http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/six-decades-of-executive-privilege/2012/06/20/gJQA7eZKrV_graphic.html^Geo. Washington was the first to invoke Executive privilege in asserting that information surrounding a Treaty John Jay made with England could not be demanded by the HoR since only the Senate can Ratify or vote against treaties.As the link above shows, Mr. Obama is not alone in his use of the E.P.. While the link is dated, Mr. Obama still has yet to break the record of his predecessor, though I think he will.If he does, it will be because this HoR, and this Congress in general, is the most intractable and gridlocked since the Civil War. I regret any use of E.P. It not only attacks the spirit of our political system, but it also sets a precedent for others to use later. As low as the POTUS’s approval numbers are, they are still nearly four times higher than those in Congress who are the true problem. They are police directing traffic and making everybody stop. And in doing so, they claim to be serving the American people. This is a bipartisan fallacy.They lack honor, and amazingly, they lack shame.Respectfully,C.
TTM, it is more like Congress won’t just do what Obama wants. Given his own inability to work with others he resorts to executive fiat as he has no other way in his limited set of managerial skills and non-existant leadership skills to use..This was most recently demonstrated with his call for more gun control. He put Biden on as point man and did nothing himself. Biden being incompetent couldn’t get anywhere in Congress with either party and the whole effort, such as it was, collapsed.Obama then gave a hissy fit of a speech angrily denouncing Congress for failing to do his bidding..That has been about how each initiative Obama has pushed out has gone. It is not so much obstructionist as it is simple incompetence on Obama’s part..Interestingly, I see the same pattern in Obama’s performance at the University of Chicago. He started off with stellar reviews… “The Rock Star lecturer” if you will. When he left few students took his classes and those that did had uniformly low opinions of his material and style.
What is “…better and complete gun control?”.I think most people would agree that crazy people should be barred from purchasing weapons.On the other hand banning “assault guns” is just stupid as it bans cosmetics rather than doing something effective.So, generalities won’t cut it on this, or most other, political subjects.
Reagan and “W” wrote the most egregiously unconstitutional E.O.’s of any Presidents, yes, I read most of them, and W was by far the worst. “W” was also the first to start hiding the content by only listing them by number, instead of title and subject matter.
I’m not at all fond of an excessive use of the authority, but when you tie “W” to those “signing statements” he made as well, most abusive of the Constitution, ever. Darth Cheney indeed.
Now as to that other branch, it might be nice to remind Boehner on occasion that he’s also not been appointed King of the country and ruler over the Senate, SCOTUS, and President.
Throughout his two terms, Washington insisted on his power to act independent of Congress in foreign conflicts, especially when war broke out between France and England in 1793 and he issued a Declaration of Neutrality on his own authority. Obama didn’t start it.
I attended the White House Outreach Working Group on Central America briefings in the Old Executive Office Bldg in 1983 that were chaired bhy Faith Ryan Whittlesey. Lt. Col. North briefed us one morning on the dangers posed by the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua. At that moment Soviet engineers were in-country building missile silos (closer to Wash, D.C., than California) and the despotic Marxist regime was actively working to destabilize every government in Central America, not to mention Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela. The Sandinista government was also working to build a 100,000 man army with active plans to invade and subjugate their neighbors.
Soviet sympathizers in Congress (i.e., Chris Dodd) were actively working with the Sandinista government to undermine the interests and national security of the United States. Please tell me the lesser of two evils: The treasonous actions of members of Congress working in concert with our avowed enemies, or the attempts of Lt. Col North to avert a massive destabilization of the Western Hemisphere.
You quote from Wikipedia. I speak from personal experience. Summary – you spout from an open source pool of drivel, I speak from education and experience of 30 years in international affairs.
Dtroutma over 10 years ago
Dick Cheney and W: unitary executive. Remember that one, Lisa??
chazandru over 10 years ago
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/six-decades-of-executive-privilege/2012/06/20/gJQA7eZKrV_graphic.html^Geo. Washington was the first to invoke Executive privilege in asserting that information surrounding a Treaty John Jay made with England could not be demanded by the HoR since only the Senate can Ratify or vote against treaties.As the link above shows, Mr. Obama is not alone in his use of the E.P.. While the link is dated, Mr. Obama still has yet to break the record of his predecessor, though I think he will.If he does, it will be because this HoR, and this Congress in general, is the most intractable and gridlocked since the Civil War. I regret any use of E.P. It not only attacks the spirit of our political system, but it also sets a precedent for others to use later. As low as the POTUS’s approval numbers are, they are still nearly four times higher than those in Congress who are the true problem. They are police directing traffic and making everybody stop. And in doing so, they claim to be serving the American people. This is a bipartisan fallacy.They lack honor, and amazingly, they lack shame.Respectfully,C.
greyolddave over 10 years ago
When a tree branch dies you cut it off to save the rest of the tree. Then you go and plant some new trees.
