The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #62901   Message #1670071
Posted By: Amos
16-Feb-06 - 12:36 PM
Thread Name: BS: Popular Views of the Bush Administration
Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views of the Bush Administration
From an interesting new on-line mag called No More King George;

"It is not unusual for a President to refuse to release documents by claiming "executive privilege." Presidents usually invoke this theory to protect the notes and papers of their closest advisors. The justification is made that the fear of finding their words published in the Congressional Record will prevent senior advisors from giving the candid advice that a President needs.

Now, through his extensive use of "signing statements," President Bush appears to have moved the limits of executive privilege into unknown territory.

Starting in 2001, it has become routine for President Bush to attach "statements" when he signs bills into law and returns them to Congress. These statements assert many claims regarding the presumed power of the President to ignore any part of the law that, in his judgement, impose on his view of his constitutional powers.

The most common claim made is in regard to a laws requirements that reports be made to Congress on its enforcement.

Beginning with a bill signed on December 28, 2001, President Bush has asserted "the President's constitutional authority to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties."

This clause now appears in almost every signing statement. "




While I am all for an effective executive branch, the weasely inclusion of the term 'unitary' in its descriptpion is a wide-open wiggle space of Cyclopean dimensions (gigantic, but one-eyed, like a huge prick).

Actual signing statements from the Bush-head can be found here