Bush's Use of Authority Riles Senator

[Judi Lynn]

Bush's Use of Authority Riles Senator
by KATE ZERNIKE
Published: June 28, 2006

WASHINGTON, June 27 — Senators on the Judiciary Committee accused President Bush of an "unprecedented" and "astonishing" power grab on Tuesday for making use of a device that gave him the authority to revise or ignore more than 750 laws enacted since he became president.

By using what are known as signing statements, memorandums issued with legislation as he signs it, the president has reserved the right to not enforce any laws he thinks violate the Constitution or national security, or that impair foreign relations.

A lawyer for the White House said that Mr. Bush was only doing his duty to uphold the Constitution. But Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, characterized the president's actions as a declaration that he "will do as he pleases," without regard to the laws passed by Congress.

"There's a real issue here as to whether the president may, in effect, cherry-pick the provisions he likes and exclude the ones he doesn't like," Mr. Specter said at a hearing.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/washington/28sign.html

[Mojambo]

1. This is it kids. Dictatorial powers.

There are going to be some killer history books written on this period.

[shanti]

6. yeah

if we get OUT of this period!!

[Skip Intro]

2. I don't trust Specter.

He's an actor, a shield, a distraction - his ever-on-the-verge-of holding the bush regime accountable a charade

I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

[AndyTiedye]

11. Come On Arlen, You Can Say It. IMPEACHMENT!

[Rex]

3. Specter Man - cherry pick means illegal you boob!

What a toothless warthog. :eyes:

[LiberalFighter]

8. I guess Specter doesn't know the Constitution

He is getting senile

[UpInArms]

4. Monday, December 18, 2000 The Associated Press

http://quest.cjonline.com/stories/121800/gen_1218007459.shtml

On the closely divided Congress, Bush said he told the congressional leaders that "there are going to be some times when we don't agree with each other."

"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier," Bush said, pausing and then joking, "just so long as I'm the dictator."

[msongs]

5. the word is "tyrant". t y r a n t and impeachment is the solution nt

[Tellurian]

7. Spector's on a fishing expedition...ckg to see of anyone's listening..

and hopefully contact HIM to run the gauntlet..
and by doing so, cut their own throats!

These people are psychos!

[lfairban]

9. Does this apply to everybody, or is the President special?

Can I safely avoid prosecution for violating the marijuana laws because I find that they violate the constitution? I don't think so.

I think he is legally bound to follow the dictates of the legislation unless and until he brings an objection to the courts based on constitutionality, and receives a favorable ruling. Until then, signing statements serve only to notify congress on where he intends to violate his responsibility to enforce the law as passed.

Has he done this? No!

Has he even solicited the court for a finding? NO!

What has he done? Decided by himself as if he is the final authority.

[Mandate My Ass]

10. Specter is a former prosecutor

to plead he must hear "both sides of the issue" regarding Bush's open disregard for the law would be laughable if it weren't so serious.

Can you imagine any street-walking psycopath defendent not only being allowed to float his own self-serving interpretation of the law he openly flouted, but to allow it to infringe upon the prosecutor's discretion in investigating and prosecuting the breach?

That is what a someone who sold his soul to be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committe might do, but nobody else with half a brain and an iota of integrity.

[LynnTheDem]

12. revise or ignore more than 750 laws enacted since he became president

bush is above all laws.

Says bush.

Wake the fuck up, America.

[KAZ]

14. He didn't revise or ignore...

... he just "used his authority" according to the NYT.

[LynnTheDem]

16. "revise or ignore". Direct quote from the NYT article.

[Massachusetts]

13. Behind the curtain

Arlen Just A Spectator says......gufaw, gufaw.....snicker, snicker...gotta make the masses think "I'm doin ma job"

[Eurobabe]

15. Bu$h is THE DECIDER, remember?