Roberts: If the President Does It, It’s Not Illegal

[rodeodance]

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/12/roberts-presidential-power/
Roberts: If the President Does It, It’s Not Illegal

Sen. Pat Roberts on the separation of powers:

TIM RUSSERT: Senator Roberts, let me ask you a very serious question. Do you believe that the Constitution gives the President of the United States the authority to do anything he believes is necessary to protect the country?

ROBERTS: Yes, but I wouldn’t say anything he believes. I think you go at it very, very carefully. And that’s been done by every president that I know of.

In other words, the Constitution gives President Bush absolute power as long as he’s extra careful. Roberts should stick with Nixon’s version, it’s simpler.

[Kierkegaard]

1. Well, the same constitution applies to all of us, so...

next time I'm speeding I'll just tell the officer who stops me that I'm being very, very careful.

On edit: Just had to add that Roberts is a flaming butt sausage.

[Ned_Devine]

3. Flaming butt-sausage!! That's rich

[Kierkegaard]

5. Feel free to spread that around liberally (not literally!)

:pals:

[acmejack]

2. Where does he get that out of this?

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

[rogerashton]

4. Remember: this is also Saddam's defense.

Saddam calls it "sovereign immunity."