Do We Have A Constitutional System's Failure?

[ThomWV]

I can not get over John Ashcroft's refusal to turn over memos to the Congress, but not invoke the shield of Executive Privilege. This was clearly in contempt of the Congress but who was there to enforce it? Why on earth has there been no call for impeachment? I don't mean that I think a call could withstand the Republican congress but why hasn't the minority demand the discussion? Where are the Checks and Balances when a Justice of the Supreme Court is a social partner of the Executive? Has our system failed right before our eyes and no one seems to have noticed?

[camby]

1. In a word, YES

It started back in 2000. (well, arguably the groundwork was being laid long before that, but the official demise of our constitutional gov't was when the Supreme Court stopped the vote counting in Fla.) So now we're being run by a gang of wealthy narcissistic sociopaths who answer to no one. And the official word to us from those in charge: Relax, be happy, things are going fine. More jobs. Iraq self-rule. Bright future. Bring me my fucking shades please.

[stepnw1f]

2. Freedom Of Speech Is Part Of The Checks and Balances

is it not? I have no idea why they would pursue Impeachment at least in spirit. However "We could thow the bastards out ourselves if we really did something. The government ony represents and protects those who ask. I believe as Michael Moore does, that we have the power to change things around us, we just need to try really hard.

[Solly Mack]

3. Why yes, yes we do

is it that obvious? (sarcasm..sorry)

[stellanoir]

4. totally. . .checks and balances

have ceased to existed ever since * met with the Senators in Dec. '00 and said,"I wish this was a dictatorship. . .just as long as I got to be the dictator."

Am thinking about doing a re-enactment of the Boston tea party, this summer. . .re: taxation without representation. Did a review of the Declaration of Independence last year and have to find it. The parellels were awesome, between what King George was doing to the Colonists then and what *Co is doing to us now. Will update as soon as I find that review.

[yodermon]

7. Funny story..

Last year on July 4th, NPR had various of its on-air personalities read the entire Declaration of Independence out loud. It was done in the morning, and my wife and I awoke to hear this stately speech coming from our clock radio. Right about the time they got to:

...
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.


my still-groggy wife says to me "what is this, articles of impeachment against Bush?"

http://www.law.indiana.edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html
Read it, you might get chills.

[stellanoir]

8. that is the very same report that inspired me to write

what I wrote last year. Now just to find it!

[Trillo]

5. Just a thought--Generalized, not specific:

We now have ruling elites in all branches of government at leadership levels, the generalized evidence is the existence of a global economic elite who appear to be above rules citizenry is expected to follow, and that in turn donates to the political leaders to keep them in power to do the elite's bidding.

The Citizens of nations have become, with respect towards checks and balances, an afterthought in this new system of graft and greed.

That the multinationals have no equivalent and democratic checks and balances at a global level is telling.

The CEO reigns supreme.

~

To answer your question directly: Yes.

~

on edit: replaced "ruling" with "economic"

[indepat]

6. In words of one syllable: you are fu*king-a-tweety-pie-right, for those

who control all the levers of power are extremely far right, so its damn the Constitution, damn the Republican form of government.