The collapse of the Bush presidency poses risks

[133724]

In a characteristically perceptive Op-Ed in this morning's Washington Post, Dahlia Lithwick makes the point that Bush's extremist actions -- such as Jose Padilla's detention, the Guantanamo abuses, and omnipotence-declaring signing statements -- have no real objective except one: "The object is a larger one: expanding executive power, for its own sake."

<snip>

The reason Bush violated the law when eavesdropping is the same reason Lithwick cites to explain his other lawless and extremist measures -- because he wanted purposely not to comply with the law in order to establish the general "principle" that he was not bound by the law, to show that he has the power to break the law, that he is more powerful than the law. This is a President and an administration that are obsessed first and foremost with their own power and with constant demonstrations of their own strength. Conversely, what they fear and hate the most is their own weakness and submission to limitations.

<snip>

The most dangerous George Bush is one who feels weak, powerless and under attack. Those perceptions are intolerable for him and I doubt there are many limits, if there are any, on what he would be willing to do in order to restore a feeling of power and to rid himself of the sensations of his own weakness and defeat.

http://rawstory.com/showoutarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fglenngreenwald.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fcollapse-of-bush-presidency-poses.html

[Tom Joad]

1. All the more reason to actively pursue legal action against Bush.

Let us never cower before America's adversaries.

[Fovea]

2. I could not agree more.

Really. We are in a period of extreme danger of losing the rule of law for good.

[Swamp Rat]

5. Maybe it is too late?

:shrug:

I hope not.

[Fovea]

12. I figure whatever we call the

new free land that reforms after the crash, as opposed to Jesusland, will be smaller, but smarter and more free.

[Rosemary2205]

3. Nothing more dangerous than a person with nothing left to lose.

with his hand on "the button" no less.

The last few days it just seems like he - as a person - is totally falling apart. I think probably he's more dangerous now than he's ever been.

[DemReadingDU]

4. Bush is scary

What will he do next to feel 'powerful'

great article!

[illinoisprogressive]

6. Simply put: Bush is unstable

[lligrd]

7. Exactly Why Congress Must Act Quickly

to put a stop to this madman and his evil henchmen.

[Nay]

8. Hell, the CONTINUATION of the Bush presidency is even more

risky. Who, besides the neocons, want more of what we're getting now? Let's have the legal fight, let's throw the bastards out, and deal with those consequences. I can assure everyone that if we don't deal with this now, we will be dealing with it in spades later. It's already almost too late.

[Bluebear]

9. So to boil it down, Bush is irrational, unbalanced. nt

[AX10]

10. Which is why the Congress must assert their power and control..

this rabid beast!

[illinoisprogressive]

11. I realized today that saying I hate Bush isn't just retoric anymore

I hate everything he stands for and what he has done to everything. I keep seeing new outrages everyday and when I think there just cannot be anymore evil for him to do, he does.
He is a slime. putrid.

[Virginia Dare]

13. It's scarier to keep him there imo...n/t

[Pathwalker]

14. He outsourced ALL of our Democracy to Iraq, and

gave US Saddam's style of government - very scary.