Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws

[AGENDA21]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.

Among the laws Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative-action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, ''whistle-blower" protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally funded research.

Legal scholars say the scope and aggression of Bush's assertions that he can bypass laws represent a concerted effort to expand his power at the expense of Congress, upsetting the balance between the branches of government. The Constitution is clear in assigning to Congress the power to write the laws and to the president a duty ''to take care that the laws be faithfully executed." Bush, however, has repeatedly declared that he does not need to ''execute" a law he believes is unconstitutional.

Former administration officials contend that just because Bush reserves the right to disobey a law does not mean he is not enforcing it: In many cases, he is simply asserting his belief that a certain requirement encroaches on presidential power.

More in link:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/30/bush_challenges_hundreds_of_laws/

[Rosemary2205]

1. Line Item veto returns

ignoring 750 laws isn't enough. He really wants the power to just legislate from the Oval Office in the first place -- make Congress completely irrelevant.

[LiberalPartisan]

2. That's been a goal of Rummy and Cheney

Since Nixon. They still feel the sting of Nixon's, and by extension their humiliation as a result of Watergate. They are the true fascists, as is Bush, their eager and willing toady.

[eShirl]

3. Isn't judging the constitutionality of a law the job of Judiciary Branch?

He doesn't like legislating from the bench but has no qualms about judging from the oval office.

[rock]

4. Of course, it's not the pResident's perogative

to interpret the Constitution. That's the job ot the (ugh) supremes.

[Vidar]

5. America's Oliver Cromwell.

[enough]

6. Our true constitutional crisis.

Well worth reading the entire long article.

[Breeze54]

7. Now THAT's a 'title' !!!

Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws!!!!

:)

[AGENDA21]

8. INDEED!

[low_phreaq]

9. He has refused his Assent to Laws

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
--The Declaration of Independence

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration.html

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.