As if things weren't crazy enough in Washington, Barack Obama has just officially run the Constitution through his Executive Shredder, ushering in an exciting new "anything goes" period in his imperial presidency.
Specifically, he avoided Constitutionally-mandated senate approval of a number of appointees by using his "Recess Appointment" powers...even though the Senate wasn't in recess.
Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, applauded the president's bold power grab and ignored the fact that the Senate was in "pro-forma session," in which a minimum number of Senators keep the floor open specifically to prevent ill-considered Recess Appointments. And why shouldn't Reid applaud this end-run? After all, the "pro-forma" mumbo jumbo is obviously just a big, transparent, political gimmick - right?
Well, no - or at least it wasn't when Harry Reid created the "pro-forma" session gimmick in order to keep George W. Bush from making appointments which had been blocked by the Democrats.
But now that there's precedent that the president can use his recess powers even when there is no recess, then why can't Joe Biden assume that Barack Obama has abdicated even if he hasn't - and has actually just gone to the biffy?
And why should it stop there? If Biden heads into the Whitehouse Latrine carrying the sports pages, then John Boehner can take over the presidency under the assumption that Biden isn't coming back. And if Boehner is smart enough to be wearing adult undergarments, the job is his to keep!
And say, now that the rules have gone out the window, why do the rest of us need to wait until November to vote Obama out of office?!
Either the Constitution is in force, or it isn't.
And all of us, including the president, should act accordingly.
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27 comments:
The festering turd knows he can get away with this because the Republicans are craven cowards and won't make any move before the November elections for fear of upsetting the "moderates" and endangering their chances to win the Senate. What they have stupidly forgotten is that people are looking for leadership. Seeing none, they will probably stick with the devil they know.
I'm telling you: watch out! Øbama is using Chavez's playbook. Watch as the November election is eliminate, followed by the two-term presidential limit...
If the Republicans in the house and senate do not stand against this, we're done. Game over.
It started with the "passage" of Øbamacare where is was "assumed" to be passed, rather than "actually" passed. Or how about appointing an unconstitutional Super-Committee set up to fail at doing what 425 people were elected to do ... and still haven't done!!! This latest power-grabbing destruction of the Constitution is just another stepping-stone paving the way to our future. As I’ve said before, I think the path we are on is a sinister one. I see a “crisis” coming in October(?) that will result in Martial Law and the suspension of elections and rule by presidential edict.
I really hope this is just my Recurring Insane Paranoia (RIP) and that I’m totally wrong.
@Angry Hoosier Dad- Per your points, I think the Republicans want to choose their battles and not look petty. The problem: this isn't petty, it's huge. And as if the Constitution isn't important enough to fight for, this backdoor appointment by Obama may allow him to initiate yet another trillion-dollar boondoggle relating to the housing market.
@Emmentaler- One thing is for sure: if the Republicans don't fight back on this, then Obama will do something even more illegal in the near future. He is only concerned with what he can get away with...and thanks to Republican cowardice, that's almost anything.
@Chuck- Yes, I think some special crisis is in the offing (or the making) that will require extraordinary measures - for our own good of course. Keep an eye on bird flu or something like it; nothing like a good pandemic to give an excuse for total control over a "limited" time.
How's that for paranoia? (grin)
It makes me quite ill to watch the polls move in favor of Obama. I cannot believe any true American could stomach this administration. Impeachment proceedings should have been started long before this.
Unfortunately, most Americans simply could care less. Is it because of our educational system, the lame stream media, or simply a case of "I want mine now, and to hell with the rest of you" that people are so complacent and willing to let our once very great country slide into oblivion?
Why do you think this regime has pushed the Tea Party as violent lie as hard as it has, Stilton? I wouldn't be even a little surprised by a "Reichstag fire" event before the election. Remember the law Obama signed when, on Christmas Eve? The one he gave the "signing statement" on saying he'd never use the generous provisions for imprisoning "suspect" Americans? That's a very thin blanket on a cold, winter night.
@Karla- I'm afraid that "all of the above" might be the answer to your question. Fortunately, it doesn't apply to all of the people. Not yet, anyway.
@My Dog Brewski- It is indeed unsettling that Obama, the Dems, and the media portray flag-waving, pro-Constitution Americans as violent, racist terrorists... while praising violent, racist socialists for standing up against the evil rich. And I wasn't happy with Obama "reluctantly" signing legislation to imprison Americans without charges or trials if, in his imperial wisdom, he decides they're problematic. Or have been writing politically charged sex manuals about him. (Gulp)
Nobody should be surprised. As I've previously argued, we've long since been in the "post budget" age, where Congress and the Administration have given up on the pretense of presenting budgets that they have little intention of following anyway. Seems now that we're moving into the "post constitution" age, where having gotten away with the budget fiasco, they now feel emboldened enough just to totally ignore the constitution as well. Next, the 2nd Amendment. Once that's gone, they'll be free to move against the 1st. Been nice knowing you all.
