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August 4, 2007 at 20:07:09
There is something fundamentally wrong here by David Waldman Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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And of course, at this point it should go without saying that if a bill is placed before you that addresses additional powers and authority for the Attorney General, of all people, this is a full stop moment. The vote on this bill is no. The vote on any bill expanding the powers of this Attorney General is no. These are things I should not have to outline for anyone at this point. Certainly not Daily Kos readers. But you'd hope Members of Congress, too. But apparently, in that hope you'd be disappointed. Still, these are merely the surface issues. There's something deeper and even more troubling going on here. What's happening here is the ceding of the last remaining prerogatives of the legislative branch to the executive. We are currently watching the Congress cede its oversight authority -- not its ability to hold hearings, but its ability to make hearings mean something. We may be watching the Congress cede its "power of the purse," as George W. Bush now threatens to veto any appropriations bill that does not match the numbers in his budget. (You need to know that the president's budget has almost never been the working model for Congress. The traditional reaction to the president's budget, no matter whose it is or even who's reacting, has been that it's "dead on arrival.") Now we are watching the Congress cede even its legislative powers, reacting to Bush's threat to keep them in session until they pass the exact FISA legislation he demands.
Does this comport with any American's concept of the basic functions of the different branches of our government? Since when does the president dictate the terms of legislation... to legislators?
Since they started rolling over for it, that's when.
This is a fundamental failure not just of politics, but of the framework envisioned by the Founders, who felt sure that the immutable precepts of self-interest would be the engine that drove the checks and balances that protect our freedoms and forestall the creep of tyranny. While the political motives of elected officials were always open to question, it was beyond doubt that personal ambition and the jealous guarding of power would be all the motivation necessary to keep any branch from ceding its powers to another.
That this could ever turn out not to be the case is simply astounding, and it is a measure of just how much damage the George W. Bush "administration" has inflicted on our Constitution. While we are all too well aware of the political constraints involved in remedying the situation, the fact is that his continuance in office endangers the future of our system of government as every one of you have understood it to date.
Have a nice recess.
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care for some cheese with your whine
JUST STOP BUYING STUFF, NOW! by joed (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 49 comments) on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 at 8:55:03 PM  (0+)
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The traitorous Democratic Congress
I agree with every word you say. NONE OF THIS COMPUTES. Self interest, if nothing else, should keep the congressional branch from turning into Bush's toilet slaves. First they gave him Iraq and now they're giving him the Bill of Rights and our Constitution. These people are our moral enemies, not our "elected representatives". No one liners or jokes can rise to this occasion. We are watching the execution of America and the inevitable rise of a fascist police state -- and the DEMOCRATS are singing Sieg Heil! by W. Christopher Epler (Bill) (291 articles, 59 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 767 comments [44 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 at 11:48:00 PM (0+)
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Reply: spying
I do think the exact word for their behavior is treason. by beccy (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 6:29:31 PM (0+)
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George W Bush's "adminstration" had done no
damage to the Constitution. The Constitution still says what it used to say. The problem is that those those who have taken promises to defend it, the so called "representatives" of both parties, have taken part of it, like impeachment, off the table. The problem is that the citizens have let them. That is the real SYSTEMIC problem. The US Constitution provides the tools for dealing with the likes of Bush and Cheney but there is no magic document that can be written that can execute itself. The Constitution needs to have the support of the people whose Constitution it is, and the people need to have the character and the wit to demand that their representatives actually DO represent them and DO keep their word to them to support and defend the Constitution. If you really want to see the story of the depravity of the times - don't look to Bush, the villains never do and never will arrest themselves, look to Pelosi the IMPOSTER and APPEASER. Look to Pelosi the oath keeper only of political expedience. The "representative" that does not REPRESENT. Pelosi has taken the temperature of her constituents and of the American people and she has concluded that they are dupes. She has concluded that she can set aside her oath to support and defend the constitution and so long as her party stinks less than the alternative then it doesn't matter to the dupes that she is not representing them and is not upholding her most solemn promise to them. The question that should be being asked of representatives that say impeachable offenses have occurred but won't be pursued is obvious: Why the heck should we EVER trust YOU again on the smaller stuff now that you have shown that you will shirk your personal responsibility to us in your oath of office to support and defend OUR Constitution ? by Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 1308 comments) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 1:35:01 AM (0+)
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roll call
by Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 997 comments) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 2:34:26 AM (0+)
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Reply: roll call
Thank you for giving us the roll call. My representatives are not on the roll as yea. I call them at least once per week. I can't believe they went on a month long vaction and are not going to supply any checks and balance. by beccy (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 6:36:36 PM (0+)
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Didn't you get the memo?
Apparently you haven't been following what's been going on the past few years. But this country was destroyed even before bush and his gang of thugs put us into over-drive to a Police State and Fascism. What we're witnessing now is the final touches to the destruction of the Late Great United States. The only thing left now is the next 9/11 type attack. After which we attack Iran (because you know evidence will show they were behind it) from there it's the National ID Cards and then the implanted Micro-chip and the New World Order with it's One World Government will be complete. by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 8:54:30 AM (0+)
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Reply: yep, I got the memo!
And you are correct. Its all in line, happening just as planned, and we are screwed. The last , and shame on us for falling for it, hope we thought we had, was Nancy P. and the new Democratic saviors. Laugh was on us. I think that Kucinich is the real deal, but the rest of them..bought and paid for. Part of the plan. My first clue was when no one would come forward and tell us the truth and demand a new investigation into 911. That holds the key to all our freedoms being flushed. Without it, none of the rest could have happened, no way. So, what happens next? Pelosi is a bigger traitor than the Repubs...she lied about impeachment, stopping the war, etc.. she is scum just like the rest. Anyone up there who is trustworthy, is hidden in the background. My neighbor asked me last week who I would vote for. I said, probably no one because it won't count, but if I knew it would count, I would vote for Kuninich first, and Ron Paul if he dropped the R after his name. They both looked at me and said, WHO are they! Most people do not know what is happening. They realize something is not quite right, but just can't imagine its as bad as it is. And my friends, its that bad. The next 911 will have all those idiots saying, see, bush was right. We should have bombed Iran, now they are here! Hard to believe isn't it? by joyce (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 73 comments) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 10:26:57 AM (0+)
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Reply: voting
I'm fed up with both groups. Think I will just go in and vote republican cause they are going to win any way. I have been very active in the democratic party in the past, but unless they impeach bush I will not give one dime, make one phone call or have one sign in my yard. I still can't beleave they are going on vacation. by beccy (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 6:41:56 PM (0+)
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It doesn't matter who you intend to vote for.
Ron Paul is the best choice (because he has a growing grass-roots support). But they won't let him win. If we even make to an election. Which I doubt. Very strongly doubt. by richard (0 articles, 5 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 1359 comments [400 recommended, 8 rejected]) on Sunday, Aug 5, 2007 at 8:02:18 PM (0+)
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