Grassley says Obama is behaving dictatorially, ‘usurping legislative powers’

Daily Caller ^ | January 30, 2012 | Alexis Levinson

[STARWISE]

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley accused President Obama of dictatorial behavior in a floor statement Thursday, saying that his recess appointments were not the first acts he has taken to circumvent the constitutional system of checks and balances.

“President Obama’s decision to bypass the constitutional advice and consent of the Senate is not an isolated incident,” Grassley said, according to prepared remarks. “It is merely the latest escalation in a pattern of contempt for the elected representatives of the American people and the constitutional separation of powers.”

Obama appointed Richard Cordray as the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau while the Senate was in recess, after the Senate indicated that they would not confirm his nomination.

Grassley accused the president of “usurping legislative powers” by overriding and working around Congress when possible. This, Grassley argues, is in violation of the Constitution.

“Having had their rights violated by a king, our Founding Fathers intentionally put the power to make laws in the branch of government that is most directly accountable to the citizens,” the Iowa senator said.

Grassley pointed to Obama’s appointment of “czars” in issue areas, whom he said tread on the role of Congress, Obama’s “unilateral pursuit of climate change” and his use of the “Race to the Top” program, which Grassley said allowed him to impose the federal government’s rules on the states.

“On the other hand, when Congress has passed legislation the President doesn’t entirely agree with, he has announced, while signing them into law, that he won’t implement the parts he doesn’t like,” Grassley said. For example, Obama instructed the Department of Justice to not appeal court rulings against certain portions of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Congress, Grassley said, needed to stop the president’s usurpation before it was too late.

“The more President Obama has gotten away with these little power grabs, the bolder he has become. Congress has not been effective in fighting this executive encroachment because Congress is not of one mind,” Grassley said.

“Members of the President’s party are understandably reluctant to oppose him publicly. However, with this latest escalation, the time has come for Congress, on a bipartisan basis, to say ‘Enough is enough.’”

“I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to think hard about the precedent being set for the next Republican president,” Grassley warned. “Once the genie is out of the bottle, you are not likely to be able to get it back in.”

[STARWISE]

Business group leader says Obama's recess appointments create 'constitutional crisis'

Excerpt:

President Obama is facing a new legal challenge to three recess appointments he made to the National Labor Relations Board earlier this month. Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation (NRWLDF), says the president's actions have created "a constitutional crisis."

Mix, and others critical of the appointments, say Obama has stepped beyond the powers granted to the executive branch. They argue that since the Senate remained in session throughout the holidays, he had no authority to make recess appointments. Mix adds, "I think what he said is, 'I don't care what the Constitution says here, process be damned, I'm going to do what I want.'"

FIND YOUR SPINES .. SAVE AMERICA, CONGRESSCRITTERS!

[STARWISE]

.. Ping!

[Feckless]

It’s not all his fault... they don’t follow the US Constitution in the three 3rd world places he’s from...Kenya, Indonesia, and Chicago.

[Free Vulcan]

Grassley’s an old Iowa farmer. Sometimes they do things that make you go ‘WTF?’ like supporting the indoor rainforest pork project in Iowa City. Then something like this threatens him and shakes him to the core, and then the vein in the forehead starts throbbing and that mouth starts running. Then it’s pretty much ‘honey badger don’t care’ from there on out and he’s on you like a pit bull.

[Pride in the USA]

ping!

[itsahoot]

Oh WoW, oh WoW, oh WoW, he sounds really, really mad. Quick call Darrel Issa for help, if both of you hood your breath at the same time, he will listen and change his ways. Really he will.

[RedMDer]

Click


I pledge to you, in the tradition of our founding document, if you help me next Tuesday, and if with your help I become the nominee, and as nominee we decisively defeat the Left at every level, at President, at House, at Senate, and local governments. That I will give you for as long as I am allowed to serve, my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor. Together, we are going to give our grandchildren the country they deserve, not the country that's currently decaying. - Newt Gingrich
GO NEWT!
GO FREE REPUBLIC!!!
Most important election in our lifetime… Can you imagine if he (Obama) is re-elected how radical he will be?

[this is my country]

Did Senator Grassley vote for that NDAA bill that Obama, reluctantly,(sarc) signed?

[TribalPrincess2U]

Then DO SOMETHING about it!

The leftist would not hesitate to do do unspeakable things to Republicans
so what’s stopping you from doing it back. Stop being cowardly, dumb, lazy azzes and do your job.

[combat_boots]

I take it this is a Grassley “strongly worded letter” moment.

[jjotto]

Having heard Sen. Grassley several times on Jan Mickelson’s radio show reject the idea that the Constitution restrains the legislature, forgive me if I don’t believe Grassley’s objections are actually based on the Constitution.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Going to war and then saying we are not at war can’t be forgotten.Or using OUR money to fund the muslim brotherhood.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

This is a big deal for Grassley.

[BobP]

Countdown until Zer0 leaves Office: 356 days as of January 30, 2012.

[Revel]

No one in the halls of congress is doing anything about it the last I heard.

[STARWISE]

True enough .. but the thing is: WHEN WILL HE/THEY DO SOMETHING ????

[GlockThe Vote]

Yawn. More nonsense. Call me when they indict holder.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Congress gave the executive branch power over all those alphabet agencies and gave them the ability to make defacto laws. Congress can take them away, too, if they had any balls.

[lonevoice]

“I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to think hard about the precedent being set for the next Republican president,” Grassley warned.

Grassley warned that it was time to think?

First we think.

Then we talk.

Then we write a letter of admonishment and send it to Ozero.

Then we go out for cocktails.

[STARWISE]

you've come to the right place to help FR, click the pic
thank you!