It could be argued that more things have gone wrong in this country because of George Bush’s recess appointments than because of terrorists over the last six years or so. Think John Bolton. So Harry Reid has decided not to recess the Senate. No recess, no appointments of people who couldn’t possibly pass muster. From Roll Call:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has decided to keep the chamber in session over the Thanksgiving break to block President Bush from making any unsavory recess appointments while Senators are out of town.

In a statement inserted in the record Friday, the Majority Leader said he will hold the Senate in a series of pro forma or nonvoting sessions to prevent the controversial practice. In the statement, Reid argued that nominations need to get on track, and that Bush has not met the Democrats “halfway” in agreeing to Democratically backed nominees to “important commissions.”

“While an election year looms, significant progress can still be made on nominations,” Reid said. “I am committed to making that progress if the President will meet me halfway.

“But that progress can’t be made if the President seeks controversial recess appointments and fails to make Democratic appointments to important commissions.”

Bush has been cheating, basically, his entire time in office by appointing people during recesses who are repugnant to the American people. Heck, it has gotten so it might be a better idea to cancel holidays, which Harry Reid has now effectively done. A little hardball is a good thing.