Since November 8th, there have been some very interesting chess games going on between the Bush Administration and the incoming Democratic Leadership. Seems that Sen. Harry Reid (incoming Senate Majority Leader) has been none to happy with Bush’s midnight nominations when the Senate is out of session. You know, circumventing the oversight process and all. Robert Novak’s Sun Times article explains Reid’s “game, set, match” move nicely.

Sen. Harry Reid, leading the Senate’s new Democratic majority, is framing next year’s schedule in a way that will make it difficult, if not impossible, for President Bush to give recess appointments to nominees blocked for confirmation.

Reid’s schedule limits Senate recesses to one week. Recess appointments usually are made only when Congress has been out of session for at least 10 days. That may kill any consideration of trying to seat federal appeals court judges whose nominations had been stalled even in the Republican-controlled Senate. The downside may be a rebellion by senators if their breaks are held to one week.