Director of the FBI is so wildly ill-advised that they should place the interests of our nation and the integrity and functionality of our national government and our law enforcement capability above the whims of a duly-elected but at times unstable and impulsive chief executive.

The choice of Patel seems part of a larger plan to sabotage and dismantle various federal agencies and either devolve their authority to individual states, or—equally likely—simply leave a vacuum of unmet needs and unchecked risks to our national security. Unclear why this administration would want to destroy important parts of our federal government--maybe to enable further unchecked breaking of laws by them and their cronies? If so, that is corruption of a sort and at a magnitude that it puts at serious risk both our national security and the integrity of our society as the nation of laws intended by our Founders and the US Constitution.

Chris Norden, Moscow

Nominees

Trump’s appointments to his Cabinet makes one want to laugh, or cry. Generally, appointees have some connection to the position, have worked extensively in the field and exceeded to the point of being a leader.

Hegseth, Trump’s appointment for the Secretary of Defense admits he had “consensual sex” with a woman accusing him of “sexual assault,” but he also paid money to this woman. This payment is either “hush” money or payment for sex, i.e. prostitution. Either is a crime.

RFK Jr is Trump’s pick for the Secretary of Health. He is a conspiracy pusher. Fame to shame is being an anti-vaxxer, who pushes doubt on modern science and the health system as a whole. Should we go back to the Dark Ages, or can we have a decent candidate for this position who would use resources wisely to the benefit of our nation’s health?

Send in the clowns.

Don’t bother, they’re here.

Greg Hegman, Twin Falls

Constitution

Senator Crapo’s statement regarding Recess appointments has me confused.

Why is he abandoning his Constitutional responsibility of advice and consent?

Aletha Lundblad, Meridian

Rats

Rat-a-pooey.

I wonder what advice New York City would give a smaller urban town newly experiencing a rat infestation. The city of Boise’s response of “there’s not much we can do” would more than puzzle them. What makes more rats? Rats! Pronouncing infestations are here to stay ignores the opportunity to slow or stop their breeding. We could wait around for the development of a cheese-flavored sterilization pellet that is not harmful to humans or pets, or our Treasure Valley cities could join forces and provide free rat traps for residents, conduct a solid public ed campaign, and partner with Fish and Game to bring live rats for those who prefer this method? Waiting for a garbage collector to become infected with a serious bacterial or viral disease, or for a small child or pet to get ill (or worse) because it ingests a toxic pesticide seems unnecessary. This collaboration and investment are negligible compared to hosting an Inaugural Rat Summit or hiring a Director of Rodent Mitigation like NYC. We could be attempting to mitigate this problem in its infancy before rats become ubiquitous and a larger public health concern. We all deserve a safe, clean city.

Gina Pannell, Boise

Risch

As a US citizen residing in and working across Canada, I’m keenly aware of how Americans are perceived “up here.” Idaho’s U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, appearing on CBC in late November during a visit to the Halifax International Security Forum, was asked about the possibility of future support for the Ukrainian state in the face of continued Russian aggression, and in particular his own views which have recently swung towards an increasingly isolationist position.

He glibly responded, “Well everything comes down to money, doesn’t it?”

Funny, I thought American leadership and support for Ukraine also had something to do with honor! The Pentagon has an $850 billion annual budget. If we spend those dollars dishonorably, we won’t have any allies or any security left.

Philip Duguay, Montreal, QC