The Imperial Bush Presidency: An Update
As it enters its seventh year, the imperial presidency of George W. Bush has perfected the practice of going around the Constitution when that pesky document gets in its way.
It burnishes its powers through signing statements, secret executive orders and by simply ignoring court rulings.
It pisses on the Geneva Convention despite the concerns of the military’s top lawyers.
It fires U.S. attorneys because they’re investigating Republicans.
It bullies people who hew to the rule of law, most recently lawyers from top law firms who represent Guantánamo Bay detainees.
People from across the political spectrum — liberals, middle of the roaders and conservatives — should be frightened by these unilateral assaults on the beliefs of the Founding Fathers.
I am not talking about the president’s casus belli of the moment, his decision to escalate the Iraq war — or to participate in the civil war as opposed to trying to stop it, as Christopher Hitchens trenchantly puts it.
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13 Responses to “The Imperial Bush Presidency: An Update”
“It pisses on the Geneva Convention despite the concerns of the military’s top lawyers.”
It’s not only some lawyers that are concerned. The main problem with ignoring the Geneva Convention is that this is setting an example for the rest of the world. Why should the enemies of the US live up to standards that the US ignores? And how will the US protest mistreatments of their soldiers, for instance waterboarding, in the eyes of the public with any chance of success? Disregarding all legal obligations in the interrogation of prisoners may help the intelligence (though most pundit say this is very questionable), but it puts the ordinary US grunt, redevelopment worker or journalist in additional danger.
Plus it’s a propagandistic nightmare: Where is the difference between the US and terrorists? This has become much more difficult to explain under the impact of this misguided policy.
The damage done to this country by our rejection ot the Geneva Convention rules and the adoption of torture outweigh by far the damage done even by the war itself.
It’s just not the same country, anymore. I wonder if we will ever regain our soul.
Laimdota:
I cannot stress enough that this is not a partisan issue. This is something that will affect Americans and their children and children’s children and our standing in the world for a long time to come.
The US Attorney General Gonzales will be giving a speech tomorrow at the American Enterprise Institute. This speech will state that ‘they’ feel that Federal Judges are not ‘qualified’ to hear cases regarding national security. He thinks that unelected judiciary are inferior to Congress or the President in making policy judgements in relation to national security issues.
He might still be angry at Judge Taylor for ruling against the executive in the warrantless wiretapping case. I could see where judges could hinder the fight on terrorism, but am also afraid of unconstitutional abuses of power by his imperial Highness. They’ve lost a lot of credibility on this issue.
It is a sign of how truly dangerous this bunch is that Gonzalez makes Ashcroft look good.
On the world stage, America’s word no longer counts. The reports of Secretary Rice’s visit to Egypt make for pathetic reading. The administrations tough guy talk of supporting democratic movements throughout the world rather then continue a failed policy of stability was shown for what it is, rank hypocrisy. Egypt’s record of anti-democratic legislation including torture and imprisonment without trial is only slightly worse than Bush’s America, and as a result, today, a Secretary of State for the United States can no longer speak out in defence of those who are unable to defend themselves.
The short version of the Bush Administration position because Gonzales wouldn’t be saying it if Bush didn’t approve: “Constitution? We don’t need no steenking Constitution.”.
While I guess I understand your wringing of the hands remarks however as I see it the fact of the matter is that during every war the PRESIDENT has in fact done most of the things that GWB is being accused of doing. The country only got stronger and better. The difference?
Well back in the day they didnt have the internet and 5 billion spies to contend with. You know the drill. Im sure you’ve debated this a 1000 times in the last 2 or 3 years.
The truth of the matter is that GWB is doing what every president has done in a time of war. Nothings different. George Washington intercepted and read mail. GWB tried to intercept and read phone conversations.
Wring the hands the republic is collapsing.
HIS PROBLEM……..YOU GUYS refuse to accept that we are in a WAR. Therefore you and the President of the United States of America are on different pages and therefore see things from a different perspective.
Geneva Conventions? Im sure Al Queida has a copy of it in hand when they Video Tape the beheadings of their prisioners. How do you fight a knife fight. You get out a big knife and go to work. Thats what wars are…….they are ugly, brutal and downright nasty. ITS a WAR.
Upinsmoke:
“The truth of the matter is that GWB is doing what every president has done in a time of war. Nothings different. George Washington intercepted and read mail. GWB tried to intercept and read phone conversations.”
With the conspicuous exception of tribunals during WWII, everything that GWB has done that I noted in my post is unprecedented in its nature and its scope.
Your stated disdain for the Geneva Conventions is shocking and spoken like a true chickenhawk. Or did you serve in a war but didn’t bother with niceties like the Geneva Conventions?
There are in fact, two wars being waged:
A war in Iraq and a war on the U.S. Constitution. Then there’s that thing in Afghanistan that has been badly bled of people and material because of the first war. It is regretable that you are blind to the consquences of the second war.
Upinsmoke:
This just in: The AP reports that the Bush administration says it has give oversight authority for domestic spying back to FISC, where it belonged in the first place.
What do you think? Is it “Mission Accomplished” on the War on Terror?
Shaun I served in Vietnam…..In the 196th light infantry brigade. Wanna know what the Vietminh and Vietcongs policy was?…………NO PRISIONERS……..ever wondered why when the POWS were released there were only a FEW PILOTS?
I fought in a war where there was no Geneva Convention rights for ME and my MEN………NONE. It actually made us fight harder because we knew their was no surrender and no giving up cause it was too hard.
They executed any Americans caught on the battle field. They took no prisioners. They lined up Teachers and politicians and anyone with intelligence in villages and murdered them and put them in mass graves. I once took a break on top of a mass Grave near Hue.
When I fought I knew the only ones observing the Geneva Conventions was US.
Shaun this just in……never ask a question or infer something on someone else unless you know the answer………it makes you look stupid.
Shaun this just in:
Seven judges on a secret court have authorized all but one of over 7,500 requests to spy in the name of National Security. They meet in secret, with no published orders, opinions, or public record. Those spied on May never know of the intrusion. Now, Clinton has expanded the powers to include not only electronic, but physical searches.
The aftershock of the Oklahoma City bombing sent Congress scurrying to trade off civil liberties for an illusion of public safety. A good ten weeks before that terrible attack, however with a barely noticed pen stroke President Bill Clinton virtually killed off the Fourth Amendment when he approved a law to expand the already extraordinary powers of the strangest creation in the history of the federal judiciary.
And your blaming Bush?
Burn the constitution they scream…….and yet no ones abusing the power, it only gives you something to gripe about. This country is no worse then it was under Clinton or lets go back to 70′s for the real fisa courts and spying on Mafia and drug cartels to keep Americans safe.
Im glad you guys keep us on our toes but in the end whats best for the country is for our country to know about the bad guys while your sleeping or having a beer during the superbowl.
I HAVE ZERO problems with the FISA or NSA wiretaps. Get those guys that want to blow up American Citizens……Ill give them my phone number if it saves one more American Life.
Sorry I dont associate protecting evil peoples rights with pissing on the constitution. I for one wished they had tapped tim mcveighs phone without his permission. There would be a lot of children with parents and a lot of parents with children.
I will reiterate George Washington Read the mail of those suspected of aiding and abetting the British. GWB is intercepting phone calls.
FDR put Japanesse in detention facilities and questioned them without lawyers present. Abe Suspended Habeus Corpus………GWB is doing what he thinks is best for America and keeping YOU safe. HE is NOT PISSING on the constitution and Frankly I take offense at that insult.