Conservatives: The Law is for Liberals
President Bush is a "war president" and therefore he does not need to obey the law if he thinks it would prevent him from fighting the "war on terror." This is what he says. This is what conservatives in Congress, such as Senator John McCain who defends his position, say. Liberals in Congress, like Senator Feingold, keep repeating that nobody is above the law. To which conservatives, like Karl Rove, retort that only liberals who don't give a damn about the war think the law is more important than winning. Evidently, according to him the law is only for liberals.
After much discussion and negotiation, Congress passed a slightly modified but flawed Patriot Act. When Bush signed the bill, he pulled another fast one:
"Bush signed the bill with fanfare at a White House ceremony March 9, calling it 'a piece of legislation that's vital to win the war on terror and to protect the American people.' But after the reporters and guests had left, the White House quietly issued a 'signing statement,' an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law.
"Bush wrote:'The executive branch shall construe the provisions . . . that call for furnishing information to entities outside the executive branch . . . in a manner consistent with the president's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch and to withhold information . . . '"
In other words, Bush said that if he did not feel like informing Congress about how the FBI was using the act's expanded police powers he would not do it. It's only a law. The president does not need to obey all laws that Congress concots. He's fighting a "war on terror."
Another slap in the face of Congress. Bush already thumbed his nose at Congress - no, no, at the Constitution - by declaring himself above the law in the warrantless spying of Americans. Now he is promising to do it again with reference to the Patriot Act.
How to revise the Patriot Act has been argued for months. What was the point? What difference does it make what it says? If the president does not like it, he will not follow it.
What difference does it make if Congress is in session or not? The president knows what to do and he will not allow Congress to dictate to him.
Senator Feingold tried to bring the president under the Constitution with his resolution for censure, but all the conservatives - Republicans and Democrats alike - did not go along. So the president insists on continuing to disobey the law whenever he wants to.
How long must we wait before Congress does its duty? It MUST protect the Constitution. All members pledged to do so. Write or call your legislators and tell them to censure the president.
The law is not only for liberals. It is for conservatives too.
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