Thread: Forthright Statement of a Dictator."

Levin: http://cnsnews.com/blog/patrick-burk...utional-crisis

Guess Who: All right, some people have taken exception with my description of Obama as "lawless" and acting outside the Constitution. Let me share with you a quote, and this is from a video. It might have been from yesterday out in Ohio, but it's within the past couple days. Obama said, "When Congress refuses to act -- and as a result, hurts our economy and puts our people at risk -- then I have an obligation as president to do what I can without them." He got applause. "I have an obligation to act on behalf of the American people. I'm not going to stand by while a minority in the Senate puts party ideology ahead of the people that we elected to serve. Not with so much at stake, not at this make-or-break moment for middle class Americans. We're not gonna let that happen."


Now, the Founding Fathers said this is exactly what's supposed to happen! It's called "the separation of powers," and it's to make sure that things like this do not happen, that an all-powerful executive does not run roughshod over the government. But President Obama has just said: Because the Congress won't do what I want them to do I'm gonna do it myself. That is extraconstitutional! That is not the way this government was set up. It was not the idea of the Founders. That's acting outside the Constitution, and there's no question about it -- and the Obama campaign is claiming he's doing all these recess appointments and things like this "to help the economy." Reuters again: "Hammering populist themes that show him to be a champion of the middle class, aides say the president will keep taking steps to show voters he'll make moves on his own to help the economy if Congress refuses to act."

If Congress "refuses to act," it is his job to sit down and talk to 'em and make 'em act and get them to vote the way he wants. He does not have -- unless they grant it to him (and they're doing it, by the way) -- the authority to run roughshod over them. But if they don't stop him, he can do it. We can't. Congress has to stand up for itself. Now, the Democrats run the Senate. I think they're happy for this to happen. Dingy Harry loves for this to happen because they're sitting there blaming it on the House Republicans who have no role in this. It's an election year, so blame the Republicans for it. Folks, it is clearly lawless. If you regard the Constitution as law, this is lawless behavior by an out-of-control, rogue executive. This is what happens in banana republics, tinhorn dictatorships. In places like Venezuela, this is what happens -- all under the guise of populism and helping the middle class.

I'm sort of impressed, as 90% of that post was your writing, not cut and paste. Deserves a non cut and paste response.

A 47 second 'session' by a single Senator does not in any reasonable fashion mean the Senate is in session. C'mon, that should be a no-brainer.

The Constitution, by design we have to assume, has specific provisions for 'recess appointments', generally accepted as over three days. The Senate is out for a couple weeks.

Yes, Reid protested when W talked about 'running roughshod', and W didn't, but his advisors were telling him to go for it.

W made 171 recess appointments
Clinton- 139
Obama-35

Hardly abuse of power.

And on the NLRB appointments, the three? There were three vacancies, two dem, one rep. He could have just filled the dems, and had a quorum, finally, so they could get some work done. But no, he filled the repub seat too. And Cordray is supported by a majority of Attorneys General in the nation, across party lines.

He's just making things actually happen, which pisses off the obstructionists. Fuck 'em.

Tye, it is impossible to enlighten the unconscious, but your post should be obvious to anybody with a brain of more then two neurons.

Shit needs to get done and this obstructionist congress needs to be called out. I am not sure what Obama has done is marginally legal, but the bullshit in congress has been just as marginal.

Come on tye. You should know better. Of course that's a cut and paste. "Guess Who" isn't me.

The POTUS does not get to define what the Senate considers to be "In Session". That is the job of the Senate.

The House is obstructing for a reason. Obama is destroying America. Fuck yeah they should obstruct. We have separation of powers for a reason. If everyone isn't on board, it should not happen.

You agree with the actions of a dictator.