The dead nomination of James Cole for Deputy Attorney General was resurrected by the President through a recess appointment.  Senator John Cornyn had blocked Cole's nomination since July because the Justice Department, at first, failed to adequately answer his questions about what steps were being taken to protect military voters by the Voting Section, and thereafter, because the Voting Section was bungling badly the protection of military voters.  Cornyn refused to budge and release the hold even in the last days of the Senate session when a full court press was on to move Cole.  Yet even Majority Leader Harry Reid was unwilling to do as the Adminstration asked, and waste floor time on Cole, so the nomination died.

For some, this is good news, for others bad news.  For military voters, this may be good news.  A man who had his nomination held up for almost six months because of lackadaisical efforts to protect military voters in a Department he now oversees ought to mean good things for military voters, at least in a sane world.  Cole's life and law practice were affected by the long delay.  In a sane and rational world, that person will make zealous inquiries about what on earth was going on (or wasn't going on) to anger Senator Cornyn so badly. 

For others, Cole's recess appointment is bad news, especially if Cole makes those inquiries.