Monday, January 20, 2014

Totalitarianism


Julius Ceasar said, “All bad precedents began as justifiable measures.”
Barak Obama said, ““We’re not just going to be waiting for legislation. I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone. And I can use that pen to sign executive orders…” – Barack Obama

Executive orders are nothing new. But they are NOT Constitutional. There is no constitutional provision or statute that explicitly permits executive orders.
Let’s make one thing clear. Just saying someone else has done something does NOT make it legal or even a good thing to do.

Checks and balances, our constitutional bulwark against tyranny, vanish with a stroke of Obama’s poison pen. And it’s not just that he issues executive orders, it’s that he openly and directly states that his purpose is to circumvent Congress.
Let’s pretend that President BO (the amateur president) actually wants to do what’s best for the country. I know, that’s a stretch, but for the purposes of discussion, let’s assume it.

Don’t you see? That’s what every would-be dictator has said. Dictators always do what they do for the good of the people. Isn’t that what Fidel Castro said? Isn’t that what Karl Marx said? Isn’t that what Joseph Stalin said?
“… (a dictator is) a unifying figure (who believes) that we just need to concentrate more power in his hands. He will decide what laws are good, what laws are bad. He will use executive orders to pass laws that Congress won’t pass and he will ignore laws he doesn’t like and he’ll rewrite laws that he wants to rewrite like ObamaCare and so forth. This is the mindset and language that dictators have.” – Mark Levin

Our president has decided that parts of the “law of the land” (ObamaCare) are not as good as they should be, so he has just suspended them.  He has implemented over 80,000 pages of rules and regulations designed to bypass Congress. If Congress won’t enact the legislation he wants, PBO (tcp) just issues a decree and it is enacted. If Congress enacts legislation he does not like, he just issues a decree and it disappears.
That is not rule by the majority (which I oppose, anyway), nor is it appropriate in a Constitutional representative republic.
I’m not certain why that is such a hard concept for either Democrats or Republicans, liberals or a progressive to grasp, but it seems to be.

25 comments:

Dave Miller said...

Joe, you would have some credibility and intellectual honesty if, when Bush was in office you were as critical and mocking of him.

Your childish antics regarding Obama are wearing thin as you grasp for non existent straws in your quest to malign him and his character.

Joe, lets take Mark Levine and his words you quoted... Does he ever mention which administration expanded the power of the presidency through the unitary executive theory? Where were conservatives when thus happened?

I realize your post us about Obama, but criticism of him, while not being as childish towards other presidents is boorish and inconsistent...

Ducky's here said...

Executive orders have the full force of law when they take authority from a power granted directly to the Executive by the Constitution, or are made in pursuance of certain Acts of Congress which explicitly delegate to the President some degree of discretionary power (delegated legislation).
----------
There's a definition, Joe.

Now, any of us may take exception to how these powers are exercised but t should be clear even to you that your formulation of their unconstitutionality is silly.

Ducky's here said...

Does he ever mention which administration expanded the power of the presidency through the unitary executive theory?

------
Madison?

Xavier Onassis said...

The Constitution established The House of Representatives and the Senate to carry out the will of the people who elected them to office.

"That is not rule by the majority (which I oppose, anyway)..."

Umm, yes, that is exactly what it is.

The problem that are facing today is that the House of Representatives, and to a lesser degree, some Senators, are NOT carrying out the Will of the People and are refusing to govern the nation.

As I have pointed out before, more Americans voted for Barack Obama, twice, and for his leadership and vision for America, than all of the people who voted for Tea Bagging Republican fringe candidates COMBINED.

Public opinion polls show that only 9% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing.

That is a lower popularity rating than gonorrhea, centipedes and root canals.

The message is crystal clear. Americans want President Obama to lead America.

So when faced with a Congress whose openly stated goal is to block everything Obama proposes,the American people want the President to use every tool at his disposal to carry out the will of the American people in spite of the rabid, frothing-at-the-mouth protests of a fringe minority of ignorant, racist bigots who cannot stand the idea of a popular, successful black president.

