Letter to the Editor re Bush's signing statement on the Patriot Re-authorization

[Guest guest]

" Mark Hull-Richter " <mhull

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:02:53 -0800 (PST)

Letter to the Editor re Bush's signing statement on the

Patriot Re-authorization debacle.

 

 

 

 

As if the USA-PATRIOT Re-authorization Act weren't bad enough by

itself, King George decided to attach another of those infamous signing

statements of his that basically says he will ignore that law, too.

 

I just sent the following letter to several newspapers. Actually, this

is the final one that went to the last few - I fixed a couple of typos

(shame on me) along the way.

 

I urge you to follow-up with your local press, and " members of

Congress. " Read it and you'll see why. Don't use my words, use your

own - it's better that way. If you just wnat to forward this, please

quote it so you don't get accused of plagiarism (and ignored).

 

Letter to the Editor (sent to AP, LA Times, NYT, Newsweek, OC Register

and Weekly, Reuters, SF Chronicle, Time, US News, USA Today and the

Washington Post):

 

With his latest " signing statement, " president Bush has once again

shown his complete disdain for the rule of law, the Constitution and

Congress. It is a near certainty that Congress, overrun with

Republican party-devotee-fanatics who revere the party above all else,

including their own Constitution and oath to it, will let him get away

with it. Again.

 

The President of the United States, when he is sworn in, with his right

hand raised and his left hand on the Bible, " solemnly " swears to

" ...preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United

States. " In fact, every elected official in the U.S., down to the

members of party central committees (particularly here in California),

is also required to swear that same oath, " ...so help me God. "

 

Article II, section 3 of the Constitution, which decribes the office of

the Presidency, says, in part, " ...he shall take Care that the Laws be

faithfully executed,... "

 

Please notice that this does NOT say that the president may interpret

the laws passed by the Congress of the United States (which is in

Article III, describing the Supreme Court), nor does it say that he can

bend, twist, warp or otherwise manipulate the laws passed by Congress

to suit his own needs. King George III, among others, did that, and

that is why the presidency is limited by the Constitution.

 

Apparently, King George W. Bush does not know how to read, nor does he

care to follow his own oath, taken twice, to assume the " office " of the

presidency.

 

If he can't follow the Constitution he has sworn to preserve, protect

and defend by FAITHFULLY executing the Laws as passed by Congress, he

should resign. If he does not, then the members of Congress, both to

preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and to preserve their own

existence and need as the Congress of the United States, should impeach

and convict him on those grounds alone. Never mind all the other high

crimes and misdemeanors he has already committed.

 

Mark Hull-Richter, U.S. Citizen & Patriot

Vice-Chairman & Co-Founder, Patrick Henry Democratic Club

Vice-Chairman, 69th AD Committee

Member, Executive Board, California Democratic Party

Etc.

[address and phone redacted]