buffer-overflowed's Journal: Congress needs to stop pussy footing around

There is no constitutional power that allows congress to really, absolutely force a sitting president to do anything. They do however determine funding, and they can impeach(which isn't on the table), which gives them a VERY big stick.

So if the Miers/Justice dept scandal is really that big a deal, use the fucking stick. Start defunding things.

The executive has, imo, usurped wayyyy too much power over the past 50 years. Bush has followed in the footsteps of his predeccesors and finally, really pushed it over the line. So congress needs to grow a pair and rein the branch back in, or shut the fuck up about it.

All of congress's oversight is basically based on the premise that if they don't get to do it, they won't fund it. Because while it's a tradition, it's not a power.

Such As?

[pudge]

The executive has, imo, usurped wayyyy too much power over the past 50 years. Bush has followed in the footsteps of his predeccesors and finally, really pushed it over the line.

Such as?

For every legitimate claim that Bush has usurped too much power, I could show an example where the Congress has. And for good measure, I could show an additional example where the Congress has CEDED power to the Executive.

For example, you could mention signing statements, but those have no force of law, so they cannot legitimately be called a usurpation of anything. You could talk about FISA and wireless wiretapping in contravention of it, although that is a legal dispute: many scholars think the

Re:

[iamtheantipudge]

But there are other examples of Congress, on the other side, taking authority it doesn't have.

So, of course that makes it okay for the president to do it. Especially since he belongs to your party of choice. I can already hear you screaming now when Hillary starts doing the same thing. You won't be such an apologist then. Nixon must be a real hero of yours. And why not? A lot of Bush's people used to work for him, too. Birds of a feather...

So ... whatever.

Yeah...exactly.

Re:

[pudge]

But there are other examples of Congress, on the other side, taking authority it doesn't have.

So, of course that makes it okay for the president to do it.

Why would you think so? It's odd that anyone at all would think such a thing, and I didn't expect it from you.

Usurped is a rather strong word

[iamtheantipudge]

It would imply that there was real opposition. The fact is there is none. He still occupies the office instead of a jail cell. Congress, and the people have given up their power willingly to say the least. And all for the sake of appearances.