Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Executive Orders Explained for Low-Information Voters
RushLimbaugh.com ^ | 1-15-2013 | Rush Limbaugh

Posted on 01/15/2013 1:39:34 PM PST by servo1969

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Joe Biden, the vice president of the United States. Now, we were told last week that Biden was heading up a commission made up of administration officials and cabinet officials on what to do about guns and the increasing proliferation of guns. One of the things that Biden suggested was they're looking at legislation, executive orders, so forth and so on. The Politico, a joyous Politico, I should say, has a story today: "The White House has identified 19 executive actions for President Barack Obama to move unilaterally on gun control."

This is what Biden told a group of House Democrats yesterday. Only 19? Only 19? We were worried the Second Amendment was in trouble here. "Later this week, Obama will formally announce his proposals to reduce gun violence, which are expected to include renewal of the assault weapons ban," which, look, I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud here, but we already did one of these once, and it didn't matter, folks.

We've had an assault weapons ban before. See, the problem is there really isn't such a thing as an "assault weapon." It's just a creation. It's nothing more than a name that Democrats and people on the left created to gin up anti-gun sentiment among people. But there really is no official classification of "assault weapon." It doesn't exist. What gun isn't an assault weapon? I mean, even if you're shooting skeet you're assaulting the skeet. So the title here is purely a psychological creation. So "renewal of the assault weapons ban, universal background checks and prohibition of high-capacity magazine clips..."

These are just some of the brilliant ideas. "But Biden spent two hours briefing a small group of sympathetic House Democrats on the road ahead in the latest White House outreach to invested groups. The focus on executive orders is the result of the White House and other Democrats acknowledging the political difficulty of enacting any new gun legislation, a topic Biden did not address in Monday’s meeting." Now, ladies and gentlemen, pardon me for a moment as I take a few minutes here -- a very few precious minutes -- to say something for the low-information voters in the audience. I know you're there, and you know who you are.

I want to talk to you about executive orders. You see, there's a thing in this country. It's called the Constitution, and while presidents and members of Congress and mayors and others run for election every year (or every two years, or every four years, depending), the Constitution is constant. There's not one elected official who has the power to change it. There is a way to amend the Constitution, and the Constitution spells out the procedures that must be taken to change it. Presidents cannot. Now, I know this is gonna shock many of you in the low-information community.

Many of you believe... This is what you've been taught. This is what you have been educated with, and many of you have been taught to actually support this kind of presidential power, that a president, if he doesn't like something, can just "fix" it. But there is no such power granted to the president by the Constitution, and executive orders are not a way for the president to get around the Constitution. Executive orders were not established for that purpose. Executive orders are to take care of emergencies during times when Congress is not in session.

That's one of many examples for their usage, but the executive order does not contain the power to violate the Constitution. The executive order does not give the president the authority to say, "I don't like the Second Amendment, and I'm going to write a law that supersedes it." No president has ever had that power. No president today has that power. Barack Obama doesn't have it. If he acts in such a way, he is in violation of the Constitution. The Constitution is what holds this country together. The Constitution is what defines this country.

There isn't enough knowledge, nor is there enough respect, for the Constitution in our country today, which is why I'm trying to help a little bit here. Nineteen executive orders to deal with something they are not permitted to deal with, in a way they're not permitted to do it. But if nobody is willing to stand up and oppose the president and this usurpation of power -- which does not exist and which he does not have -- then, of course, he will get away with it. But I just want you to know this. I want those of you in the low-information voter community to know that executive orders do not exist so that the president can break the law. They do not exist so the president can change the law. That is not why they exist.

Executive orders do not grant authoritarian, dictatorial power.

The founders of this country never intended the chief executive to have anywhere near that kind of power, and I just want you to understand and know this.

