TWN: "Bush has become the epitome of a Roman dictator"

[BurtWorm]

(Pssst: last century, the word for Roman dictator was "fascist...")


http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001262.php

...

Cheney's team have been the architects of both a kind of Presidency that is exactly what the Roman "dictatorships" were defined as -- a temporary provision of unchecked executive power to a ruler -- as well as the mercurial rise in power of the Office of the Vice President. And Cheney's team is the scary sort of lot that is hell-bent on establishing a kind of permanence to their power that threatens in very, very real terms the genuineness of our democracy.

Roman dictators still had constraints on what they could do. For instance, absolute authority was granted for distinct periods of time. Certain informal norms of continued consultations with the Roman Senate continued during the period of dictatorship.

The word "dictator" in modern language implies far vaster power and many negative connotations than the Roman application of the concept carried with it.

Nonetheless, Bush has become the epitome of a Roman dictator in the 21st century in his assertion of "unitary executive" authority which this White House has argued has "inherent and limitless powers in his role as commander in chief, above the system of checks and balances." The problem is that unlike Rome, where the Senate granted the dictator great powers, Congress has not -- in fact -- given Bush the authority to operate beyond his Constitutional authority. Bush has, instead, asserted that authority and taunted Congress to stop him.

This power grab should dominate our media and our civic discourse. Our President -- via a deranged, anti-democratic team of power-obsessed thugs in Vice President Cheney's office -- is engaged in a clear assault on the core architectural joists of American democracy.

...

[BurtWorm]

1. kick

[BurtWorm]

2. .

[BrotherBuzz]

3. Well, Bush* is crossing the Rubicon....

The Rubicon was a small stream that flows into the Adriatic and in Roman times marked the boundary between Cisalpine Gaul and ancient Italy. In 49 B.C., after some hesitation, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon to march against Pompey in defiance of the senate’s orders. He thus committed himself to conquer or to perish, and “to cross the Rubicon” now means to take an irrevocable step.

[Auntie Bush]

4. Maybe Democrats or anyone who values freedom should cross the Rubicon

and REMOVE bush* from office...along with his minions.

[BrotherBuzz]

6. It didn't work out too well for Caesar in the end....

he was stabbed 23 times. Seems some senators got really pissed off at him! :)

[malmapus]

9. Least Senators back then had a backbone =)

n/t

[giant_robot]

5. Thanks for the history lesson...

...I've often heard the expression, but didn't know its origins. :hi:

[JVS]

7. Let the orgies begin!

[BurtWorm]

8. kick

[blindpig]

10. Imperium.

That's exactly what bu$h has taken upon himself. Imperium, as conferred by the Senate gave the conferee the power to do whatever was necessary for the good of Rome. While primarily military it could and with the advent of the Principate was applied to anything.

Will he wait for the Senate to declare him divine or take that upon himself also?