Bush says he can edit security reports (Bush has lost his mind!)

[ProSense]

Bush says he can edit security reports

By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 52 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush, again defying Congress, says he has the power to edit the Homeland Security Department's reports about whether it obeys privacy rules while handling background checks, ID cards and watchlists.

In the law Bush signed Wednesday, Congress stated no one but the privacy officer could alter, delay or prohibit the mandatory annual report on Homeland Security department activities that affect privacy, including complaints.

But Bush, in a signing statement attached to the agency's 2007 spending bill, said he will interpret that section "in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch."

Snip...

The American Bar Association and members of Congress have said Bush uses signing statements excessively as a way to expand his power.

Snip...

Bush, for example, said he'd disregard a requirement that the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency must have at least five years experience and "demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security."

His rationale was that it "rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the office."

more...

[Rex]

1. 'Unitary executive branch'

There it is, folks.

[Uncle Joe]

11. I still think urinary executive is a better fit for Bush,

as he is such a piss poor "leader".

[Rex]

14. LOL it is a better fit by far.

I've been waiting for Shithead to say those words, I wonder if that is our October Surprise...surprise! No elections 4 u!

[Hubert Flottz]

13. 'Unitary executive branch' = Der Fuhrer

Congreass has appeased a dictator!

[Canuckistanian]

18. I must have missed that term in the Constitution

Is it before or after all the mentions of "impeachment"?

[Rex]

22. Bush scribbled it in with crayon, somewhere in Article 8;

"The peples gfiv meee the ununitolitariumi aluminianeye execution-branch of the tree of lif."

[Hubert Flottz]

24. I ask an Expert...

Bobby Byrd knows what the Constitution says...

[Canuckistanian]

25. He seems to be a dying breed

And unless a new champion steps up to the plate, it'll all be over but the shouting.

"A Republic, Madam... if you can keep it."

[Subdivisions]

2. How much longer are the American people going to put up with

this traitor?

[fooj]

3. Tune in to KO tonight. I think he's gonna argue that point.

Wild times that we are living in.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. I wish I could say this was even a tiny bit surprising

Is there any law he DOES obey?

[guinivere]

34. Well, no. Why the hell should he.

He's the Urinary Decider. He can do what he wants, when he wants. If it isn't quite legal, he will fix it so it is legal.

[ThomCat]

5. I hope the media is finally going to get pissed about this

now that they've decided that it's okay to notice that the republicans are doing some things wrong.
:eyes:

[nam78_two]

16. It doesn't have anything to do with sex....

Like the torture bill it'll sink like a stone...
sheesh....

[helderheid]

6. WOW.

:wow:

[Mind_your_head]

7. What is this "unitary executive branch" of which he speaks.....

^
.
.
.
:wtf: <---------- something smells to high heaven here!!!!

[rodeodance]

21. Bush has privatized the Exec. branch.

[Mind_your_head]

30. He's trying to do that.....

....but not under 'my', (hopefully Americans are united enough to say ~ 'OUR'~ watch) he's not!!!!

The Constitution of the United States of America ....THAT is what I and my children will fight for and serve. Never some illegitimate/made-up "unitary executive" crapola that the chimp-boy spits forth. *shivers*

[RoyGBiv]

37. I'll say it again ...

Everything this President does is geared toward ridding our nation of the concept of Judicial Review.

(PDF) http://law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty/pubs/yoo-unitaryexecinmodernera.pdf

The above link is to a paper on the subject by advocates.

In essence, the Unitary Executive theory is a reaction to measures put forth by Congress in the wake of Watergate to limit Presidential powers that were being abused.

Under the theory, the President has complete control over all officers of the executive branch, which also means special counsels.

[nam78_two]

8. This should be one the front page/recommend.nt

[uppityperson]

9. The Furher! k&r

[lvx35]

10. I love the way Bush overrides all oversight mechanism to do the dumbest

things, like appoint incompetants to FEMA...Given the power he has, Bush should be a GENIUS, but he's not at all!!!

[sutz12]

12. Do we get a party when he hits 1000 signing statments?

:party:

[nam78_two]

15. seriously WTF-just finished reading it...

My God...this man is effing NUTS....

Mods please put this on the front page...

