A Democrat Calls for Executive Accountability

[babylonsister]

A Democrat Calls for Executive Accountability

by John Nichols

snip//

Bush and Cheney served as monarchs, launching undeclared wars, spying illegally, authorizing torture and attaching signing statements to legislation with the intent of allowing themselves to operate outside the rule of law.

Obama may be somewhat more responsible on some issues. After all, he taught Constitutional law before swearing an oath to defend the document.

But to rely on one man, even a good man, to renew the system of checks and balances is as naive as it is dysfunctional.

Congress must act to renew the separation of powers and the whole of the Constitution.

"Over the past several years, serious questions have been raised about the conduct of high ranking Bush/Cheney Administration officials in relation to some of the most basic elements of our democracy: respect for the rule of law, the principle of checks and balances, and the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights," argues Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, a key member of the House Judiciary Committee. "We must restore Americans' faith that in a democracy, we follow the rule of law and that nobody - even the President and Vice President of the United States - is above the law."

To that end, Baldwin has introduced the Executive Branch Accountability Act of 2009 (H.Res. 417), which calls on President Obama to reject and reverse the illegal actions of the Bush-Cheney Administration and to work with Congress to restore a proper balance between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/08-14

[LakeSamish706]

1. I still think that our country was being ruled under a Dictatorship for several of those...

8 years of the Bush Administration. Bush had pretty much complete control of Congress and the Judiciary for much of that time period. Still not sure why they actually gave up the White House in January cause it seemed like they could have continued their rule. I think he just got bored of being King... :argh:

[atreides1]

3. it seemed like they could have continued their rule

Well, how do you know they haven't?

Just because they don't live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue anymore, does not mean that they are out of it.

You can continue to rule as long as you have your backers still pulling the strings.

Bush had the banks, Wall Street, health care, and others in his pocket, and they're the ones are that pushing against Obama's agenda, with the open assistance of more then enough "Democrats" so that they get what they want and the people get screwed yet again!

[LakeSamish706]

4. You have a great point there and yes it does seem like they are doing just that.

So that makes it even more important for these thugs to be brought up on war crimes and others IMO...

[truedelphi]

6. Hey there, in fact, Obama has continued Bush's economic

Policies. Bernanke is just a younger Paulson. We see some meaningful reforms; like stem cell research being okayed, but the 14 trillion dollar handover of Main Street's monies to Wall Street is what will further hasten the demise of the middle class. Not that anyone in the Beltway cares about the middle class.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. K&R

[OhioChick]

5. K&R

:kick: