Executive Power
Executive power is the new states' rights. In the first 70 years of American self-government, just about every politician and faction came down on one side or the other on the rights of states against the federal government, when that position suited his goals.
In modern times, presidents discover abilities and authorities for himself in what Congress or the Courts have done. In the 1950s, Eisenhower claimed executive privilege to rebuff the inquiries of Congress. In that case, it was the McCarthy investigations, and the New York Times and the Washington Post applauded, editorially. In structurally identical cases today, they scold the Bush Administration.
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson all used executive power to advance the cause of minority civil rights in America, and again the media establishment applauded. Bush uses it in cases no less open to constitutional objection, and he gets slammed.
On the other hand, it would be much easier to accept his claims of executive power in the interest of prosecuting the war on terror if, all along, his administration had behaved like a nation at war more often. In the rush of enthusiasm after 9-11, the president told us to go home and live our lives. In subsequent political sessions he has made no move to form a "War Cabinet" or show a bipartisan front. The economic policies pursued by the administration make no sesne for a nation in a long and deadly fight.
Could we at least have a scrap drive or war bonds or something?
It becomes impossible to deny the cry of the Bush critics that the war on terror is treated by this administration as a convenience, and some color begins to creep into even their more paranoid assertion that the White House has succumbed to the temptation to use concerns about terrorism to advance other agendas.
In modern times, presidents discover abilities and authorities for himself in what Congress or the Courts have done. In the 1950s, Eisenhower claimed executive privilege to rebuff the inquiries of Congress. In that case, it was the McCarthy investigations, and the New York Times and the Washington Post applauded, editorially. In structurally identical cases today, they scold the Bush Administration.
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson all used executive power to advance the cause of minority civil rights in America, and again the media establishment applauded. Bush uses it in cases no less open to constitutional objection, and he gets slammed.
On the other hand, it would be much easier to accept his claims of executive power in the interest of prosecuting the war on terror if, all along, his administration had behaved like a nation at war more often. In the rush of enthusiasm after 9-11, the president told us to go home and live our lives. In subsequent political sessions he has made no move to form a "War Cabinet" or show a bipartisan front. The economic policies pursued by the administration make no sesne for a nation in a long and deadly fight.
Could we at least have a scrap drive or war bonds or something?
It becomes impossible to deny the cry of the Bush critics that the war on terror is treated by this administration as a convenience, and some color begins to creep into even their more paranoid assertion that the White House has succumbed to the temptation to use concerns about terrorism to advance other agendas.
Labels: executive power, George W. Bush