It sticks in their craw.

My message to them...choke on it.

Ducky's here said...

Joe, have you read any of the Federalist Papers?
They do a good job of delineating the early Federalists conception of the Constitution.

Now, I know that you as an unelected, unappointed individual would feel justified exercising autocratic powers and deciding just what is constitutional but we have some excellent writings and comprehensive case law of which you might want to avail yourself before rushing to judgement.

Joe said...

DM: I do, 'cause I did.

If my antics are so childish, why do you keep coming here and commenting? I'm not inviting you not to...just wondering why.

XO: "Umm, yes, that is exactly what it is."

No, it isn't. It isn't because they do NOT carry out the will of the people.

See, a democracy is where the people have a direct vote in their affairs. A democratic republic is where elected representatives carry out the sill of their people.

The people we have in office today don't do the will of the people, they do the will of themselves.

Ducky: "...have you read any of the Federalist Papers?"

Yes. I did a series on them on this very blog some years ago.

Fredd said...

If what you were saying were the law of the land, then BO would have been impeached by now. But there's wiggle room in the law, Joe.

As the head of the executive branch, Obama executes the provisions coming from Congress. In doing so, he has executive discretion, which allows for executive orders and all manner of nuances in the administration of the laws that Congress puts on his desk that lawyers will argue back and forth for generations.

He's not really the dictator that every conservative makes him out to be, he just uses his enormous powers of discretion more than most other presidents have done, other than perhaps Lincoln, Wilson and FDR.

Now, Joe, don't go calling me an Obama lover, I'm not. But we as a collective nation elected the guy, and we have to put up with him until he's gone.

Which can't come soon enough.

Joe said...

Fredd: I know you're not and I understand where you're coming from. The only thing I really disagree with is your last line. IMHBCO it is already not soon enough.

(BTW, I have predicted that there will be no election in 2016. We'll just have to wait and see.)

Fredd said...

Yes, I recall that prediction of yours from some time ago.

I say he has 'discretion' in administering his duties.

Suspending the 2016 elections would certainly cross the line from discretion into despotism. If that were to happen, I suspect their would be a lot of gunfire involved in disputing that decision.

I see the 2016 elections going off as scheduled, with a GOP guy (probably not gal) hanging new drapes in the Oval Office.

Ducky's here said...

Suppress the 2016 election?

Why? Whichever Bagger you nominate is meat.

*cuckoo* *cuckoo*

Xavier Onassis said...

Joe - "I have predicted that there will be no election in 2016." And that is the single most insane thing you have aver said on this blog.

I will bet you every single asset I own on the first Tuesday in November, 2016, against every single asset that you own on that date, that our American elections will take place without incident just as they have since this country was founded.

Put up or shut up Joe.

Xavier Onassis said...

Fredd - "I see the 2016 elections going off as scheduled, with a GOP guy (probably not gal) hanging new drapes in the Oval Office."

Ahahahahahah!!!! That is HILARIOUS!

You really don't get it, do you?

The Republicans have boxed themselves into a corner by pandering to the religious nuts and Tea Party fanatics.

The Republicans will never, ever win another national election.

They have willfully confined themselves to the gerrymandered House districts that they created.

The only way a Republican will see the inside of the White House in the next 30+ years is if President Obama, President Clinton or President Warren invites them as a quaint, but powerless guest. A kind gesture to a long ago past when Republicans actually represented anyone or mattered.

Craig said...

Congratulations, Fredd. A reasoned conclusion based on facts. Obama is a lot of things, some of which I don't like, but he ain't a despot for issuing EOs.

See how easy it is, Joe? Fredd can wander into reality and still keep his wingnut cred with statements like,

he just uses his enormous powers of discretion more than most other presidents have done, other than perhaps Lincoln, Wilson and FDR.

