Bush's Belief in His Own Unlimited Authority Is Unprecented

http://www.consortiumnews.com/Print/2004/061504.html


Bush's 'Apex' of Unlimited Power

By Nat Parry
June 15, 2004

George W. Bush is asserting presidential authority that in theory covers the lives and liberties of everyone, everywhere, U.S. citizens and foreigners alike, a claim of power so sweeping that it permits him to imprison, torture and kill at his choice without legal constraint anywhere in the world.

Bush’s belief in his unlimited authority is implicit in a series of administration legal opinions. They include Bush’s declaration that he has the power to arrest and indefinitely imprison anyone he deems an “enemy combatant,” no need for charges or a trial. Bush’s lawyers also are claiming for him the right to order the torturing of anyone in U.S. government custody and the power to kill his international enemies whenever he judges that necessary, even if civilian bystanders also must die.

It’s not so much that Bush is saying that he is above the law or even that he – regally – is the law. He is claiming that no law can infringe on his inherent power to do whatever he wishes as commander in chief. It is a declaration of personal authority unprecedented in scope and contemptuous of American constitutional checks and balances. Ultimately, this Bush Doctrine of Presidential Power is what’s at stake in the Nov. 2 elections.

While elements of Bush’s grand self-vision have been known for months, the full picture has only slowly come into focus....

Time to overthrow the tyrant.

ignoramouses in Congress who cling to his tail. The next Congress is a very important factor. The power given to the tyrant by Congress has to be recouped. Time to get out the broom and sweep the ilk of the Hasterts, et al out of Congress.

Nobody is advising him otherwise??? :shrug:

This passage from the piece is worth thinking about:


Though administration lawyers have written legal opinions asserting Bush’s unfettered powers, the concept of “presidential power at its absolute apex” isn’t really about law; it’s about lawlessness. It’s about all power invested in the hands of one man with the law made irrelevant in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Essentially Bush is saying that the murderous attacks have required the de facto partial suspension of the U.S. Constitution and the abrogation of international law.

While the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Congress could theoretically repudiate this Bush Doctrine, it is not clear whether Bush would respect any commands from the two other constitutional branches. It’s also conceivable that the Supreme Court and Congress – given their conservative majorities – will either accede to Bush’s theories about his own powers or duck the central issues, allowing Bush to continue his activities for the foreseeable future.

That was the significance of Ashcroft’s haughty refusal to give Congress the torture memo. Ashcroft rebuffed the request from the Senate Judiciary Committee without even asserting a legal rationale, such as the concept of “executive privilege.” His refusal amounted to telling the Congress “I-don’t-wanna.” Though angry Democratic senators warned Ashcroft that he could be charged with contempt of Congress, the chances of such charges in the Republican-controlled legislature are extremely remote.

there are few honest men left in the entire establishment.

I really wish some major media outlet had the will to do a story on the pattern of absolutist, dictator-like behavior from Bush. His posturing and subtle claims of absolute authority should disgust Americans, but apparently some don't mind.

strength and a strong country. They want a strong leader; one that would represent their strong country. They want pre-emptive and pre-ventive strikes and they want tough talk and kick ass bloviating and they want to be able to just take it from others when we need it. There is a confusion-----many think, it seems, if we are to go by polls, and the numbers who proudly display Bush/Cheney 04 signs on the back of their SUV and pickups, it is a display of strength and actually they believe, unassailable strength no matter the means. So, never having lived under a dictator that is hell bent for fascism, and perhaps too young or too uneducated to know anything about history in the last century, they go for the kick ass. It's cute to be that way and it speaks of "strength"

World Federation Wrestling has defined America's new sense of power and justice.

:evilfrown:

The US is a young country. It has no history of a dictatorial reign unlike the histories of most of the rest of the world. Is a dictatorial regime and its brutality, a prerequisite to the people being able to recognize it?

squatter 'n co. have no regard for the law, domestic or internaltional. They ALL have been flaunting it since election day '00. Since then, the courts R being packed w/ rabid, rong wing religious wackos; the, supposed, head law man in the country flaunts congress and all but dares them to cite him 4 contempt; international treaties have been discarded on little more than a whim; executives orders R flaunted either reversing or destroying years of accepted policy; the UN is treated as if it is a mentally challenged cousin, w/ condescension and revulsion. Sovereign nations R invaded, their native populations murdered, jailed and/or tortured. Corporate campaign contributors R allowed 2 avoid prosecution, indeed, most R allowed 2 continue their corrupt dealings outside thw spotlight.

All accomplished w/ the blessings of the whorporate media. There is very little mainstream acknowledgment, critism or condemnation of these actions. There was feeble disapproval, even B4 9/11, from the opposition.

I am beginning 2 think we will have 2 go down that dark path B4 we recognize it. I am beginning to understand. I am beginning 2 believe the attitude in the US is not all that different than Germany in 1938.

I guess that's what happens when a leader surrounds himself
with sycophants and "yes" people and who spends millions of
taxpayer dollars ensuring no dissenting messages enter into
his sight or hearing.

The egging of his limo on Inauguration Day must have
damaged him more than we thought.

Adolf Hitler!

emphasis on GOD. The faith-based mental disease. It's stunning. Hey wasn't that book by a shrink declaring Bush nuts supposed to be released today?

Scary.

x(

Bush will not easily relinquish his power when he loses in November.