BTW, where is Obama's "base" who were so upset about the Patriot Act and the alleged shredding of civil rights by GWB? Obama has ushered the Patriot Act forward on steroids. There must be at least some Progressive intellectuals who understand that law such as Obama is promoting now might actually come back some day to be used upon them. There must be somebody who realizes that!
@John the Econ- Boy, this is really starting to feel like a monday on this blog (and it's a grey, rainy one where I'm at, too). I may have to throw on some rock n' roll shortly to cheer myself up.
That being said, just look where we are in Obama's imperial presidency: the end of budgeting, the end of separation of powers, and the end of due process. The 2nd Amendment under direct and deliberate (albeit failed) assault from project "Fast and Furious," while Eric Holder does everything he can to dismantle our voting system. And the bad ol' days of slavery are back...made palatable by enslaving those who have yet to be born and can't complain.
Regarding the Patriot Act on Steroids (which is an accurate description), the "intellectuals" have never been against the use of prying, spying, or overt force...as long as it was used on their ideological enemies. In other words, us.
(Sigh) Okay, I'm going under the headphones now. Adrien Belew: "I Am What I Am" - volume set to 11.
@Readers- By the way, if you look for "I Am What I Am" on YouTube, ignore the hideous and distracting video and just listen to the strangely compelling empowerment message and Belew's sweet, shrieking guitar.
Actually, If you're really looking for some music to stir the blood for the upcoming fight, might I suggest Heather Alexander's "March of Cambreadth"? Bagpipes as they were meant to be played.
John, the 2nd has always defended the first.
One possible saving grace - he'd have to get the military willing to fire on citizens - not likely. Also, we are rapidly approaching the point where there are more people w/ recent combat experience OUT of the military than IN it.
Granted, they have better toys (drones, etc) but there's a cubi-metric buttload MORE of us.
God Forbid it ever comes to that.
It's widely accepted that the whole thrust of "Fast and Furious" was to make it look like Mexican drug lords were getting their guns from us as an excuse to crack down on ownership / sales of firearms.
My understanding (which may well be in error) is they get most of them from the Chinese, who will sell them full automatic guns (true machine guns, keep the trigger down, it keeps shooting) as opposed to the 'semi automatic' stuff available in this country (that is, "self loading," but needs a separate trigger pull for each shot fired)
As for the Libbies who railed against Bush but are silent about O's worse abuses, what, you expect consistency? Rules to apply to EVERYONE?
Actually, I suspect many of them WOULD be upset if the LSM hammered it out there.
Then again, it seems many of them have no concept of scale - "Bush ran deficits" "unfunded wars" blah blah... Never mind that This President has blown more debt in 3 years than Bush did in 8 (tipping point was like 2.5 years, I think) Never mind that are spending 2/3 more than we take in.
Just
Don't
Get it. >sigh<
From a few years back, but still fun to look at
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/883568_BLING__Weapons_captured_in_Mexicoandapos_s_drug_wars__pics_.html
The media does handsprings and worships at his throne. The American Sheople continue their decline into blissful ignorance.
So, a Pro-Forma session is just a gimmick? The media repeats the phrase and points out how wonderful Obama is because he is overriding the "do nothing" Congress. They ignore the fact that more than 25 bills have been sent from the House to the Senate ... and the Senate under Harry Reid's leadership (a term I am hesitant to use when speaking of Harry Reid), has killed them by refusing to bring them to the floor of the Senate.
The media looks, but doesn't see, at the Pro-Forma session of the Senate that resulted in passage of the extension of the Payroll Tax holiday. They only applaud the wisdom of failing to finance an already underwater Social Security System.
Meanwhile, Congress prosecutes baseball players for possibly lying about steroid use, and ignores the Department of Justice lying about the murder of a Border Patrol agent.
Man...I must have accidentally walked into that White House "Wonderland" party!
The rules and for that matter, laws, do not apply. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but, Obama, the politian, was suckled, raised & brought up in Democratically owned & run Chgo, Crook County & IL.
Here, they really truly believe that they are above it all. And for the most part, they have gotten away with it for decades and will continue to until they all end up in prison i.e., Blago, lyin’ Ryan, Dan Rostenkowski, Otto Kerner, Jr, the list goes on. But, in the grand scheme of things it’s just a handful of them that have been caught & punished.
And we (hard-working, honest taxpayers) bear the cost for all of it. The $ that they steal during corruption, the cost to investigate and prosecute them and in the end the $ to house, feed and clothe them in prison.
Anybody remember the Ginger or Mary-Anne game?
How about this, Seal team 6 or an equal number of secret service agents? Who would win?
@Pete(Detroit), the military as you remember it is slowly being dismantled. It started in the early '90s with the "political correctness" movement, which began the purge of those who understand what the military is all about. When the old-time career-types saw the writing on the wall, they started leaving. They're being replaced by people like Major Nidal Malik Hasan (the Fort Hood Shooter) and those who knew what he was but did nothing to stop him. In a generation or less, we are very likely to have a military run and staffed by people who never learned what the Constitution was really about, and will not have a problem firing on civilians if told to do so by their community organizer leaders.
It is more and more obvious every day that Obama believes himself to be above the law and the constitution.
