Yesterday, President Bush recess appointed Susan Dudley to be the White House's regulatory czar. The announcement comes just days after Senate members indicated they would consider the Dudley nomination in the normal fashion. Sen. Joe Lieberman isn't happy with the president's blatant disregard for checks and balances. Lieberman chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Government Reform Committee, which was responsible for Dudley's confirmation. A spokeswoman for Lieberman, Leslie Phillips, released the following statement: The Administration's decision to recess appoint Susan Dudley shows disrespect for the advise and consent responsibilities of the U.S. Senate and for the American people, on whose behalf the Senate acts. The power to recess appoint should not be used to avoid any scrutiny of Presidential nominees. Senator Lieberman was proceeding with Ms. Dudley's nomination, and there has been no suggestion that she would be denied an up-or-down vote in the Senate.