He left out Reagan, both Bushes, Nixon, Ike, even the latest Righty rehab project, Coolidge, who comes in at 1,203. Obama's at ~170.

As for 2016, if Hillary (not my 1st choice) wants it, it's hers. Of course a lot can happen in 2 1/2 years, so I can't say for certain. My advice, keep pounding her with Benghaaaaaazie. It's a winner.

Joe said...

XO: I don't bet, but if I did I'd take you on.

Fredd: I could be wrong, I was wrong once last year.

Craig: I don't care who they are, they have no right to circumvent Congress. PBO(tcp)has a "Do as I say or else" attitude. And he has the pen to back up his threats.

Anonymous said...

The decay and fall of the “Progressive “Ladies blog!
Back in the past days, the “Progressive “Ladies blog used to be a respectable one.
Yes she was controversial, but tet in an interesting way. Perhaps controversial to get attention and popularity, but it worked... Until she crossed the line. there is a trick in blogging and being controversial and interesting and gaining attention and popularity it is important to not be nasty, and there is where Ms. Witch of the Progressive blog went wrong. She didn’t know how to handle controversial blog topics without insulting her readers and her commenters.
We can also explore what it takes to do all these things if you like, but i think that this audience already knows.
Controversial blog topics are definitely reader and traffic inducing, and blog building, but as with all blog topics, there is a way to approach them, handle the content, and respond to feedback. The Wicked One, didn’t have the know-how that it takes. Crossing the line by nasty name calling just won’t cut it, that only shows that she hasn’t got the ability to reply with dignity. .She shouldn’t have ever gotten personal. Case in point, if she was attacked by a commentor, she would assume that she know who the person was and called them by name. Well, I happen to know that she was wrong!
In the event someone bashes you, calls you names, becames defamatory or otherwise puts you down, their comments should be either ignored and deleted or handled in a civil manor. . Civil debate is encouraged, but being plain mean and offensive should never be the way to go.. Watch what you put in writing, resist the urge to blast someone with your words, it only make you look stupid. Even when I think a topic will stir up controversy, such as a post on why the President has so many people who are against his policies. People don't come expecting a fight because they already know the atmosphere of your blog. If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the world of blogging.
So stick a fork in it: your time of blogging is done. Take your Boston Statue, dust off the snow and try knitting.

Ducky's here said...

Radical Redneck, you off the ward again?

Anonymous said...

"The decay and fall of the “Progressive “Ladies blog!"


Lol I know exactly which blogger you are referring to

Anonymous said...

And she says: “According to my counter, I average about 500 views a day. When I started this blog I averaged about 10 a day.

The highest number of views was 1,500 on one recent post.”



LOL, But she has less than a half dozen of the same Yo Yo’a who comment there daily...
One who is a Eight legged, filthy mouthed Octopussy who is one of the authors there, an Ass Kidding Antic Semitic Lap-Dog, O a;most forgot that computer genius Ducky the Schmucky and 2 or 3 dopy jerks that think they are comedians and run to report what is said all over the blog to Queen Imelda Marcos!
You call that 500 hits a day? Lol...

Joe said...

Anonymous: Can you please explain the relevance of your comment to the post? If not, your comments will be deleted.

Anonymous said...

Just bringing a bit of interest to your blog Joe.

No harm meant.

Anonymous said...

I merely comment here as you are prone to do at non-progressive (conservative)sites. Enjoy Mr. Politico, life is meant to be fun. All seriousness and no levity makes Mr. Joe-Joe a dull boy.

Joe said...

Anonymous: "... as you are prone to do at non-progressive (conservative)sites."

Actually, you did not comment as I am prone to do. I always respect the blogger on whose site I comment by staying on topic...always.

Can't you?

sue hanes said...

Joe - I believe that Pres. Obama wants to do what it good for our country. I don't think he is a dictator.

Joe said...

sh: "Obama wants to do what it good for our country."

Maybe, but I don't think so. If he does, he is going about it ALL wrong. His actions look very dictatorial.

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