L'Etat:c'est Moi

[Guest guest]

Bush Grants Self Permission To Grant More Power To

Self

 

August 1, 2006 | Issue 42•31

 

WASHINGTON, DC—In a decisive 1–0 decision Monday,

President Bush voted to grant the president the

constitutional power to grant himself additional

powers.

 

 

President Bush announces announcement of the new

power-granting announcement.

 

" As president, I strongly believe that my first duty

as president is to support and serve the president, "

Bush said during a televised address from the East

Room of the White House shortly after signing his

executive order. " I promise the American people that I

will not abuse this new power, unless it becomes

necessary to grant myself the power to do so at a

later time. "

 

The Presidential Empowerment Act, which the president

hand-drafted on his own Oval Office stationery and

promptly signed into law, provides Bush with full

authority to permit himself to authorize increased

jurisdiction over the three branches of the federal

government, provided that the president considers it

in his best interest to do so.

 

" In a time of war, the president must have the power

he needs to make the tough decisions, including, if

need be, the decision to grant himself even more

power, " Bush said. " To do otherwise would be playing

into the hands of our enemies. "

 

Added Bush: " And it's all under due process of the law

as I see it. "

 

 

" The president can grant himself the power to

interpret new laws however he sees fit, then use that

power to interpret a law in such a manner that in turn

grants him increased power. "

 

Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez

 

In addition, the president reserves the right to

overturn any decision to allow himself to increase his

power by using a line-item veto, which in turn may

only be overruled by the president.

 

Senior administration officials lauded Bush's

decision, saying that current presidential powers over

presidential power were " far too limited. "

 

" Previously, the president only had the power to

petition Congress to allow him to grant himself the

power to grant more power to himself, " Attorney

General Alberto Gonzalez said shortly after the

ceremony. " Now, the president can grant himself the

power to interpret new laws however he sees fit, then

use that power to interpret a law in such a manner

that in turn grants him increased power. "

 

In addition, a proviso in the 12th provision of the

new law permits Bush the authority to waive the need

for any presidential authorization of power in a case

concerning national security, although legal experts

suggest it would be little exercised.

 

Despite the president's new powers, the role of

Congress and the Supreme Court has not been

overlooked. Under the new law, both enjoy the newly

broadened ability to grant the president the authority

to increase his presidential powers.

 

 

" The only thing we can do now is withhold our ability

to grant him more authority to grant himself more

power—unless he authorizes himself to strip us of that

power. "

 

Sen. Harry Reid (D–NV)

 

" This gives the president the tools he needs to ensure

that the president has all the necessary tools to

expedite what needs to be done, unfettered by

presidential restrictions on himself, " said Rep. John

Cornyn (R-TX). " It's long overdue. "

 

Though public response to the new law has been

limited, there has been an unfavorable reaction among

Democrats, who are calling for restrictions on Bush's

power to allow himself to grant the president more

powers that would restrict the powers of Congress.

 

" This is a clear case of President Bush having carte

blanche to grant himself complete discretion to enact

laws to increase his power, " Senate Minority Leader

Harry Reid (D-NV) said. " The only thing we can do now

is withhold our ability to grant him more authority to

grant himself more power. "

 

" Unless he authorizes himself to strip us of that

power, " Reid added.

 

Despite criticism, Bush took his first official action

under the new law Tuesday, signing an executive order

ordering that the chief executive be able to order

more executive orders.

 

In addition, Republicans fearful that the president's

new power undermines their ability to grant him power

have proposed a new law that would allow senators to

permit him to grant himself power, with or without

presidential approval.

 

© Copyright 2006, Onion, Inc.