[MadMaddie]

17. Okay....First he has lost his fucking mind....

:wtf:


Second

If one is of a logical mind....wouldn't it stand that for someone to have experience and knowledge to fill a role...it would be someone with more than 5 years of experience? I am just sayin......
So if I interpret what he says he is looking for a lemming that has less than 5 years of experience in Disaster Management? Brownie anyone....

<snip>
His rationale was that it "rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the office."
<snip>

[rodeodance]

19. looky what he also said about qualifications for FEMS!

The last privacy report was submitted in February 2005.

Bush's signing statement Wednesday challenges several other provisions in the Homeland Security spending bill.

Bush, for example, said he'd disregard a requirement that the director of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency must have at least five years experience and "demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security."

His rationale was that it "rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the office."

[LiberalFighter]

35. Only need one qualified person at a time

[jimshoes]

20. How do we tell his lowness

that we are not amused. I don't like the idea of a fuhrer personally.

[Canuckistanian]

23. Why even write and pass bills any more?

If the "unitary executive" can override, ignore or otherwise disregard any parts of said bill?

He might as well just dissolve Congress and issue Executive Orders and Decrees.

[uppityperson]

26. link to LBN link, in case you want to k&r

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2547388&mesg_id=2547388

[Disturbed]

28. The Busholini Regime is in an all War mode on America!

Can we still pretend that we live in democratic Republic?

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. He got it wrong, he's the one who hates us for our freedoms!

[AIJ Alom]

27. Does this mean the executive branch is now the SS ?? Shouldn't they have

brown uniforms, so they can be a little more unitary.

[stillcool]

29. more like the entire government...

is SS....or maybe just those in it that don't wear uniforms. Congress should dis-ban, and rent the building out for orgys.

[Ice4Clark]

31. Here is a GREAT article on The Unitary Executive

This article was written in Jan 06.

snip

In striking contrast to his predecessors, President Bush issued at least 435 signing statements in his first term alone. And, in these statements and in his executive orders, Bush used the term "unitary executive" 95 times. It is important, therefore, to understand what this doctrine means.

snip

Dr. Kelley notes that the unitary executive doctrine arose as the result of the twin circumstances of Vietnam and Watergate. Kelley asserts that "the faith and trust placed into the presidency was broken as a result of the lies of Vietnam and Watergate," which resulted in a congressional assault on presidential prerogatives.

snip

The Unitary Executive Doctrine Violates the Separation of Powers

the President does not have unlimited executive authority, not even as Commander-in-Chief of the military. Our government was purposely created with power split between three branches, not concentrated in one.

Separation of powers, then, is not simply a talisman: It is the foundation of our system. James Madison wrote in The Federalist Papers, No. 47, that:

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.

Another early American, George Nicholas, eloquently articulated the concept of "power divided" in one of his letters:

The most effectual guard which has yet been discovered against the abuse of power, is the division of it. It is our happiness to have a constitution which contains within it a sufficient limitation to the power granted by it, and also a proper division of that power. But no constitution affords any real security to liberty unless it is considered as sacred and preserved inviolate; because that security can only arise from an actual and not from a nominal limitation and division of power.

Yet it seems a nominal limitation and division of power - with real power concentrated solely in the "unitary executive" - is exactly what President Bush seeks. His signing statements make the point quite clearly, and his overt refusal to follow the laws illustrates that point: In Bush's view, there is no actual limitation or division of power; it all resides in the executive.

Thomas Paine wrote in Common Sense:

In America, the law is king. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other.

The unitary executive doctrine conflicts with Paine's principle - one that is fundamental to our constitutional system. If Bush can ignore or evade laws, then the law is no longer king. Americans need to decide whether we are still a country of laws - and if we are, we need to decide whether a President who has determined to ignore or evade the law has not acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government.


Full Article

[helderheid]

32. kick

[bunny planet]

33. For once and for all the Constitution does not ever speak of a UNITARY

executive branch. It clearly outlines 3 co-equal branches of government, and a well defined system of checks and balances. What is it going to take to remove this disgraceful usurper from our government.
You don't get to break the law and also say the Constitution allows you to do so. Just. Not. True.

[LiberalFighter]

Just another name for dictator

[kentuck]

36. Impeach that sick SOB!

Like now! :mad: