Posted on 01/16/2013 7:49:13 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Even before President Barack Obama rolls out a series of proposals to curb gun violence in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shootings, conservative House Republicans are bristling.
More right-wing Republicans are voicing fierce opposition to the expected 19 executive orders on guns that Obama is preparing to announce Wednesday, along with legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Though details of the orders were unclear, some Republicans have already declared them a gross breach of executive authority.
“The more onerous that they are, the more we have a chance of having a revolt all across this country,” said conservative Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), no friend of Obama’s who voted for ex-Rep. Allen West as House speaker for the 113th Congress. “There is a tremendous potential for a horrendous public backlash against the president if he continues the policies that he has been doing of trying to go around Congress, create law and be a dictator like he’s been doing.”
Both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have made clear the administration thinks it’s within its purview to skip the legislative process and impose unilateral changes.
“I’m confident that there are some steps that we can take that don’t require legislation and that are within my authority as president,” Obama said at a Monday press conference. “And where you get a step that has the opportunity to reduce the possibility of gun violence then I want to go ahead and take it.”
Congressional Democrats seem open to letting the president move ahead without them.
“I think the president to the extent that he has executive powers to deal with this issue, to try to make Americans safer, both has a responsibility and an intent to do so,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said. “I think the executive of our nation pledged to keep Americans safe, not only abroad but here as well, I think he would be well-advised to take such action as appropriate.”
Though details were foggy, even the idea of executive orders from the White House was enough to set off alarms in Republican quarters. On the more extreme end, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) threatened to introduce articles of impeachment against the president if he implements executive orders on guns.
“I will seek to thwart this action by any means necessary, including but not limited to eliminating funding for implementation, defunding the White House and even filing articles of impeachment,” Stockman said.
Stockman added that Obama is launching an “attack on the very founding principles of this republic.”
“The President’s actions are an existential threat to this nation,” Stockman said in a statement. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms is what has kept this nation free and secure for over 200 years. The very purpose of the Second Amendment is to stop the government from disallowing people the means to defend themselves against tyranny. Any proposal to abuse executive power and infringe upon gun rights must be repelled with the stiffest legislative force possible.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who is chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said executive orders should be used only to implement existing laws.
“The president’s imperial behavior and his abuse of power didn’t begin with the Second Amendment,” Issa said. “He did it with immigration. He’s certainly done it with the Obamacare. So, once again, it’s a president exceeding his intended authority.”
“If he wants to distort the Second Amendment or essentially pass laws, then he violates the trust of the American people,” Issa said. “Executive orders are only for implementing law, not circumventing the Constitution.”
Broun argued that it would be outside the authority of the White House to create new laws.
“They should not create law. They should not create a radical, socialistic agenda like this president is doing,” Broun said. “Hopefully, the American people are going to stand up and say no to this dictatorial rule that this president seems to be trying to assert himself to do.”
If Obama employs executive orders, Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) says it reflects the president’s behavior in general, including in the debt ceiling standoff.
“It’s part of an imperial presidency — he wants to have that make Congress irrelevant,” Ross said. “That has me somewhat concerned not only dealing with gun control, but especially if he exercises unilateral authority in trying to raise the debt ceiling.”
Obama has dismissed calls from Democrats that he should use his office to raise the debt limit without Congress, shooting down proposals like invoking the 14th Amendment or minting a trillion dollar coin.
“[Obama] has limited authority under the executive branch, but I think he’s going to put that to a test here especially with the gun stuff,” Ross said. “I think we have to have a discussion about guns, there’s no question about it. But to have one person in charge to make a unilateral decision on that is contrary to our system of government and contrary to what I think the citizens of this country deserve.”
Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) — who was booted off plum committees for defying the House GOP leadership — echoed the possibility of cutting the White House’s budget if the administration moves unilaterally on guns.
“I’m very worried about what they might produce,” Huelskamp said. “It will be the responsibility of the House. If they’re going to come out with an executive order that strips authority out of duly elected folks in the House and the Senate, look at what we can do in the budget process.”
With prejudice.
Indeed. He doubtless believes that that will allow him to bring the boot heel down and that his power grab will succeed. He is of course wrong.
However with America hobbled by internal strife and thus unable to crack the whip anywhere out there in the big wide world all of the ambitious nations will be able to implement any power grabs of their own. A thing which may happen even if America is never on her knees since 4 years of Obama has left most of the ambitious less concerned with what America may like or not like.
Just say no to the faggot and his jackbooted thugs. He is only a putz who needs to realize control is an illusion that can turn into a nightmare.
Obama talking about people buying guns without a background check. in 2008 he was elected president without a background check
Obama talking about people buying guns without a background check. in 2008 he was elected president without a background check
Obama talking about people buying guns without a background check. in 2008 he was elected president without a background check
As does this one http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml thanks
They just now figuring this out?
I saw this coming when zero got his obamacare
I’ve made my Peace so I am ready for the assault.
I never thought I would ever see this happen in my Country, nor would I have ever thought that I should fear my own Govt
“Elections have consequences”
TT
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