Pitt Post Gazette Rocking This A.M.:Pres Has NO Respect For The Law

[kpete]

Editorial: Ominous sign / The president's growing disregard for the law
Friday, January 20, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

.......


We repeat -- there is nothing in the Constitution that says he can do that. To the degree that the American system functions, Congress passes laws that put into effect the will of the people.

Mr. Bush's subversion of the process is particularly ironic since the laws passed by Congress that he chooses not to carry out are the product of a legislature controlled by his own political party. Unfortunately, that is also a prime reason that Congress is not in open revolt over the president's disregard for its work.

Everyone loses when a president chooses to carry out only the laws that he wants to, as he wants to. Fundamental governance of the United States through the rule of law is sabotaged by this practice. We'll see what happens when Mr. Bush's ability to do so is challenged by a court -- assuming there will still be independent courts after he succeeds in stocking them with acquiescent appointees.

Mr. Bush's presidential signing statements are a practice designed to paint the Constitution, Congress and the American people into a shrinking corner. If Congress can't pass a law and expect the president to respect it, where exactly is this nation left?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0...6020/ 641039.stm

[PA Democrat]

1. Agreed kpete. They also had a great lead editorial on Alito yesterday

Editorial: The Alito vote / Americans will regret his confirmation
Thursday, January 19, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It is almost certain that Judge Samuel Alito Jr. will fill the position vacated by the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. After his hearing last week, in which he answered a welter of questions and revealed little other than his intelligence, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote Tuesday. The nomination probably won't be filibustered in the full Senate because a sense of inevitability accompanies it.

President Bush won the election and to the victor go these spoils. Judge Alito is a thoroughly conservative judge, but he didn't say anything that would categorize him as being out of the mainstream. Sadly, in the time of Mr. Bush, he is the mainstream.

Members of the Christian right are euphoric that Judge Alito's nomination is doing so well. They know exactly what they are getting with this nominee -- and they are correct. So are his Democratic opponents.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06019/640345.stm