Bush could declare any of us "illegal" with one of his signing statements

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/30/bush_challenges_hundreds_of_laws/



Bush’s contention that he can ignore provisions of the Patriot Act, whose renewal he ushered last month, has drawn scrutiny. (Jim Young/ Reuters)

Bush challenges hundreds of laws

President cites powers of his office

By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | April 30, 2006

WASHINGTON -- President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.

Among the laws Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative-action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, ''whistle-blower" protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally funded research.

Legal scholars say the scope and aggression of Bush's assertions that he can bypass laws represent a concerted effort to expand his power at the expense of Congress, upsetting the balance between the branches of government. The Constitution is clear in assigning to Congress the power to write the laws and to the president a duty ''to take care that the laws be faithfully executed." Bush, however, has repeatedly declared that he does not need to ''execute" a law he believes is unconstitutional.

Former administration officials contend that just because Bush reserves the right to disobey a law does not mean he is not enforcing it: In many cases, he is simply asserting his belief that a certain requirement encroaches on presidential power.


http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/04/30/examples_of_the_presidents_signing_statements/

Examples of the president's signing statements

April 30, 2006

Since taking office in 2001, President Bush has issued signing statements on more than 750 new laws, declaring that he has the power to set aside the laws when they conflict with his legal interpretation of the Constitution. The federal government is instructed to follow the statements when it enforces the laws. Here are 10 examples and the dates Bush signed them:

March 9: Justice Department officials must give reports to Congress by certain dates on how the FBI is using the USA Patriot Act to search homes and secretly seize papers.

Bush's signing statement: The president can order Justice Department officials to withhold any information from Congress if he decides it could impair national security or executive branch operations.

Dec. 30, 2005: US interrogators cannot torture prisoners or otherwise subject them to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Bush's signing statement: The president, as commander in chief, can waive the torture ban if he decides that harsh interrogation techniques will assist in preventing terrorist attacks.





That is what concerns me with all this "illegal" immigrant hysteria. Who is promoting this hysteria? I am white. Every white person I know off-line who is promoting sending 12 million "illegals" back to wherever, are just as excited about sending all black people back to Africa some day. This is what worries me.

I have no idea who is promoting all this "illegal" stuff on-line. The web is anonymous. Might be some well intentioned Dems promoting this stuff but I don't know a single person off-line who I consider progressive in any way who even cares about the issue. Its only the outwardly racist people (all Republicans) I know off-line who even talk about it. What gives?

Don

[AX10]

1. Nazi-wannabees!

[glowing]

2. Ok, if 12 million illegal workers becamse legal citizen workers, then

they would be entitled to the same conditions that American citizens expect with the ability to sue the pants off these corporations that are doing wrong. Bottom line, its bad for business to have legal workers.. much better to have illegal or "guest workers" who don't have the same rights as a citizen. Big business wants the issue to languish so they can enjoy their exploitations.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Business never wants the issue settled

If a business can hire workers who will toil for next to nothing and recieve zero benefits, they will. That is why I believe there will be no immigration reform as long as bush is in office.