SNOW: The President - CAN AND WILL - "Ultimately Do Whatever He Wants"

[kpete]

SNOW: Bush CAN AND WILL Do Whatever He Wants

Snow held out hope that the Democrats would come to their senses about opposing this but admitted it could even be a battle royal. But what about calls for the Democrats to halt the build up by denying funding? Snow admitted congress had funding control but also pointed out that the president could ultimately do what he wants. "You know, Congress has the power of the purse," Snow said, then added: "The President has the ability to exercise his own authority if he thinks Congress has voted the wrong way."


http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003529196

[Hubert Flottz]

1. Bush is a dictator!

[Tellurian]

44. Yep, and Pelosi should call him on it...NO MO FUNDING!!!

Lets get this out in the open and STOP pussyfooting around.

Pelosi has to bring the FIGHT to BUSH...Not the other way around!

If she doesn't; Bush is going to FIRE CONGRESS...

Just like Hitler did with the Parliament!

[pdxmom]

So what exactly does Snow mean? Is he intimating that Bush has

the ability to fund this war if that's what he wants to do? That he has authority over the purse strings?

I don't doubt for one second that Bush does believe that he can do that. He thinks he can override anything else Congress does.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Dictatorship

Snowjob has bluntly admitted that B*sh considers this his dictatorship.

This nutjob should be arrested.

[hippiechick]

5. To which nutjob are you referring ?

Snow, or Bush? :shrug:

[LiberalEsto]

8. B*sh

The others can be rounded up after El Pretzeldente is behind bars.

I think it's time for a citizens' arrest if Congress fails to rein him in. I don't know who is going to do it, but I fervently hope someone can manage it.

[Richard Steele]

3. "The word of the Fuhrer has the power of law."

[Jacobin]

4. Time for another Boston Tea Party to show this King George

that he is wrong.

[demnan]

6. Yeah, but instead of tea

let's throw him in the harbor.

[Jacobin]

7. now now

We mustnt further pollute Boston Harbor.

There has to be some way to recycle him properly

:-)

[Future Principal]

22. Recycle him? you mean, you want to have this all over again?

we couldn't survive another round with the king of fools.

[Jacobin]

41. reincarnate him as a walmart greeeter

that's more along the lines of what i was thinking about

[Future Principal]

43. no. . .walmart greeters are people.

recycle him as a speed bump, pile of dog flop. . .maybe even a weed in a garden.

[originalpckelly]

50. The party has already started...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=3055829

[dogday]

9. What do you get when you cross a potato

with a penis? A Dick-Tator or Bush......

[Hubert Flottz]

11. Bush + Dick = Fukt!

Bush will go as far as the people let him.

[malaise]

10. The President

can also be impeached.

[kentuck]

12. I thought the President was not above the law ??

When did this change?

[Eurobabe]

13. News flash Tony, who elected this fucknut? The stupid 52%

out of whom only about 29% approve of the loser now -- Bush ain't no Dick-tater, and the people WILL remove his sorry ass should he do something retarded like go after Iran.

[helderheid]

14. FINALLY he's telling us the truth. Bush was never elected and he is our DICTATOR.

[mmonk]

15. Absolutely.

This is why the constitutional remedy of impeachment is the only solution. Exposure of his crimes is the only way to slow this down. Without impeachment, it becomes a political debate between republicans and democrats with the ultimate reality being he will still violate the constitution and also continue the neocon plan of violent conquest of the middle east.

[spanone]

16. If EVER the Democrats had a mandate THIS IS IT. BRING IT ON.

[CanonRay]

17. Well, there it is.

Raw, naked power trumps bullshit every time. The Dems have got to force this bastard into a corner.

[KharmaTrain]

18. Yep...You Can Do...But Now You're Going To Be Held Accountable

Boooshie is playing chicken...and if we've learned anything from these past years its to play into this Rovian game.

Numbnutz sees himself beseiged...my bets are he gets regular lectuers and tea and symapthy parties with Crashcart as they both moan how they're "victims" of all sorts of evils. The biggest of these evils is definitely US...Democrats, "libruls" or anyone who doesn't suck their doctrine. There's no such thing as reason as these people are of the delusion that they are and always right and any "failure" is caused by others not by themselves.

The dude is not gonna sit around and get "rolled" by Democrats...and this is why he's gonna escalate the war, stonewall on any and all subpoenas or inquiries and force confrontation at every step. With low popularity and approval ratings, this regime is now a caged rabid dog...it doesn't care about anything but holding onto its power and remaining in their parallel universe. They're daring the Democrats to knock chips off their shoulder and the trick we have is to do that, but not to their benefit.

Booshie wants to create a confrontation in Congress on the next military supplemental...and this is the first salvo in that battle. They're gonna try to frame Democrats or those that oppose giving another 10 or 20 billion for his carte blanche use as being either "not supporting the troops" or "weak on defense".

[Skidmore]

19. Biden said essentially the same thing on MTP Sunday.

It is an excuse so that Congress can deflect blame from any inaction or lack of corrective action for this course that they will engage in. They will LET him do this unless the people stand firm and quit buying the spin.