Enoki over 10 years ago
I just hope that the next President puts most of those, particularly the quasi- and illegal ones, executive orders in the paper shredder.
Enoki over 10 years ago
TTM, it is more like Congress won’t just do what Obama wants. Given his own inability to work with others he resorts to executive fiat as he has no other way in his limited set of managerial skills and non-existant leadership skills to use..This was most recently demonstrated with his call for more gun control. He put Biden on as point man and did nothing himself. Biden being incompetent couldn’t get anywhere in Congress with either party and the whole effort, such as it was, collapsed.Obama then gave a hissy fit of a speech angrily denouncing Congress for failing to do his bidding..That has been about how each initiative Obama has pushed out has gone. It is not so much obstructionist as it is simple incompetence on Obama’s part..Interestingly, I see the same pattern in Obama’s performance at the University of Chicago. He started off with stellar reviews… “The Rock Star lecturer” if you will. When he left few students took his classes and those that did had uniformly low opinions of his material and style.
William Bednar Premium Member over 10 years ago
Yet another tall tail!
Mneedle over 10 years ago
this is not about where he was born. It is about his inclination to usurp the authority of Congress.
Enoki over 10 years ago
What is “…better and complete gun control?”.I think most people would agree that crazy people should be barred from purchasing weapons.On the other hand banning “assault guns” is just stupid as it bans cosmetics rather than doing something effective.So, generalities won’t cut it on this, or most other, political subjects.
Enoki over 10 years ago
Everybody hates Congress but they like their own Congressman. I think it has been that way for something over 200 years now.
nanellen over 10 years ago
perfect!!!!
eugene57 over 10 years ago
Too stupid. This is not a popularity contest. It the rating is low for a “GOOD” cause, would you still want new members?
Dtroutma over 10 years ago
Reagan and “W” wrote the most egregiously unconstitutional E.O.’s of any Presidents, yes, I read most of them, and W was by far the worst. “W” was also the first to start hiding the content by only listing them by number, instead of title and subject matter.
I’m not at all fond of an excessive use of the authority, but when you tie “W” to those “signing statements” he made as well, most abusive of the Constitution, ever. Darth Cheney indeed.
Now as to that other branch, it might be nice to remind Boehner on occasion that he’s also not been appointed King of the country and ruler over the Senate, SCOTUS, and President.
charliekane over 10 years ago
Ah, yes. . .Barack Obama, the great American dictator. . .Who has issued less E.O.’s per year than any president since Grover Cleveland.
Hectoruno over 10 years ago
Throughout his two terms, Washington insisted on his power to act independent of Congress in foreign conflicts, especially when war broke out between France and England in 1793 and he issued a Declaration of Neutrality on his own authority. Obama didn’t start it.
phdtogo over 10 years ago
I attended the White House Outreach Working Group on Central America briefings in the Old Executive Office Bldg in 1983 that were chaired bhy Faith Ryan Whittlesey. Lt. Col. North briefed us one morning on the dangers posed by the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua. At that moment Soviet engineers were in-country building missile silos (closer to Wash, D.C., than California) and the despotic Marxist regime was actively working to destabilize every government in Central America, not to mention Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela. The Sandinista government was also working to build a 100,000 man army with active plans to invade and subjugate their neighbors.
Soviet sympathizers in Congress (i.e., Chris Dodd) were actively working with the Sandinista government to undermine the interests and national security of the United States. Please tell me the lesser of two evils: The treasonous actions of members of Congress working in concert with our avowed enemies, or the attempts of Lt. Col North to avert a massive destabilization of the Western Hemisphere.
You quote from Wikipedia. I speak from personal experience. Summary – you spout from an open source pool of drivel, I speak from education and experience of 30 years in international affairs.