Congress basically has two powers to stop Obama’s illegal activity. The power of the purse or impeachment. Although both powers are quite real, they are also both political powers, not legal powers like a court has. In other words, when Congress uses the power of the purse, Obama cries government shut-down and the people will blame the GOP. If Congress tried to Impeach the President, Obama cries racism, and the support simply would not be there for the GOP yet again. I’m sorry about these realities, but they are indeed realities.
This leaves Congress Two options in my opinion: One, use the power of the purse or impeachment in spite of the downside and bring the country into a complete crisis. This means violence (Those Ferguson demonstrations are warm-ups just in case the Congress goes this route), strikes, cries of racism, accusations about a do nothing congress etc etc. No one knows where this would end up and it would hurt the economy badly.
Obama is such a unique President because his status as the first minority President essentially inoculates him from the political consequences all other Presidents had to face in the past.
Second option is much more subtle and no where near as satisfying in terms of getting even with Obama for not following our laws. That is, churn out good legislation week in and week out that reforms tax law, social security, e-verification, Obamacare etc etc (you know the problems that need to be addressed) and expose Obama for the Poser that he really is as he vetoes everything and anything because his ego simply won’t allow team work with Congress on any matter big and small. In addition to this, relentlessly challenge all illegal executive activity through the courts. The law is not on Obama’s side. It will be slow, but he will lose most cases over the coming years.
Now, for good or bad it is clear our GOP leaders have chosen option 2. Things can and do change of course, but that is where we are. I hate the box we’re in as much as anyone, but the people voted Obama in and Obama is what we go. One day, he may take it too far and finally have political consequences for his actions, but so far the people don’t give a crap. That’s just a fact.
As much as I dislike what just happened with the CR, I agree with you. The massive storm against the government shutdown last year took a year to fade. The other side of the argument is that the government shutdown showed what President Obama really is and all his actions afterwards built up the Tsunami which occurred.
I wish he could be impeached, but there would be riots and towns burning if he was. Although there are many on FreeRepublic who would probably see that as an opportunity.