George Bush is king. It happened yesterday, while we were all going about our business. Tony Snow broke the news to us on almost every news show and even during a White House press conference.
Snow to MSNBC: “There’s another principle, which is Congress doesn’t have the legislative — I mean oversight authority over the White House.”
Snow to MSNBC: “First, the White House is under no compulsion to do anything. The legislative branch doesn’t have oversight.”
Snow to Fox: “Congress doesn’t have any legitimate oversight and responsibilities to the White House.”
Snow to NBC: "Congress doesn't have any legitimate oversight and responsibilities to the White House."
Snow to NBC: "First, the White House is under no compulsion to do anything. The legislative branch doesn't have oversight."
Snow to ABC: "The executive branch is under no compulsion to testify to Congress, because Congress in fact doesn't have oversight ability."
MR. SNOW: Congress…does not have constitutional oversight responsibility over the White House, which is why by our reaching out, we're doing something that we're not compelled to do by the Constitution, but we think common sense suggests that we ought to get the whole story out, which is what we're doing.
Um. Okay. Now I’m not sure what to do. When someone tells you everything you learned as a child about your government is wrong – and that person is IN CHARGE, what do you do? This is quite simply freaky and disturbing.
The president has declared himself above the laws of our country and has said he will not be a part of our system of government. I don’t give a shit if you are conservative or liberal or moderate, you should understand we are walking into some very strange territory and anyone who supports this bullshit should be cast into the sea. (Do we do that?)
Oversight is real. The Supreme Court has ruled on it, on more than one occasion.
In affirming Congress' oversight powers, the Supreme Court in McGrain v. Daugherty stated that "the power of inquiry – with process to enforce it – is an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function." In Watkins v. United States the Court described Congress' oversight power by stating that the "power of the Congress to conduct investigations is inherent in the legislative process. That power is broad." The Supreme Court also observed that "a legislative body cannot legislate wisely or effectively in the absence of information respecting the conditions which the legislation is intended to affect or change."
Don’t sit back and think, wow, this is so out of character. We have been heading toward this for quite some time. Bush lied to get us into a disastrous war, he has been illegally tapping our phones, illegally looking at our internet exchanges, he broke campaign funding laws, he is writing his own little additions on laws passed by Congress, he has violated the anti-torture statute, as well as international torture laws, he has suspended habeas corpus and outed a CIA agent. Representative John Conyers believes Bush has broken 26 laws.
Put aside the fact that this makes the White House seem like it really has something to hide, that they are so guilty and have committed such crimes that they have to defy the Constitution.
Ask yourself this: What does happen when a sitting president decides he’s not going to play by the rules set forth by our Constitution? What happens when a President just says, “I’m not going to do that?” Not follow laws, just going to do what he wants to do. Welcome to scary territory.
196 Comments
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jackcrowder
Baytown, TX
August 2005
MAR 24, 2007 02:05 PM
fake111
Bushkill, PA
October 2002
MAR 24, 2007 02:07 PM
attn_ho
Brooklyn, NY
February 2004
MAR 24, 2007 02:14 PM
DyeWhiteGirls
Madison, WI
December 2003
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DyeWhiteGirls
Madison, WI
December 2003
MAR 24, 2007 02:20 PM
freshprncebelair
Ellicott City, MD
June 2004
MAR 24, 2007 02:22 PM
bedukay
Endicott, NY
March 2003
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opticnerve
Waltham, MA
November 2003
MAR 24, 2007 02:24 PM
attn_ho
Brooklyn, NY
February 2004
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optimusmime
Campbell, CA
December 2006
MAR 24, 2007 02:33 PM
Belllla
Washington, DC
February 2004
MAR 24, 2007 03:09 PM
xfinitex
East Lansing, MI
August 2005
MAR 24, 2007 03:12 PM
DeadGuyPerez
Denver, CO
January 2003
MAR 24, 2007 03:14 PM
thatoneguy23
Ewa Beach, HI
October 2005
MAR 24, 2007 03:41 PM
SockPuppet
I'm lost
July 2006
MAR 24, 2007 03:52 PM
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