I also want you low-information voters to know that I would never lie to you.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Once again, ladies and gentlemen, I'll read from this joyous Politico story on the White House looking at 19 executive order actions on guns. It's Reid Epstein doing the story. The Politico says, "The focus on executive orders is the result of the White House and other Democrats acknowledging the political difficulty of enacting any new gun legislation, a topic Biden did not address in Monday’s meeting." What this means is, this is a tantamount admission that this administration cannot muster the votes to legally create new legislation on guns.

You see, the laws of this country... Again, pardon me for a second as I address the low-information voter community. The laws in this country are written in Congress. That would be the Senate and the House. The president does not write laws. The president does not make law. Well, he's not supposed to. Judges are not supposed to make laws. Judges are not supposed to create laws. That's only supposed to happen in Congress. When Congress refuses to vote for a law, then it's dead. What the administration and Biden are admitting here is that they can't legally enact the gun laws that they prefer.

So they're just going to do it unilaterally with the executive order.

Now, I'm not lying to you when I tell you that is not what executive orders permit. It's not why they were created; it's not what they're for. Executive orders do not grant dictatorial power to presidents. They do not grant the power to the president to violate existing law. Executive orders do not grant the power to the president to write new law. The president and his team will be in violation of the Constitution if they do this. Now, there are certain things that can be done with executive orders, but they can't write new law. But if nobody stops them, what's the point?

They can get away with it.

There's always a way to get away with it.

If Congress doesn't oppose what the president does, then it's not a political power struggle. And if the Congress is going to cede to the president the authority to write law, then he'll get away with it. Washington Post: "White House to Announce Gun Plans Today." They're all excited, too. Their tongues are on the floor. "President Obama will unveil a sweeping set of gun-control proposals at midday Wednesday, including an assault weapons ban, universal background checks and limits on the number of bullets magazines can hold..." These are not plans; these are what they intend to do with executive orders.

They may go to Congress try to get some of this stuff passed.

But if they fail -- legally, constitutionally -- it is over at that point.

END TRANSCRIPT


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: banglist; guncontrol; obama; secondamendment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last
To: servo1969
Executive orders are a way that the Big Zero can disrupt the marketplace in the name of “gun control.” Bill Clinton did that many years ago.

Specifically, Bill Clinton banded the import of certain Chinese military surplus ammo. He banned the import of certain Norinco Chi-com military style firearms.

We should not think that the Big Zero is stupid or that those advising him are stupid. There are things that they “can” do and that they will probably do.

I fully expect that ATF will come up with a new definition of what “features” of firearms make it ineligible to import for sporting purposes. I fully expect that ATF will make it more difficult to import ammunition and ammunition components for overseas. I fully expect that ATF will clamp down on the import and sale of parts kits and “demilled” military surplus weapons.

I am looking with a grim sense of disgust at what the 19 Executive orders are likely to include. But saying that the President can no anything by Executive Order has been proven otherwise by history. I don’t feel that he can confiscate my firearms or do a number of things by Executive Order, but that doesn’t mean he cannot do anything.

21 posted on 01/15/2013 2:37:19 PM PST by Robert357 (D.Rather "Hoist with his own petard!" www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1223916/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dartuser

You: “Boener should say “I hereby exercise my authority as Speaker of the House to nullify all the executive orders signed today. The Constitution gives me this power.”
-
Me: “Which edition of The Constitution are you using?”
-
You: “The same one used in the construction of the executive orders.”
-
Me again:
“Executive Orders” are rooted in
Article II, Section 1, Clause 1 of the Constitution
which grants “executive power” to the president; and
Article II, Section 3, Clause 5 of the Constitution
which requires he “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”.

Every president, beginning with George Washington in 1789, has issued executive orders.

In our entire history, U.S. courts have overturned only two executive orders:
one by Harry Truman (a democrat)and one by Bill Clinton (a democrat).

Where is it that you see the Constitution grants any authority
for the Speaker of the House to nullify these?