My frustration with this gang of thugs is mounting.
@Bubblehead Rick- Good call on the music. I happen to be a big "rock bagpipe" fan. Which sounds like I'm kidding, but I'm not (do you know the band "Brother" from Australia? Bagpipes and didgeridoo!)
@Pete(Detroit)- You're right that some on the Left might be bugged by Obama's excesses if they ever heard about them (or if they weren't glowing described as virtues in the media).
@elcedar- The myth of the "do-nothing congress" is indeed infuriating. There has been some excellent and brave legislation passed by the Republican House, but you'd never know it by listening to the mainstream press.
And I think we all feel like we've ended up in a nonsensical Wonderland over the past few years.
@SC- You've hit on one of the most exasperating issues of our day: lawlessness in the people who are supposed to enact and enforce our laws. We want to appeal to a higher authority - but who and how?! At the very least, it's another reminder of the importance of the Supreme Court, and the critical need to deny Obama 4 more years of shuffling it to aid his goals.
@80roadster- In my heart of hearts, I think if it ever came down to it you'd find the Secret Service and Seal Team 6 on the same side - and heaven help whoever was on the other side.
@John the Econ- If I didn't know better, I'd think you don't want a kinder, gentler, socially-progressive little Army of peacekeepers and disaster-relief workers.
Whether Obama can muster storm troops is another question...and frankly, I don't think he can.
@gray lady- I'm with you. Where are our Constitutional champions?!
@Stilton, fortunately, most far-left liberals I know couldn't shoot a gun to save their lives. Unfortunately, they'll have all our money enough to just hire people who can...
@John the Econ- Actually, if the feces hits the fan I'm not sure it would be a good idea for a Leftie to call someone and say "I'm defenseless but have a lot of money. Can you bring your gun over?"
@John: Actually, I work closely with a local gun shop, I can tell you that most far-left liberals can and do regularly shoot guns; and sometimes to save their lives. However, they do not want you to be able to do so. Don't forget that the far-left includes, by a large dollop, those who would happily "put a cap in your ass and jack your stuff" - and they are at least more open and honest in their intent than their political and "intellectual" counterparts who would use federal agents to "put a cap in your ass and jack your stuff". The one class ignores laws such as gun control; the other simply believes that such laws should not apply to them, but to all the little people (read: us).
Frankly, though I don't think Øbama would find it easy at this point in time to be successful with any "stormtroopers" he would raise (too many now are wary), I don't think for a minute that he'd have much difficulty raising them. Those of us who are not already on the Federal payroll in one shape or form are hardly a majority anymore. We talk a lot of the "40%" receiving some entitlement or other, but we ignore the additional taps on our tax dollars: federal employees, many of whom are part and parcel or the SEIU and other similar collections. Others depend on the continuance of liberal policy to maintain their livelihoods - for instance, not all liberal teachers are liberal because they espouse the liberal dogma; many are liberal simply because they know which side their bread is buttered on, and will actively preserve both the bakery and the dairy. Even among these and those who are not already tainted by union membership, there are those who truly believe Øbama and his ilk are doing the right thing, and will happily become generals in the army raised to ensure its success.
No one would have believed Hitler, Stalin, Hussein, and other notable "leaders" from history could have garnered the power they did and could have gotten so many accomplices from among their people before they had done so. Therefor, my friends, learn from history and - Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis - prevent its constant repetition.
I have no way to confirm this, but... my Sister-in-Law (who shall remain nameless) is a civilian working at a military base (also nameless). She told me that the military personnel were just asked to complete questionaires which included the following question. "If your commanding officer gave the order to fire upon US civilians, would you obey?"
What answer were they looking for?
Now, she may have been pulling my leg, but I don't think so. I have never had reason to doubt her in the past. If this is indeed true, the seeds are already being planted, and we need to ask ourselves if WE would be willing to take the first shot if a gun is pointed at us by a member of our own military. This is an extremely tough subject. Even if my sis-in-law was pulling my chain, I think we need to start thinking this way, and NEVER tell ourselves it could "never happen in the USA!" I pray it never comes to this, but let's keep vigilant, informed, and engaged. Curiosity killed the cat, but we are not cats. It is apathy that will do us in.
@Emmentaler- I hadn't really linked the well-armed criminal element (did I say "criminal?" I meant "undocumented asset transfer specialists") with Obama supporters...but now that you've pointed it out I feel like a dolt for having missed it. Perhaps "Midnight Basketball" will be the new codeword for deploying Obama's Domestic Army.
@Colby- Man, I'd LOVE to know if there's any truth to that rumor. I found some similar things online, but all were just conjecture.
But as you and Emmentaler point out, we'd be fools to think it couldn't happen, because history has shown us that it can and has.
Stilton Jarlsberg comments on Emmentaler Limburger's and Colby's statements that.... Wait: I can't go on. This conversation is already way too cheesey...
@Velveeta- As you surely already know, cheese makes everything better.
@Colby, there was supposedly a questionnaire like that during Slick Willie's tenure. My weak recollection says that there were as many as 25% of the responses in the affirmative.
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