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Bush out to beef up presidency
The Detroit News/Drudge Report ^ | 05.20.02 | Bill Straub / Scripps Howard News Service

Posted on 05/20/2002 10:36:24 AM PDT by callisto

Edited on 05/07/2004 7:08:50 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

Critics claim office is more potent now than at any time in recent history.

WASHINGTON -- It's not a bad job considering it comes with a rent-free mansion and door-to-door limousine service, but President Bush maintains that the position he holds as the leader of the free world should come with an additional perk -- power.


(Excerpt) Read more at detnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: presidentbush; presidentialpower
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To: callisto
Mark Racicot, appointed by Bush to be chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the time has come for the president to reclaim lost authority

And would that include Bush upholding his oath of office and FAITHFULLY EXECUTING THE LAWS of this land where the democRAT criminals of the last 9 years are concerned? THAT is the part of the Presidency that Bush needs to attend to ... after 9 years of the Clinton's using the office to subvert the Constitution and our laws. And frankly, I'll believe what the RNC has to say the day they publicize the Riady non-refund, a blockbluster which they never even bothered to mention on their website or announcements. Why would the RNC ignore something that significant?

41 posted on 05/20/2002 12:47:29 PM PDT by BeAChooser
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To: callisto
Ari Fleischer, the president's press secretary, said presidential powers have been diminished "in multiple ways" as part of a "long-standing, gradual process."

What is he smoking? Does Bush actually think the power of the presidency (and likewise its meddling in citizen's inherent freedoms) has diminished in the past decade?

Be forewarned. Every single power, every single advance that this Republican president pushes for will be used down the line to put American citizens in chains. President Bush may not put the final nail in the coffin of the US Constitution; but he is doing his best at getting out the hammer and the nails.

42 posted on 05/20/2002 12:48:06 PM PDT by fogarty
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To: callisto
The key to a robust presidency is a Republican majority in the Senate and the House.

A few more media outlets in conservative and libertarian hands would be nice, too.

43 posted on 05/20/2002 12:49:24 PM PDT by marron
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To: marron
"The key to a robust presidency is a Republican majority in the Senate and the House."

Not quite. A Republican majority in Congress would be a disaster from which our Republic would not recover. A conservative majority is a different matter altogether.

44 posted on 05/20/2002 1:02:52 PM PDT by fogarty
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To: callisto, FreedominJesusChrist
Bush says the inherent powers of the presidency have eroded to an unsettling degree over the past 30 years and he is moving to reclaim the lost prerogatives of the nation's highest office.

Bush is either insane or a liar. Every addition to the federal bureaucracy makes the executive stronger. Most legislation never crosses the legislative branch; most laws are imposed as "regulations". Except for a few minor "oversight" functions, Congress has gained nothing over the executive in living memory.

Now here's an interesting point: it has to be like that if power is centralized. It means there are more federal laws. Congress can only pass so many, since the whole House and whole Senate has to pass every new law. But the executive can delegate each policy area to a different department to write the regulations for that area. The sheer volumn forces a shift to the executive. The president really isn't that powerful; there's no way he or anyone can really keep track of all of it. That's very dangerous. Power in America has always been divided and spread around, but before it was by the federal system and checks and balances, which kept people accountable. Now it's spread throughout a bureaucracy and no one's accountable.

45 posted on 05/20/2002 1:21:55 PM PDT by A.J.Armitage
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To: jude24
Actually the President can do a lot to prevent abortion. For example, he can cut Medicare funding for abortion which Bush hasn't.
46 posted on 05/20/2002 1:28:48 PM PDT by Satadru
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To: A.J.Armitage
Plus he wants fast-track trade authority, which is clearly a function of the Congress. I am very reluctant on giving him fast-track authority because his love for tariffs to buy political favor. Years ago he could have been impeached for that.
47 posted on 05/20/2002 1:36:56 PM PDT by Satadru
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To: Satadru
ummm....

thats the job of the LEGISLATURES!!!!

The political ignorance of Americans never ceases to amaze me.

48 posted on 05/20/2002 1:42:43 PM PDT by jude24
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To: jude24
You are wrong. The President appropriates the budget for Health and Human Services, which disburses medicare money for abortion. All Bush has to do is say that the HHS will no longer appropriate money for abortion.
49 posted on 05/20/2002 1:51:07 PM PDT by Satadru
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To: billbears
thank you!
50 posted on 05/20/2002 2:12:29 PM PDT by Scholastic
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To: Redleg Duke
Even though you dont know me, indeed "Honest" people do care about the expansion of Executive power.
51 posted on 05/20/2002 2:17:08 PM PDT by Scholastic
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To: Prince Caspian
Only freedom
52 posted on 05/20/2002 2:17:48 PM PDT by Scholastic
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To: Redleg Duke, Callisto, Prince Caspian
A great read:

http://www.mises.org/product.asp?sku=B284

53 posted on 05/20/2002 2:19:36 PM PDT by Scholastic
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To: SteamshipTime
Good idea.
54 posted on 05/20/2002 2:20:29 PM PDT by Scholastic
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To: A.J.Armitage
"Bush is either insane or a liar."

He's not insane.

55 posted on 05/20/2002 2:21:40 PM PDT by toenail
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To: callisto
"The president has little say in how the nation's budget is devised and constraints exist over how he uses the military.

Congress also has placed restrictions on the president in military matters with the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Fleischer said."

Aww, da poor wittuw pwesident.

56 posted on 05/20/2002 3:11:35 PM PDT by Tauzero
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To: toenail
"Bush is either insane or a liar."

He's not insane.

You're getting a little ahead of yourself. President Bush still has 2 1/2 years to complete his term. Wouldn't it be more fair to give him at least 1 1/2 more years before judging whether or not he has kept his word on campaign promises?
57 posted on 05/20/2002 3:12:43 PM PDT by callisto
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To: A.J.Armitage
Very astute analysis.
58 posted on 05/20/2002 3:19:38 PM PDT by Tauzero
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To: callisto
"Wouldn't it be more fair to give him at least 1 1/2 more years before judging whether or not he has kept his word on campaign promises?"

No, because he cannot have a 3rd term, and therefore would have no incentive to keep his promises after being re-elected.

I don't think he's a liar myself though. Those people who voted for him and are now disappointed in him simply persuaded themselves during the campaign that Bush is something he never was.

59 posted on 05/20/2002 3:25:50 PM PDT by Tauzero
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To: callisto
Oops! Time to go home. I misread the lengths of time in your post.
60 posted on 05/20/2002 3:27:51 PM PDT by Tauzero
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