Bush signings called effort to expand power (Boston Globe)

[Eugene]

Bush signings called effort to expand power
Report sees broad strategy

By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | October 5, 2006

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's frequent use of signing statements
to assert that he has the power to disobey newly enacted laws is
"an integral part" of his "comprehensive strategy to strengthen and
expand executive power" at the expense of the legislative branch,
according to a report by the non partisan Congressional Research
Service.

In a 27-page report written for lawmakers, the research service said
the Bush administration is using signing statements as a means to slowly
condition Congress into accepting the White House's broad conception
of presidential power, which includes a presidential right to ignore
laws he believes are unconstitutional.

The "broad and persistent nature of the claims of executive authority
forwarded by President Bush appear designed to inure Congress, as well
as others, to the belief that the president in fact possesses expansive
and exclusive powers upon which the other branches may not intrude,"
the report said.

Under most interpretations of the Constitution, the report said, some
of the legal assertions in Bush's signing statements are dubious.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/10/05/bush_signings_called_effort_to_expand_power

[aquart]

1. "Dubious," my ass. They are flat out treason.

They weaken our democracy to the point of dictatorship. That leaves us prey for foreign adventurism as our weakness becomes obvious to the world. Look around. Look at the sand being kicked in our face. We are perceived as WEAK because Bush is a bully and the bully is always the weakest one in the room.

Pity we never learned that from the schoolyard.

[acmavm]

2. Which goes to show how ignorant the and lazy the legislative

and judicial branches are for letting him get away with this. They figure that as long as 'their' guy is doing it, that's fine.

They'll be crying and whining and pissing and moaning about how 'illegal' it is if a dem gets in office and does the same thing.

Shit for brains is the best description I have for all of our 'elected representatives'.

[SpiralHawk]

3. A bunch of frikkin Haterts is what the Congresswhimps are

Down with the appointed Idiot King

We don't need no steenkin Pretend Royalty

[Double T]

4. 'WE' will NEVER be 'conditioned' aka 'brainwashed' into............

allowing an insanely power hungry executive branch run by a want-to-be dictator to 'override' the laws of the land, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The ALARM is sounding and a NEW CONGRESS needs to drastically curtail the abuse of power and put his self appointed 'hindASS' in check.

[dubykc]

5. Presidential power is far more ...

In signing the multitude of signing statements Shrub has effectively said the entire Executive Branch is above whatever law was signed, not just the President.

Does anyone know if he signed a signing statement about the new Detainee Law? Not that the law isn'y bad enough.