bush being advised to bypass Congress, rule by exec. order

[AnnInLa]

(sorry if this is a duplicate)

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/17/bush-bypass-congress/

U.S. News reports that conservatives have seen the writing on the wall and are now advising Bush to “jump start” his final two years by pushing through as much as he can by executive fiat:

With President Bush unable to get much traction so far in moving his agenda through Congress or in improving his job-approval ratings with the public, White House advisers are casting about for ways to jump-start his final two years, including issuing executive orders to get things done without having to ask for support from the Democratic-controlled Congress.

“He should get a list of the executive orders for the last 200 years, as a guide, and choose what he wants to do,” says an informal Bush adviser. One proposal that fiscal conservatives are pushing is to halve all capital-gains taxes, as a way to encourage investment and job creation.

Some conservatives argue that even if Bush somehow regains his political footing, whatever he might work out with the Democratic majority in Congress wouldn’t be very good legislation, so he should go the executive-order route and bypass Congress altogether.

Bush has already begun to implement the strategy. Last month, Bush signed Executive Order 12866 to put political appointees — rather than experienced civil servants — in charge of regulatory agencies. The order would “give the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.” Columbia Law School professor Peter L. Strauss said the move “achieves a major increase in White House control over domestic government. … Having lost control of Congress, the president is doing what he can to increase his control of the executive branch.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/17/bush-bypass-congress/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Gee, that's what Boris Yeltsin did the last years of his tenure. nt

[Bucky]

12. It's what Hugo Chavez is doing now.

Not the best couple of role models there.

[Wilms]

15. Actually, Chavez is doing that WITH the consent of the country's governing body.

So it's different.

[Bucky]

22. different path, same shit hole

Chavez has had a hard-on to undo his country's inconvenient democracy since his first came gunning his way onto the political stage. Venezuela is not undergoing a crisis. The fact that Chavez has enough votes in this current Congress to get his dictatorial powers voted in is not impressive to me. If Bush and the Republicans had done the same thing after they picked up seats in the 2004 elections, you would not be making the same point. You'd be up in arms.

Why is it any better when leftists subvert democracy than when rightists do?

[Wilms]

27. It's not left/right.

It's poor & middle class (the majority) vs. the rich.

Again, different.

Plus, Chavez was fairly elected.

[arikara]

16. There is no comparison between the two

Chavez is taking back from the rich and helping the poor. El diablo is stealing from the poor and giving to the rich.

[Bucky]

23. Here's the comparison

Bush is screwing the middle class, while Chavez is running the middle class off in droves.

If Chavez had a democratic plan for redistributing wealth, something like what Lula is doing in Brazil, I'd feel very differently about him. Lord knows that country needs reforming bad. But what he's doing is not building up long term growth abilities. He's running out the most talented and ambitious people. Urban street crime in the big cities has gotten far far worse in the last few years, communities are losing their most ambitious professionals. Replacing a kleptocracy with a top-down command economy is not going to improve people's lives--only change the type of corruption they suffer from.

[liberal N proud]

2. The regime longer recognize Congress as a functioning body of the Republic.

If they ever did.

[fooj]

3. Hey Little Lord Pissypants...

the only thing I want you to "choose" is the color of your PRISON JUMPSUIT! I'm partial to ORANGE. Yes. Orange on a WAR CRIMINAL suits me just fine.

[Chipper Chat]

30. I'm waiting patiently for this:

CNN BREAKING NEWS: BUSH FLEES TO PARAGUAY!
CNN has just learned that the former president has eluded US marshalls and has left the country in Air Force One enroute to his ranch in Paraguay. President Pelosi says she has no intention of ordering the plane to return to the US, and Bush is welcome to live unmolested at his new ranch at 911 Joseph Mengela Drive, Mission Accomplished, Paraguay. CNN was able to communicate with the pilot, Alberto Gonzales, former US Attorney General. Gonzales says he will become head gardener at the compound and will not return. Former Secretary of State Condosleeza Rice is expected to fill the job of head cook and other personal duties. This is Wolf Blitzer reporting. More later.

[napi21]

4. How much of his crap can he REALLY do via EO?

I know he can order any dept. to do what he wants, but I'm not so sure he can change tax law and things like that!

