Dem Imperative: Bush's "Unitary Executive" Notion Must be Obliterated

[kpete]

The Washington Note

Democratic Imperative: Bush's "Unitary Executive" Notion Must be Obliterated
The Washington Note works hard to provide constructive, serious critiques of Bush administration foreign policy and attempts to avoid reckless typecasting or tractionless hyperventilation regarding what this administration is up to.

We try instead to characterize honestly the power grab that the Executive Branch has been engaged in since 9/11, but we also recognize that the administration is not monolithically united behind the adminstration's most outragious positions -- and that the loyal minority has not done its part. On both the Democratic side and among Republican moderates, those who believe in checks-and-balances have done little to compellingly challenge this White House.

I want change in policy -- not shrillness for its own sake -- but this excellent summary of the vital debate about Executive Branch power by Sidney Blumenthal has hardened my resolve to do whatever I can to delegitimate and defang Cheney's operation.

I know Bush is the big boss, but Bush's tactic has been to allow two -- and perhaps three -- contending groups inside his White House to wage war with each other while he tilts in the final analysis towards the group that seems to win out in these private gladiator contests. Most often, the winning tag-team has been Cheney-Rumsfeld over all others.

more at:
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001262.php
http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2006/02/23/cheney_power/index_np.html

[PurpleChez]

1. Excellent! This is very exciting!

I'm all in favor of incendiary rhetoric among friends, but I realize that's not going to win over moderate repubs and libertarians who are dissatisfied with * but who haven't yet seen a reason to come to "our side." Thank you for letting me know about this!!!!