:grr:

[sinkingfeeling]

20. And Congress has the power to impeach the little prick!

[Skidmore]

21. As if...

they will.

[havocmom]

23. Somebody give Snow a laxative

He has a serious crappola impaction.

[Poiuyt]

24. This has to be one of the scariest statements to ever come out of the WH

Everyone should forward this to their Congressmen

[LuckyTheDog]

25. Unitary executive

The unitary executive rears his ugly head. Bush thinks he has the authority to do anything in the name of national security. This could get really bad. We could have a massive Constitutional crisis.

[MorningGlow]

28. COULD have?

:shrug: We're already neck-deep in a Constitutional crisis. Need more people to notice, though...

[Senator]

38. That would be Urinary Executive (defined>>>)

Definition:

Urinary Executive or Urinary Authoritarian Executive (slang, DCspeak)

n., (en)title -- the "newly-discovered," or "inherent" (i.e., faith-based) Constitutional Authority for an appointed ruler (as opposed to elected leader) to piss down the back of the American People and tell them it's raining.

See also, Trickle-Down Economics

--

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. The question is, has Bush lost the hearts and minds of the military?

[saigon68]

27. He has lost the hearts of their wives for sure

[LynnTheDem]

35. He did that years ago. 2/3rds of the US military are NOT republics.

But ya won't find the US "media" talking much about that fact.

[cascadiance]

29. Yup like Hitler enabling grandfather Prescott like son!...

This trend seems to run in the family!

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. OK...can we call him HITLER now? Why does Congress even exist if the PSYCHO

can do whatever the hell he wants? SOMEONE needs to remove that demented piece of shit from power! NOW!

[Solly Mack]

31. No. Bush will do whatever he is allowed to get away with

Is America so helpless against Bush that he can't be stopped?
Is Congress that helpless?
Are the people that helpless?

If the answer is Yes - then "America" (in any form people know it) is over - gone - kaput.

And if that is the case there really is no point in pretending otherwise. No point believing anyone in Congress can change the dynamics. No point in believing the people can either.


It's over.

If the "system" isn't allowing for Congress to stop a rogue President, then the system isn't working.

The alternative being - that some in Congress don't want to stop Bush and refuse to use the system to do so.

And if some in Congress refuse to stop Bush by using the system already in place, then those Congress people are equally as bad as Bush

Which is worse? Those who can stop a madman and don't? or the madman?

[bdamomma]

32. Well if it's between our safety and security, and this idiot

who cannot reign himself in, are we left to do it. It comes down to our survival. Do any of us want to be taken down by this little man?

[leftofthedial]

33. that is treason

pure and simple

he is asserting dictatorial powers

[LynnTheDem]

34. That makes bush a dictator in fact.

Sure wish bush would just stand up (for once in his useless little life) and admit the truth; he is the dictator of America period.

[tiptoe]

36. Trying to frame an eventual "Unitary Executive" showdown in the Supreme Court?

Extensive investigations -- 9/11, Plame, Cheney Energy Task Force, abuse of pre-war intelligence, Iraq/Saddam tie to 9/11, NSA surveillance/wiretapping (...even election fraud/http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2153139#2167049">Abramoff-Diebold-Ney Timeline...) -- are needed to prepare for this "showdown" by educating the public, Congress (and the SC) -- ASAP -- by counter-framing and underpinning this admin's behavior with issues of treason...i.e. lying to Congress/United Nations to start a war of aggression...exposure of CIA-NOC identity...Exposure of 9/11 fraud in all its manifestations, including, possibly, insurance fraud.

Fitzgerald indictments beyond Libby would be helpful, too.

(...yes, all the while the senseless deaths & maimings of American soldiers and Iraqi civilians in M.E. continue.)

...
“Most Republicans said it was right for the U.S. to expand the war on terrorism by attacking Iraq, that there was a connection between Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 terror attacks, and that they believe the government should have the right to conduct searches of personal property and telephone conversations to find terrorists. Most Democrats disagree on every point.

“If I were advising Democrats, I would tell them to energize their base on this issue. If I were advising Republicans, I would tell them to energize their base on this issue. The difference is, the President is doing this right now. The Democrats are not.”
...
http://www.zogby.com/News/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1169">Zogby Poll: 9/11 + 5 finds a nation badly divided as GOPers back U.S. war on terror, wiretapping, and Saddam's role in 9/11; Dems, Indies suspicious of all three (Poll taken Pre-election 2006)

Pre-Investigations, Post-Election:
ABC news: 34 Senators change their minds on Iraq

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 ...
At least 57 senators indicated they would have voted against giving the president the authority to go to war with Iraq [if members had the same information then that they do now], far more than the 23 members that opposed the authorization in 2002, ABC News reported Friday.

The war was approved with a 77-member majority, but a maximum 43 members said they would vote the same way given the information they have now.

The poll follows an address on the Senate floor by Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., who lamented his vote in favor of the U.S. invasion.

"I, for one, am at the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by the same bombs day after day, Smith said. That is absurd. It may even be criminal. I cannot support that any more."
...

[radfringe]

37. Assuming Congress is helpless to stop bush from escalating

it's been pointed out that while Congress holds the purse strings, the decider is still in charge.

