Final answer:
Robert Reich criticizes the presidential appointment process for its lengthy duration and political roadblocks, often leading to delays in filling key positions and forcing reliance on career officials or acting appointees.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert Reich is critical of the presidential appointment process due to its inefficiency and the political obstacles it presents. The process is so protracted that often, significant portions of a President's term can be spent with key positions unfilled, leading to delays in policy implementation and reliance on career civil servants or acting appointees. This criticism is underscored by an observation that one can complete life milestones such as obtaining a master's degree or building a house in less time than it takes to appoint a federal nominee.
Presidential reliance on recess appointments is a response to this delay, yet it can provoke significant political backlash, as was evident when President Bush appointed federal judges during a congressional recess, leading to Democratic threats of filibuster. This tactic circumvents the Senate approval process, but is seen as controversial and has led to further partisan contention. The use of such appointments speaks to growing partisan divide and a strategy whereby the Senate may refuse appointments as a broader protest against presidential policies, further exacerbating the challenge of filling government positions in a timely manner.