Robert Parry: McCain and the 'Unitary Executive'

[babylonsister]

:scared:

McCain and the 'Unitary Executive'
by Robert Parry | May 13, 2008 - 12:07pm



If John McCain wins the presidency – and gets to appoint one or more U.S. Supreme Court justices – America’s 220-year experiment as a democratic Republic living under the principle that “no man is above the law” may come to an end.

To put the matter differently, if a President McCain replaces one of the moderate justices with another Samuel Alito – as McCain has vowed to do – then Justice Department lawyer John Yoo’s extreme vision of an all-powerful Executive could well become the new law of the land.

On May 6 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, during a speech aimed at appeasing conservatives, McCain promised to appoint justices in the mold of George W. Bush’s selections, Justice Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts, expanding the court’s right-wing faction that also includes Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Those four justices already have embraced the Bush administration’s radical notion that at a time of war – even one as vaguely defined as the “war on terror” – the President possesses “plenary” or unlimited powers through his commander-in-chief authority.

As expressed in classified memos by Yoo when he was a key lawyer in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, there should be, in essence, no limits on what a war-time President can do as long as he is asserting his duty to protect the nation.

more...

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/14595

[Rainbowreflect]

1. With all the in fighting going on, this is what we should be focusing

on and putting our energy into stopping.
K&R

[babylonsister]

2. I'm in total agreement. This could be our future if we don't

pay attention.

[Rainbowreflect]

3. Kick again!

[MissMarple]

4. I sometimes think that those four believe their bible trumps our constitution.

Well, their own interpretation of "the" bible, that is. Scalia believes he is infallible with regard to the constitution, if you disagree with him...you are quite misguided. Just ask him. He probably thinks the Pope is a weak kneed nelly.

[That Is Quite Enough]

5. K'd and R'd - everyone should see this.

Especially that "I'll vote for McCain rather than Obama" group.

[Disturbed]

7. McLame as Pres. would spell the end of Abortion Rights.

McLame's economic policy would be a disaster for the Middle Class, Working Poor & The Poor.

There are a multitude of reasons that McLame must not garner the Pres. job.

[That Is Quite Enough]

8. Agreed (n/t)

[BeHereNow]

6. And that is the plan... I can't believe folks don't see this coming.

Rigged voting machines trump Hill-bill and Bama.

McCain will be appointed by the powers that be
and as one analyst said,
You think the Bush administration was bad?
Wait till you see who's up next.

They are just getting started.
Time to get the hell out of Dodge
if you ask me.

BHN