[Hekate]

21. A lot. He's been doing it from Day One in office, one EO after the other

Bush is a very dangerous man that way. As far as I know, Bush has signed more Executive Orders than nearly all other presidents combined.

This is the reason I've been saying that when a Dem gets back into the White House, one of the first orders of business will have to be undoing the Executive Orders. I hope to gods someone is keeping track.

Hekate

[Benhurst]

5. None dare call it treason.

But treason it is. Recommended #1

[Bucky]

13. I dare, Ben. I dare.

This is a short quick route to a Constitutional trainwreck. I guess we'll finally get to see some real checks and balances in play.

[Ilsa]

6. "...halve all capital-gains taxes..." IOW, lower taxes on people who

don't have to work for a living.

What a slime ball.

[AnnInLa]

8. Ah Yes, but their wealth "trickles down"

to us po'folk, or something like that.

[Ferretherder]

31. Their PISS will 'trickle down' on our heads...

...before their WEALTH will 'trickle down' to our pocketbooks.

...just my opinion, ya' know.

[Jim Sagle]

10. So THAT'S how he'll get rid of Social Security - by executive order.

Then he'll have us shot down in the streets like dogs when 40 million of us bullrush the White House.

[FatDave]

20. He won't get us all

nt

[Bucky]

14. As president, he can't authorize revenue raising rules. It's absurd to even try.

Not even the most partisan of Supreme Court justices--not even Thomas or Scalia--could approve this. Congress has the power to levy taxes. There's zero wiggle room for them here. I'm not sure what gimmick they've got up their sleeves for trying this stunt of a tax cut without Congress. But I guarantee it would never fly even if Ginsberg and Breyer dropped over dead tomorrow.

[whistle]

7. Der Stein Fuhrer

[Solly Mack]

9. Well, guess it is time to review past XOs and see just what

these thugs have in mind.

[countmyvote4real]

11. Regime change now. Preferably without the depleted uranium. n/t

[Triana]

17. Finish destroying this country so that it can never be restored...

...that's what they want him to do.

The robber barons are in charge and they intend to do as much damage as they possibly can before their figurehead - bu$hit - is out - IF he gets out.

[LynnTheDem]

18. Why is the bush regime too scared to just come out & call it a decidership.

Coz it sure as fuck ain't a democracy.

[Az_lefty]

19. Impeach the demon...

he's a man of lies and a man of death. There's nothing Christian about him. Impeach him now!

[nolabels]

26. Should we call an Exorcist?

SPIRITUAL HELP IS USUALLY OUR LAST CONSIDERATION.
Your last resort is to bring in a minister trained in the practice of exorcism. Imagine coming to the point at which you realize that some things are beyond human control. Imagine having to take action on your most unacceptable fear: that there is a devil, a Satanic evil force, which can and does do terrible things to us. Imagine admitting that there are forces more powerful than you or I.
(snip)
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/exorcist.htm

When the movie first came out, all of of neighborhood gang piled in the car to watch it at the drive-in theater while tipping back a few beers. We were mostly laughing during the movie but what seems even more humorous is now after all them years is how so many people got so caught up in it all.

[Golden Raisin]

24. He'll continue to do exactly as he pleases.

More signing statements. Total disregard for the existence of Congress or the concept of checks and balances. Stack the Supreme Court. The bastard is going to unilaterally bomb/nuke Iran very soon and we'll all wake up the next morning to find out its too damn late. And Congress is sitting around debating "non-binding" resolutions and keeping impeachment "off the table". Meanwhile Bush, Gonzales, Cheney, etal are sawing the legs right off the damn table. If they don't fight back hard and soon Congress deserves to be emasculated which is exactly what the Bush regime has done to them for the past 6 years. Unfortunately the American people, our Republic, our democracy and our Constitution are the collateral damage.

[DeepModem Mom]

25. K&R

[AtomicKitten]

28. advised?

more like:

[intaglio]

29. Check out his likely next "Recess" appointment

That is Presidents Day recess

http://consumerist.com/consumer/cpsc/bush-expected-to-nominate-industry-lobbyist-to-head-cpsc-237599.php

/snip ConsumerAffairs.com writes:
"Because of Baroody's Republican ties and history of opposing strong safety regulation, his appointment is unlikely to be popular with the Democratic-controlled Congress."