Jets are not, and if the country doesn't buy them, there will be several really sleazy defence contractors out of pocket.

It's a distraction.

That's not what I'm getting at. Like Dubya's sins, the only reasons that this is getting attention has to do with the money. It should have everything to do with civil rights, but your much-vaunted civil rights died in the 9-11 debacle, and no one posted the eulogy.

He's a libertarian. My hunch is he would be filibustering a Republican nominee too.

Other than the fact that some political blogs are talking about it?

How's this for a flash back....can anyone say "Unitary Executive"? If you'll recall, during the reign of Dimson, this was "all the rage" regarding torture, Patriot act, waterboarding and just about every fucking thing else Bush 43 did to justify his "war president" dictatorship. I'm sure some will remember...

..........the people who are outraged about the concept of Presidential Authority NOW were eerily silent back when a white Republican was doing the frickin' Riverdance on our Constitutional rights. Now all of a sudden they're all Constitutional authorities walking around waving copies of the Constitution as if it's something new they just discovered.

my memory recalls that during the Bush "Unitary"authority debate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito himself was "all a twitter" and "wetting his gown" justifying Presidential authority, particularly during war. We are still currently engaged in Afghanistan. I wonder if he still feels the same now that a Democratic President is in office? Especially a very competent black one. Oh my heavens to betsy, the hand wringing must be absolutely awful now. I'm just curious, "why do they hate Murca?"...sumbitches.

I think many just are about an angle of attack and circling the wagons and that is it.

It is what it is to me, not who it is other than really softening for "our guys" in consideration of the alternatives and the jackals at bay but the shit must be condemned on no uncertain terms.

At the time during which President Bush was actively seeking his "Unitary Authority", I was absolutely petrified of the possible passage of this "mandate" from the relinquishing of powers from the other branches of our government.

Here is the email I sent to my long time DEMOCRATIC Senator while the "Unitary Executive" was being kicked around for passage in the Senate.

My email was dated January 19, 2006

Senator XXXXX,

I am absolutely fearful of our current administrations consideration and illegal use of what Judge Alito refers to as the "Unitary Executive" privilege. I do not want this unlawful exclusion granted in any form, to any President, Democrat or Republican, now or in the future. After watching the Senate hearings on Judge Alito's nomination to replace Justice O'Conner's vacated seat on the SCOTUS, I am convinced by the response from Judge Alito during these hearings that he will promote and interpret this executive privilege to it's fullest, overriding any semblance to a system of checks and balances that is mandated by our country’s Constitution. Indeed sir, the President himself has already shown a great disdain for you and your fellow Senators by ignoring the power and the authority vested to the Senate to hold the office of the President accountable. Because of this most recently flagrant abuse of power by the executive, and the very likely possibility that Judge Alito will mandate this privilege by his interpretation of standing law, I passionately urge you to oppose his confirmation by whatever means that may be available to you. I certainly am no student of law, but I do understand the notion of "three co-equal" branches of the Federal government, and particularly what it was intended to provide the American people. Frankly Senator, in my opinion, this one issue would have the most detrimental impact on our nation’s future, any other nuances regarding Judge Alito aside. It is unbelievable to me that this privilege could even be remotely considered or validated by our Democratic government.

Thank you for your consideration sir.


He responded on the affirmative that he believed the President DID have the inherent authority and did indeed vote as such.

We all know the rest of the story...