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riversedge

(70,286 posts) Sat Jul 13, 2019, 06:37 PM Jul 2019

Barr's belief in the unitary executive is rubbing off.

Very interesting article..........

Ahmed Baba @AhmedBaba_

Trump: "Nobody ever mentions Article 2. It gives me all of these rights at a level that nobody has ever seen before."

Nixon: “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.”

Barr's belief in the unitary executive is rubbing off.

Link to tweet

Why Barr Is Hell-Bent On Emboldening An Authoritarian Presidency

Attorney General William Barr and modern conservatives have distorted Hamilton’s unitary executive theory in an effort to justify authoritarian governance.
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by: Ahmed Baba on June 4, 2019
Attorney General William Barr and President Donald Trump (DOJ/AP)

Attorney General William Barr and President Donald Trump (DOJ/AP)

The modern conservative theory of the unitary executive is corrupting our system of government. It’s the theory that Article II of the Constitution renders the President an all-powerful figure. The theory can be summed up in President Richard Nixon’s infamous words: “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” This is a notion the Trump administration is embracing in the aftermath of President Trump’s unprecedented obstruction of the Russia probe and his tactic of stonewalling Congress.

As Attorney General William Barr indicated in his 19-page memo attacking former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s obstruction investigation, he thoroughly believes in the unitary executive theory. In his 4-page summary of the Mueller report, in which he lied about Mueller’s findings and attempted to exonerate President Trump, Barr made clear that he believes a President is incapable of obstructing justice. In Barr’s Senate Judiciary hearing last month, the Attorney General said that the President has the power to curtail any investigation if he feels he is being falsely accused.

The House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold Barr in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena and the full House is set to vote on the resolution next week. Even President George W. Bush’s former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo, who is a proponent of the unitary executive, believes that the Trump Administration is going too far by refusing to comply with subpoenas. Barr’s undemocratic belief in absolute executive authority has been apparent throughout his career..........................

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Barr's belief in the unitary executive is rubbing off. (Original Post) riversedge Jul 2019 OP

Correction SHRED Jul 2019 #1

IMO Barr is preparing the way for the Old Guard of the Republican Party delisen Jul 2019 #2

SHRED

(28,136 posts)

1. Correction

Reply to riversedge (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 06:55 PM

Jul 2019

Barr favors "unitary executive" power for Republican Party Presidents only.

delisen

(6,044 posts)

2. IMO Barr is preparing the way for the Old Guard of the Republican Party

Reply to riversedge (Original post)

Sat Jul 13, 2019, 07:56 PM

Jul 2019

to regain control of the Executive branch and run it as a dictatorship.

I use Old Guard for want of a better term but I see it as the combination of the super rich (now mainly billionaires), the Federalist Society, Republican law firms, such as Kirkland Ellis, the old time Republican pedigreed office holders, such as Prescott Bush and George H W Bush (who at various times was head of the CIA when the US was propping up dictatorships in Central and South America), head of the Republican Party, VP during the Iran-Contra operation) and President (who thwarted the Iran Contra prosecutions by pardoning the participants).

I see Barr as one of the lesser operatives who see their place as being in service to the Old Guard. He served the Old Guard in the ending the prosecutions in Iran-Contra.

To the Old Guard Trump is like the South American dictators they used to enable. At the point where Trump becomes a liability they will get rid of him or replace him. (The Epstein scandal may be that point). In the meantime they have accomplished much-such as moving their anti-democracy judges into place.

To the Old Guard Romney. may be seen as a possible alternative, or Jeb Bush. In any case the presidency is something they see as theirs to control-even as the rest of us think it is ours.

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