Obama's Creeping Authoritarianism? WSJ Opinion

H

Hu_Fan

Guest
WARNING: May be TLTR (too long too read) and/or TDTR (too deep to read) but felt the need to post it.Link to the piece, copy, read later. Whatever. Skip my BS that precedes it.
The Piece: The Link
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This is probably the finest piece I have ever read. I've seen this coming for the twenty years I've worked as a geopolitical researcher. Everything I've learned in that time has made me aware of the abuse of pure raw political power. My only fear is that much of the American society either does not believe it is possible in this country to take that abuse to extremes, or they just don't care.

I believe that most who voted for Obama really did not know what they were voting for. He represented a mix of ideas and ideals wrapped with a ribbon of assumptions and trust promoted by celebrities, pundits and an equally trusting media. Such a vote wasn't for wrong ideas, perhaps, but did they understand where Obama stands when it comes to raw political power and absolute rule?

This writer does, and it's something I've been aware of for years. How relieved I am for it to come fully out of the closet in this Opinion piece, and I hope it dominates public dialog during the August recess and beyond.

Maybe we need to go through this trial (of this administration) to become a stronger and more mature society. I don't know. I can't see everything in the future, but I do know I work among people who can see through the BS, and for that I thank my lucky stars.

I work for Richard J. Maybury, author of "Whatever Happened To Justice?"
I once had an evening patio dinner with the late Harry Browne (former Libertarian candidate for President)
My employer (writer) is a long-time friend of Ron Paul, a fellow Texan-Champion of Liberty.
I keep good company.
Among those, I will add Patrick Henry, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and others who knew the full brunt of raw political power.

The question is, will the living breathing population of America come to grips with it in this century?

I'm glad Barak Obama became President. Now the country has it's living lesson in political power and can decide what the future will be. And many can gradually ask themselves who and what they voted for in 2008 and 2012. As in all life, experience is the teacher. We go through it when picking friends, mates, jobs, place to live... but then experience gives the lessons, and we move on. Or appreciate what we have from an enhanced point of view. In the case with Obama, the lessons are coming hard and fast now. I admit I got through the first term without too much stress. Now with the attitudes coming from the White House... probably the most unease I have felt in all my life.

How much government is enough, and how much is too much. That is the question for America. And what kind of government. Of and by the Constitution, or creeping authoritarianism by a single branch?...
In reply to:
 
TLDR. Sorry...my ADD kicked in.
wink.gif
 
If you haven' t already HU, I suggest you watch the somewhat recent Cheney documentary. That said, surely you're not shocked that a branch of government is trying to gain additional influence.
 
A few things:

First, in all of Obama's remarks he uses qualifiers such as "where I can," "do everything I can," etc. In other words, he's acknowledging a limitation on what he can actually do by executive order. He's not saying he's "done with Congress."

Second, this phenomenon of the White House dropping hints about testing the bounds of its authority isn't new. It's almost as old as the republic. The current power balance between the Judiciary and the other branches exists because of a potential court ruling that Thomas Jefferson had threatened to defy.

Third, the GOP isn't blameless, which is why they'll look stupid if they try to make this a big campaign issue. There was a tremendous centralization of power during the Bush Administration. Furthermore, don't forget Lindsey Graham's admission about the filibuster of Richard Cordray. They filibustered him not because of Cordray's qualifications but because they don't like the agency and the law it enforces. In other words, the filibuster was intended to undermine and avoid the execution of duly enacted laws. Furthermore, when the Bush Administration wasn't able to get Congress to preempt state laws on public health and safety (corporate welfare to drug companies), it used administrative regulations in stark opposition to the clear intent of the agencies' enabling statutes. In other words, not only did it work against the intent of federal law, but it took a piss on states' rights. Kinda hard to complain when you're doing things like that.

Finally, I'm not sure what Judge McConnell is talking about. There are plenty of things that can be done if Congress actually believes the White House isn't enforcing and executing the laws. They can refuse to appropriate funds for the allegedly illegal activities. They can take the Administration to Court. They can also impeach people, including the President himself. If they can actually make a specific case of abuse of power, they should use those remedies. Put up or shut up.
 
Mr. Deez, sure there are things Congress could do. However, they will be accused of creating phony scandals and obstruction and of trying to kill women, kids and seniors and of any number of scurrilous things. And only this is what the low-information voters and those who only watch the MSM will know. And will swallow hook, line and sinker.
 
mr D
They DO explain as the GOP has over and over and over to the media who will give them time.

Have you ever seen Paul Ryan etc etc etc etc given more than a 30 sec sound bite on any of the legacy media sites?
How about Rand Paul? when he is given time on any MSM it is in conjunction with a Dem , a Dem who is given the high road of position.

Have you EVER watched a legacy media show who EVER gave equal time to a GOP idea in a non biased way?


Do you think George Stepanopolis, Diane Sawyer Brian Williams, Matt Lauer bob Schiffer, David letterman not to mention the Chris Matthews candy crowleys and their ilk NPR? yea sure
how about NYTimes La TImes Wapo Time etc etc etc on and on

Yes new media is coming on but the huge vast millions still get their news and opinions from legacy media

So where would these people get a level view of both sides?
 
Horn6721,

Of course the media isn't fair to the GOP in their own commentary. However, most shows do have a Republican guest of some kind who can make the case. They just need a case to make.

The problem is that they jump the gun before they know what they have or don't have and before they're able to connect the dots. They should be waiting until they have solid evidence and a solid argument of wrongdoing before they go on a rampage. Failing to do so blows their credibility and makes them look inept. And of course, like I said in my previous post, complaining about Obama doing things that they've done themselves in recent years doesn't help.
 
First of all, good post Hu_Fan.

That article echos my own fears and suspicions about Obama's intentions. He has absolutely nothing but contempt for Congress and, given Eric Holder's recent move around the SC Court's voting act ruling, not much respect for the SC either. HIS is the only true path.

And, I agree most Americans don't know, or even care, that BO is abusing the series of checks and balances that the founders put in place. Most of them are just going about their daily existances, getting their news from the front page of Yahoo or in 30 second sound bites between songs on their favorite radio station. Even if they do still subscribe to a legacy news format, like a newspaper, so complete is the main stream media's capitulation to BO, they won't get anything negative except maybe the odd Op Ed piece by a conservative writer.
 
Of course the politicians know and remember that they flip flop. It's the citizens that don't care to remember. we don't care about character and consistency any more. all we care about is that the guy leading the charge is indignant about the same things that we are. How else could tools like Weiner and Sanford get the traction and votes that they get? We expect our politicians to be shitheads and that's unfortunately what we get.
 
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