22 posted on 01/15/2013 2:40:36 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: murron

see 22


23 posted on 01/15/2013 2:44:34 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: servo1969

Bush did it.


24 posted on 01/15/2013 2:46:51 PM PST by DainBramage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: servo1969
If Obama’s executive orders are not legal, then no one is bound to enforce or abide by them. They can simply be ignored until he tries to enforce them, at which time the courts will declare them unconstitutional.

Obama is taking a serious risk. If his executive orders are ignored, then invalidated by the courts, he is truly a lame duck for the rest of his term.

25 posted on 01/15/2013 2:55:47 PM PST by Mister Da (The mark of a wise man is not what he knows, but what he knows he doesn't know!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: servo1969
Interesting video on limits to Executive Orders

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2096286653001/how-far-can-obama-invoke-executive-action-on-gun-control/

26 posted on 01/15/2013 3:05:34 PM PST by Robert357 (D.Rather "Hoist with his own petard!" www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1223916/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th
Lemme try it this way ...

Where is it that you see the Constitution grants any authority for the Speaker of the House to nullify these?

It's in the same section where it gives the president the authority to change the meaning of the 2nd Ammendment.

27 posted on 01/15/2013 3:14:29 PM PST by dartuser ("If you are ... what you were ... then you're not.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Cyber Liberty
Heh. I see what you did there....

yeah ... lol.

28 posted on 01/15/2013 3:15:48 PM PST by dartuser ("If you are ... what you were ... then you're not.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: servo1969

PFL


29 posted on 01/15/2013 3:24:36 PM PST by Dusty Road
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dartuser

“...Lemme try it this way...”
-
If you think it would be a good thing
for the Speaker of The House to act outside of the Constitution
in response to the President acting outside of the Constitution,
then I have to disagree with you.


30 posted on 01/15/2013 3:35:53 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th
One last time ...

If you think it would be a good thing for the Speaker of The House President to act outside of the Constitution in response to the President acting outside of the Constitution,, Newtown shooting then I have to disagree with you. say you finally see my point.

31 posted on 01/15/2013 3:49:47 PM PST by dartuser ("If you are ... what you were ... then you're not.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: dartuser

Please have your doctor adjust your medications prior to contacting me again.


32 posted on 01/15/2013 4:04:42 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: dartuser

I like what you did there...DARTUSER and I agree with you.

People today believe what is put out into the “populace” by way of the media. Boehner needs to put something “out there” and start using his Speaker Bully Pulpit!


33 posted on 01/15/2013 4:08:57 PM PST by neverbluffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: neverbluffer

Any executive order can be INSTANTLY reversed by the next President in office, and are not law. Obama can do his EOs, and all we need is to put someone else in office in 2016 to roll them back.


34 posted on 01/15/2013 4:11:03 PM PST by ez (When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: ez

Executive orders only apply to the “executive branch”


35 posted on 01/15/2013 4:14:08 PM PST by neverbluffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Robert357

Judge Napolitano was on today and said that he could also use the EPA to make it so expensive to clean lead from making bullets that it would be hard to afford.


36 posted on 01/15/2013 4:38:41 PM PST by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: dartuser

Artfully done, Dartuser.


37 posted on 01/15/2013 5:03:58 PM PST by shove_it (the 0bama regime are the people Huxley, Orwell and Rand warned us about)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: shove_it

I agree. That was well played.


38 posted on 01/15/2013 5:18:54 PM PST by Cyber Liberty (Obama considers the Third World morally superior to the United States.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th
Please have your doctor adjust your medications prior to contacting me again.

Will do. And for my part I'll try to dumb down my humor from now on.

39 posted on 01/16/2013 5:47:02 AM PST by dartuser ("If you are ... what you were ... then you're not.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: HarleyLady27

AMEN


40 posted on 01/17/2013 6:47:11 AM PST by HarleyLady27 (Get the USA out of the UN then get the UN out of the USA; send bamaboy back to Kenya ASAP!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson