Bush Signs Away Rule of Law

Consider this.... we now live under a new form of government.... The Decider's dictatorship.

George W. Bush is the one who decides which laws to follow and which to ignore.

If you don't believe this, just read "Bush not shy in asserting right to defy law." (DallasMorningNews)

"President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution."

To do this, Bush just appends to new legislation sent to him from Congress for his signature so-called "signing statements" indicating which part of the law he believes he is under no obligation to enforce.

"Among the laws Mr. Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, whistle-blower protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally financed research."

Bush's latest exercise of his self-anointed dictatorial "Decider" powers is spelled out in "Congress: Left Behind." (DallasMorningNews)

When The Decider signed the Defense Reauthorization Bill into law late last month, he decided he is under no obligation to enforce the following parts of the law:

~"A provision forbidding the use of U.S. funds to establish a permanent military base in Iraq. Mr. Bush believes Congress has no business telling him how to spend taxpayer dollars there.

~"A provision requiring the intelligence services to respond within 45 days to document requests from either House or the Senate Armed Services committee.... The president apparently doesn't want that oversight.

~"Provisions creating an independent, non-partisan commission to investigate waste, fraud and abuse allegedly perpetrated by private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan and protecting whistle-blowers working for government contractors."

Thus The Decider allows corporations to continue their unfettered, no-bid rampage while not protecting those who would try to expose them. Disgusting.

The Dallas Morning News editors ask: "What's the point of having a Congress if the president believes he can pick and choose which of its laws apply to him?"

Indeed. For over seven years our reckless president has taken unprecedented executive powers unto himself.... and in doing so is thumbing his nose at the rule of law.

Why has Bush been allowed to pursue his arrogant disregard for the balance of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislative that insures a government by and for the people?

That's the question the GOP and Congress will have to answer in November.

A Den of Thieves

In written testimony today, Attorney General "Sly" Gonzales has vowed to the Senate Judiciary Committee that he would stay on and "fix the problems" in his politicized Justice Department.... the fox wants to whitewash the hen house.

Of course, the real reasons are alarmingly transparent.... to continue enforcing The Decider's law- unto-himself political agenda, and give the White House a legal shield from congressional oversight.

Currently the White House is heading for a legal showdown with the House Judiciary Committee over contempt citations for chief of staff John Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers.

They both have refused congressional demands that they testify on the U.S. Attorney firings, and Bush has invoked for them his blanket avoidance-of-accountability maneuver.... executive privilege.

As recounted in "House Panel Nears A Legal Clash With Bush Over Firings, Gonzales to Tell Senators He Will Not Quit," (WaPo) the White House arrogantly asserted last week that it will not allow the Justice Department to prosecute executive branch officials for being in contempt of Congress.

How cozy. The fox is whitewashing the hen house while the skunks are stealing the eggs.

Smells Like Rank Political Pressure

So, not only did Sen.Do-do-Menici (R-NM) fess up to contacting U.S. Attorney David Iglesias during an active investigation, but a "Second Lawmaker Contacted Prosecutor," namely Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), who rang Iglesias up during the waning days of her tight election campaign last fall.

Both lawmakers said they didn't pressure Iglesias to speed up the political corruption investigation involving Democrats.... sure.

The now dumped Iglesias sees it differently. He will expose their rotten tactics to Congress today.

A Fine Mess

The new Democratic-controlled House plans to pass a number of popular measures in their first 100 hours. "Democrats To Start Without GOP Input,".... no honeymoon here, or even a quick hug at the altar. Hopefully this is the first sign that the new lawlords mean business.

Business that includes the war in Iraq, our broken borders, rampant illegal immigration, the crushing trade deficit and national debt, the loss of jobs and manufacturing infrastructure.... a steaming heap of do-do left by the outgoing Bush-enabling GOP Congress.

We used to laugh when Ollie said to Stan, "..here's another fine mess you've gotten me into."

But the mess made by the Decider isn't comedy. An unamused electorate is looking to the new Congress to make every hour in the next two years count.