Americans have always looked to their President as someone almost to be revered no matter what. Commander-in-Chief and all that! However, perhaps changing times sees George Bush much on the nose for a host of reasons, not the least being his obvious untruthfulness in relation to the invasion of Iraq and now the mess in and relating to Iraq. Bush and his cohorts - no doubt aided and abetted by that singularly sinister character VP Cheney - haven't been afraid to see themselves above the law.
This NY Times editorial, "The Imperial Presidency" is therefore interesting as it pulls together, as it were, a number of issues with respect to Bush and his presidency. From afar it is hard to gauge to what extent the editorial reflects wider opinion in the US.
"Observing President Bush in action lately, we have to wonder if he actually watched the election returns in November, or if he was just rerunning the 2002 vote on his TiVo.
That year, the White House used the fear of terrorism to scare American voters into cementing the Republican domination of Congress. Mr. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney then embarked on an expansion of presidential power chilling both in its sweep and in the damage it did to the constitutional system of checks and balances."
This NY Times editorial, "The Imperial Presidency" is therefore interesting as it pulls together, as it were, a number of issues with respect to Bush and his presidency. From afar it is hard to gauge to what extent the editorial reflects wider opinion in the US.
"Observing President Bush in action lately, we have to wonder if he actually watched the election returns in November, or if he was just rerunning the 2002 vote on his TiVo.
That year, the White House used the fear of terrorism to scare American voters into cementing the Republican domination of Congress. Mr. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney then embarked on an expansion of presidential power chilling both in its sweep and in the damage it did to the constitutional system of checks and balances."
Comments
the military machine takes it's orders from one man. this person is not necessarily smart, knowledgeable, wise, or even sane. he(so far)is simply the latest selection of the political process, which doesn't test for any of those qualities.
it's long past time for a second, peaceful, american revolution with resulting constitution that enables just, effective and humane administration of the nation.
this will not happen. just as the roman empire stumbled through rule by monsters like caligula, nero, and commodus, america will continue to empower sociopaths, narcissists and simple incompetents, without any question of social structural failure.
they get "the government they deserve", too bad we get it too.