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Author
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Topic: Bush challenges (breaks) hundreds of laws
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Anti-Totalitarian
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5438
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posted 30 April 2006 08:14 PM
President cites powers of his officeBy Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | April 30, 2006 WASHINGTON -- 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. Boston Globe article Any guess on when the insanity will end?
From: somewhere in subspace | Registered: Apr 2004
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Anti-Totalitarian
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5438
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posted 30 April 2006 08:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Heavy Sharper:
So if Bush were to interpret the 14th Amendment as not giving women the right to choose, would be be allowed to bomb an abortion clinic and get away with it?
Well if you read Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, it states: The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Power resides in the Congress for this one, so no need to go off on a tangent about abortion.
From: somewhere in subspace | Registered: Apr 2004
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Sanityatlast
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12414
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posted 30 April 2006 09:16 PM
'If' (a big if) the office of the President has this right then no laws are being broken. The President is claiming he is not subject to certain restrictions and therefore can't break laws not applicable to his office. It would take a room full of constitutional lawyers to decide how the hairs are split on many of Bush's actions. One may decide they are unethical, deceptive, arrogant, etc. but not necessarily illegal. The recent issue over releasing classified information on the identity of a CIA operative was case in point. Releasing classified information is illegal but the President can arbitarily decide what is classified or not. The bigger issue isn't the law or not but the ethical behavior the President should follow to set an example to the country. Bush's team has a philosophy instead of getting away with whatever they can under the excuse that nothing illegal is done. Many things are not illegal but it doesn't mean they should be actively pursued. Bush's henchmen hardly hiccup without getting the legal ducks in order to back up a position or at least have an argument that makes the legal picture murky and ambivalent.
From: Alberta | Registered: Apr 2006
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