Now that the tyrant is out of office, Arlen Specter wants to rein in executive power

[swag]

This guy is so awesome:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22656

Some complained that I had "sold out" in making this deal.<8> These critics fail to appreciate the disadvantage Congress faces in resisting expansions of executive power. The Terrorist Surveillance Program was put into effect when President Bush signed a secret order in 2001. He did not need to hold any hearings or convince any colleagues. Vice President Cheney could rely on the fractious nature of the Senate, and the great influence of the executive, to easily kill the prospects for my planned subpoenas of the telephone companies. The administration's damage control, like the initial action, was swift and unilateral. By contrast, on the legislative side, we could not begin to act until we established a factual record through a series of hearings and secured consensus on a path forward.

. . .

These signing statements are outrageous, intruding on the Constitution's delegation of "all legislative powers" to Congress. The legislation I introduced in 2006 would have given Congress standing to challenge the constitutionality of signing statements, but it has until now failed to muster the veto-proof majority it would surely require. The executive branch operates free of such internal dissent. Although John McCain promised to drop signing statements altogether, Barack Obama, while deploring Bush's practice, said during the campaign that "no one doubts that it is appropriate to use signing statements to protect a president's constitutional prerogatives."<13> Here again, the president does not need to convince any colleagues to issue a signing statement, he needs only put pen to paper. Indeed, two days after criticizing President Bush's signing statements, President Obama issued one of his own regarding the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009. Citing among others his "commander in chief" and "foreign affairs" powers, he refused to be bound by at least eleven specific provisions of the bill including one long-standing rider to appropriations bills designed to aid congressional oversight.<14> As I told TheWall Street Journal, "We're having a repeat of what Democrats bitterly complained about under President Bush," and if President Obama "wants to pick a fight, Congress has plenty of authority to retaliate."<15>

[enough]

1. Specter has no shame. (nt)

[KharmaTrain]

2. Arlen's Too Smart By Half...He's Toast...

There's a strong chance he'll lose in the GOOP primary this year...and a fitting end to this weasel. Magic Bullet Arlen is noted for wringing his hands and then running back under the rushpublican/right wing coat tails, but methinks he's played both side of the street too long.

Of all rushpublicans, Arlen's responsible for letting his beloved DOJ become a political machine...a criminal enterprise. He looked the other way as he saw Gonzo bring in the Monica Goodlings and chase out qualified, career attorneys. He expressed "concern" about boooshie regime abuses, but when the whip was cracked, he piddled his way back into the GOOP tent.

So who trust him? Surely Democrats are tired of his routine...and now it looks like the rushpublicans are done with him as well.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. I agree. He always talked a good game but that's it.

I think he's one of those guys who will spend many days living in regret about what might have happened had they had the guts to stand up for what they really believed. I put Colin Powell in the same category. If he had resigned as Sec. of State, I think the entire War in Iraq might have been prevented. One stand-up guy at the right time might have made all the difference.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Remember, Powell Was Supposed To Be The Adult...

...in the end, he was the chump. I lost all respect for him when he joined that regime and saw him become a "token"...not just his race, but his image...used as a prop of "legitimacy" while this regime went full speed into war and corruption. His "Powell Doctrine" became the "Pottery Barn"...I think a fitting description of his career.

Yep...had he had any true principals, he would have resigned...he didn't...he was kicked out when he was no longer useful.

Cheers...

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

10. update in light of his party switch

Well, maybe he just took the first step in not living a life of regret. I hope so.

[old mark]

5. Oh, yeah - I heard talk about term limits, too - I guess the Dems are in power.

Remember Newt's Contract? Term limits, balanced budget, less government inteference in people's lives, and a healthy "market driven" economy when the GOP became the "permanent majority party"?
So we have an 8 year Repub regime, massive debts of historical proportions after a surplus from the Dems, no hope of a balanced budget in anyone's lifetime, the Patriot Act, general wiretaps, the HSA and a market that drove the economy into the ground. Where were the term limite when we really needed them?
Arlen is a real snake - he will give you just a litle, then take it all back and then some.
He also is saying he wants a committee to investigate the handling of the swine flu pandemic, this after the GOP cut the funding for flu pandemic programs from the budget as "pork."

He is a terrible person. The only good thing about him is that his opponent in the PA primaries, Pat Toomey, is far worse. "Real" Republicans think Specter is a Democrat. Toomey is certainly not - he is somewhre around the Palin school of political "thought".

mark

[Dreamer Tatum]

12. Noted. nt

[old mark]

15. Arlen the snake is now Arlen the Democrat, and the wailing in

Freeperville is just beginning.

I get the feeling he is just the first of several.

mark

[havocmom]

6. Specter is a rusty tool who needs to be thrown away

[Dreamer Tatum]

11. Noted. nt

[NightWatcher]

7. I cant believe Mr. Magic Bullet Theory is still around

Hell, I'm shocked he's not in prison for some reason or another. He has been in a position of obstruction for far too long.

[Dreamer Tatum]

13. Noted. nt

[kentuck]

8. He has no more credibility...

he used it all.

[Dreamer Tatum]

14. noted. nt

[NightWatcher]

9. kick for shits and giggles