executive orders are just directions about how to do things that have already been established by law, like Truman desegregating the military.

Shrub probably couldn't read 'em, but he signed 'em.

PBO does not belong to the privileged old white man club.
That's the reason.

GWB used Executive Orders for all kinds of purposes, not all of which were appropriate. But they never complained when he did it. Am I wrong in saying that GWB issued secret Executive Orders?

Executive Order 13233 limited access to the records of former United States Presidents to a higher degree than the previous Order 12667, which it superseded. It was drafted by then White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales and issued by George W. Bush on November 1, 2001. Section 13 of Order 13233 revoked Executive Order 12667 which was issued by Ronald Reagan on January 18, 1989.

Executive Order 13233 was partially struck down in October 2007. The order was revoked on January 21, 2009 by Barack Obama's Executive Order 13489, which essentially restored most of the wording of Order 12667 with some modifications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13233

Here is a list of GWB's executive orders:

http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/orders/

Examples:

Here is one re: the labor relations of contractors, an issue rather similar to Obama's requiring a $10.10 wage for the employees of government contractors. So why the controversy?

Preservation of Open Competition and Government
Neutrality Towards Government Contractors' Labor
Relations on Federal and Federally Funded Construction Projects

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, 40 U.S.C. 471 et seq., and in order to (1) promote and ensure open competi-tion on Federal and federally funded or assisted construction projects; (2) maintain Government neutrality towards Government contractors= labor relations on Federal and federally funded or assisted construction projects; (3) reduce construction costs to the Federal Government and to the taxpayers; (4) expand job opportunities, especially for small and disadvantaged businesses; and (5) prevent discrimination against Government contractors or their employees based upon labor affiliation or lack thereof; thereby promoting the economical, nondiscriminatory, and efficient administration and completion of Federal and federally funded or assisted construction projects, it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1. To the extent permitted by law, any executive agency awarding any construction contract after the date of this order, or obligating funds pursuant to such a contract, shall ensure that neither the awarding Government authority nor any construction manager acting on behalf of the Government shall, in its bid specifications, project agreements, or other controlling documents:

(a) Require or prohibit bidders, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors to enter into or adhere to agreements with one or more labor organizations, on the same or other related construction project(s); or

(b) Otherwise discriminate against bidders, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors for becoming or refusing to become or remain signatories or otherwise to adhere to agreements with one or more labor organizations, on the same or other related construction project(s).

http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/02/20010221.html

Executive Order: Waiver Under the Trade Act of 1974 with Respect to Turkmenistan


RSS Feed White House News

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 402(c)(2) and (d) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the "Act&quot 19 U.S.C. 2432(c)(2) and (d)), and having made the report to the Congress set forth in section 402(c)(2), I hereby waive the application of subsections (a) and (b) of section 402 of the Act with respect to Turkmenistan.

http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/06/20070629-10.html

Only a politician says dumb shit like that. And, maybe we should talk about lawless government not doing their jobs and when they won't prosecute the most lawless bunch in the history of our country. Executive fiat? WTF.

Per wiki, the numbers are even more striking:

Lyndon B. Johnson 325
Richard Nixon 346
Gerald R. Ford 169
Jimmy Carter 320
Ronald Reagan 381
George H.W. Bush 166
Bill Clinton 364
George W. Bush 291
Barack Obama (as of 01/14/14) 167

which upsets Republicans because they are under the control of the Koch brothers control half of Congress and represent the Koch Brothers the people. Well, not the majority of the people. More people voted Democratic in the last congressional elections. But the Republicans represent the majority of voters in their gerrymandered districts. So let's not play games with the Constitution here to try to subvert the Koch Brothers our representative democracy.

In the immortal words of Joe Pesci: "but, but, you're black" from Lethal Weapon 2

It really is stunning how Republicans get away with their bullshit.

That's how Al Sharpton can have a regular segment called, "We gotcha".

is the song that keeps running through my head.

GOP - The party of little bitty lies.

(Now I have to go to google to see who sang this golden oldie)

Ha, sorry, on edit it was a tear... So I must have been thinking of Boner!!

Burl Ives!

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It's how they are utilized that is important.

Congress shut the government down, Barack could have done much more with EOs, but he is a patient man methinks.

Watch out after Barack's reinstatement/confirmation, whatever it is that happens this year.

When Obama is in for his last 2 years,

I think the MIC/PNAC big pharma big oil, etc., are gonna get slapped silly.

I'm hoping I'm correct in assuming Obama is just biding his time to make a big positive change in the USA.

It takes quite some time for a newcomer to the WH to learn how to make changes.

Dimson didn't need any time - he was a puppet from the get-go.

Barack Obama is no puppet imo.

CC

they've started to believe Fox News. That's the problem with propaganda. You eventually believe your own bullshit.

The GOP with the help of the media has trained people to just believe what they are told, and they are being told repeatedly that President Obama is trying to dismantle the Constitution.