For congress to withhold funds will not hurt bush. bush is not in Iraq, bush is not standing in a halliburton cafeteria line, nor is bush trash picking for armor to nail to a humvee.

What congress can do is to demand accountability.

Surge ahead with Hearings. Escalate the Investigations. And PLUS-UP the impeachment committee.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

40. The last congress authorized enough money to continue W's retarded adventures

There is money in the pipeline already appropriated by the repugs in the last congress.

We would have to rescind that (if that is possible) and override W's veto to get that money back.

Where we have some power is in refusing to fund anything until he get's our kids out of there.

[Cruzan]

45. Do you have a link for that?

Pelosi seemed to make it pretty clear in the Face The Nation interview that Bush would soon be requesting another Iraq war supplemental and that she would require that support for a 'surge' be specified as a line item separate from support for existing troops. All that would seem to imply that the money is indeed not already in the pipeline.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

51. There was additional funding approved in December, but less than I thought

I thought it was funded through next year. Here is a link laying out what has been appropriated.

http://declarationofpeace.org/campaign-updates/brother-can-you-spare-a-dime-iraq-war-spending-

The dems may have more leverage here than I thought.

[rman]

39. I think there's a fundamental problem with one man having more power

than anyone else - especially in a representative democracy - regardless of who that man (or woman) is.

Yet the US Constitution says that's how it should be ("executive power resides with the president").

I'd think that if Congress and Senate make a decision by majority vote, that should be it - no need for someone with yet more authority than Senate and Congress to confirm or block that decision.

[nolabels]

42. Thee DICTATORSHIP states that "Congress has voted the wrong way"

:shrug:

[Cruzan]

46. Looks like a short circuit to impeachment

Talk about making it easy. Pelosi on Face The Nation said Bush would have to justify funds for a surge, implying there aren't already appropriated funds Bush could use. If instead he tries to use money for the surge specifically appropriated for another separate, distinct use, that's clearly a Constitional level violation a'la Iran-Contra and ought to be a quick ticket to getting his butt kicked out of the White House.

[Virginia Dare]

48. Yep, they're backing him into a corner...

he will answer to nobody, and he will ignore all constitutional law. Impeachment is definitely on the horizon. It will be interesting to see who else jumps ship in the next couple of weeks.

[alfredo]

47. We have to make it clear that we will not tolerate a

dictatorship. By delcaring himself "the decider" is is saying he had dictatorial power. Snowjob has made it clear that bush intends to exercise his power as "the dictator."

[originalpckelly]

49. I thought we showed him last fall that we are the deciders.

Maybe he needs another demonstration to help him along?

[fooj]

52. There is a special place for Tony Snow in hell.

There has to be...

[Cha]

53. No, the little shit will ultimately

answer for his god damn sucking the life out of America. Fuck you, ts.

[lovuian]

54. Bush is going to do whatever he wants and is accountable to

NO ONE... very scary times

[liberal renegade]

55. he's cheney's

little dictastor.....

[radfringe]

56. Congress can do more than tighten purse strings

US Constitution and the War Powers act of 1973

http://www.law.emory.edu/cms/site/index.php?id=3081#7642

US Constitution: legislative branch

Clause 11:

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Clause 12:

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

Clause 13:

To provide and maintain a Navy;

Clause 14:

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

Clause 15:

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Clause 16:

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

----------

The War Powers Act of 1973
http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/warpow.html



PURPOSE AND POLICY

SEC. 2. (a) It is the purpose of this joint resolution to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgement of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicate by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in hostilities or in such situations.

SEC. 2. (b) Under article I, section 8, of the Constitution, it is specifically provided that the Congress shall have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution, not only its own powers but also all other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

SEC. 2. (c) The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.



CONSULTATION

SEC. 3. The President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situation where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and after every such introduction shall consult regularly with the Congress until United States Armed Forces are no longer engaged in hostilities or have been removed from such situations.




REPORTING

Sec. 4. (a) In the absence of a declaration of war, in any case in which United States Armed Forces are introduced--
(1) into hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances;

(2) into the territory, airspace or waters of a foreign nation, while equipped for combat, except for deployments which relate solely to supply, replacement, repair, or training of such forces; or

(3) (A) the circumstances necessitating the introduction of United States Armed Forces;
(B) the constitutional and legislative authority under which such introduction took place; and
(C) the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or involvement.

Sec. 4. (b) The President shall provide such other information as the Congress may request in the fulfillment of its constitutional responsibilities with respect to committing the Nation to war and to the use of United States Armed Forces abroad.

Sec. 4. (c) Whenever United States Armed Forces are introduced into hostilities or into any situation described in subsection (a) of this section, the President shall, so long as such armed forces continue to be engaged in such hostilities or situation, report to the Congress periodically on the status of such hostilities or situation as well as on the scope and duration of such hostilities or situation, but in no event shall he report to the Congress less often than once every six months.

[and-justice-for-all]

57. THIS JUST IN!!!!! BREAKING!!!!

Tony Snow: GO FUCK YOURSELF and the DUMB ONE TOO!!