Bush's "unitary executive" powers
From Bush's
Face the Nation interview with Bob Schieffer, broadcast 01/29/06:
SCHIEFFER : Let's talk a little bit about this whole idea of eavesdropping without court orders. You said very strongly, and the strongest language I've heard you use yesterday, that you believe it is not only legal, you believe it is absolutely necessary in the War on Terrorism. The--the question I have, Mr. President, is: Do you believe that there is anything that a president cannot do, if he considers it necessary, in an emergency like this? PRESIDENT BUSH : That's a--that's a great question. You know, one of the--yeah, I don't think a president can tort--get--can order torture, for example. I don't think a president can order the assassination of a leader of another country with which we're not at war. Yes, there are clear red lines, and--it--you--you--you just asked a very interesting constitutional question. The extent to which a president, during war, can exercise authorities in order to protect the American people, and that's really what the debate is about. I--I made the decision to listen to phone calls of Al Qaeda or suspected Al Qaeda from outside the country coming in or inside the country going out because the people, our operators, told me that this is one of the best ways to protect the American people. And it wasn't an easy decision to make, but as I thought through the decision-making process, I asked a couple of questions: One, do I have the authority to do it? In other words, implicit in your question is, will I just act without determining if I have authority. And so, in other words, I got--I--I was convinced by the legal department of the--of this--of this White House and the Justice Department that I did have the authority, and we looked at it very carefully. And secondly, I wanted to make sure that civil liberties were guarded. In other words, that by unleashing this program there wasn't checks and balances on--inside the NSA so that they would circumvent my order, which was listening for phone calls outside the country and in vice versa; in other words, not listening to the phone calls within the country. It is important that this program go on. I understand the debate, and I understand the need to make sure people discuss and debate whether or not I have got the authority to do it, but as I told the American people--and I can't tell you how strongly I feel about this--if somebody is talking to Al Qaeda inside the United States, we need to know why, and that's what this program is aimed to do.My emphasis)I doubt that there's ever been a President before who claimed powers this sweeping. His qualification on torture - which he delivered with his signature smirk - is meaningless. Because under the Orwellian terms in which they are working, if Bush orders it done, it isn't "torture".
And the bolded part above may have been a Freudian slip. Because the debate on Executive power, whether the President can just choose to disobey the law on his own authority,
is what the debate is about. Not whether it's necessary to collect intelligence on Al Qaeda.
|
+Save/Share
|
|
FEATURED QUOTE
"It is the logic of our times No subject for immortal verse That we who lived by honest dreams Defend the bad against the worse."
-- Cecil Day-Lewis from Where Are The War Poets?
ABOUT US
What is the Blue Voice?
Bruce Miller
Fdtate
Marcia Ellen (on hiatus)
Marigolds2
Neil
Tankwoman
Wonky Muse
RECENT POSTS
Silence The Horrible Truth
Men in Black
A Christian view of authority
Let's honor the soldiers for who they really are a...
Maverick McCain on Iraq
Talking to Hamas
Why can't Americans Understand the Hamas Victory?
Oldy But Goody: Presidential Speechalist
Flotsam and Jetsam
VDH Watch 20: Vic unpacks Osama bin Laden for us
ARCHIVES
Weekly, Click Here >>>
06/12/2005 - 06/19/2005
06/19/2005 - 06/26/2005
06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005
07/03/2005 - 07/10/2005
07/10/2005 - 07/17/2005
07/17/2005 - 07/24/2005
07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005
07/31/2005 - 08/07/2005
08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005
08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005
08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005
08/28/2005 - 09/04/2005
09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005
09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005
09/18/2005 - 09/25/2005
09/25/2005 - 10/02/2005
10/02/2005 - 10/09/2005
10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005
10/16/2005 - 10/23/2005
10/23/2005 - 10/30/2005
10/30/2005 - 11/06/2005
11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005
11/13/2005 - 11/20/2005
11/20/2005 - 11/27/2005
11/27/2005 - 12/04/2005
12/04/2005 - 12/11/2005
12/11/2005 - 12/18/2005
12/18/2005 - 12/25/2005
12/25/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 01/08/2006
01/08/2006 - 01/15/2006
01/15/2006 - 01/22/2006
01/22/2006 - 01/29/2006
01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006
02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006
02/12/2006 - 02/19/2006
02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006
02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006
03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006
03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006
03/19/2006 - 03/26/2006
03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006
04/02/2006 - 04/09/2006
04/09/2006 - 04/16/2006
04/16/2006 - 04/23/2006
04/23/2006 - 04/30/2006
04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006
05/07/2006 - 05/14/2006
05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006
05/21/2006 - 05/28/2006
05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006
06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006
06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006
06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006
06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006
07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006
07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006
07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006
07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006
07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006
08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006
08/13/2006 - 08/20/2006
08/20/2006 - 08/27/2006
08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006
09/03/2006 - 09/10/2006
09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006
09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006
09/24/2006 - 10/01/2006
10/01/2006 - 10/08/2006
10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006
10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006
10/22/2006 - 10/29/2006
10/29/2006 - 11/05/2006
11/05/2006 - 11/12/2006
11/12/2006 - 11/19/2006
11/19/2006 - 11/26/2006
11/26/2006 - 12/03/2006
12/03/2006 - 12/10/2006
12/10/2006 - 12/17/2006
12/17/2006 - 12/24/2006
12/24/2006 - 12/31/2006
12/31/2006 - 01/07/2007
01/07/2007 - 01/14/2007
01/14/2007 - 01/21/2007
01/21/2007 - 01/28/2007
01/28/2007 - 02/04/2007
02/04/2007 - 02/11/2007
02/11/2007 - 02/18/2007
02/18/2007 - 02/25/2007
02/25/2007 - 03/04/2007
03/04/2007 - 03/11/2007
03/11/2007 - 03/18/2007
03/18/2007 - 03/25/2007
03/25/2007 - 04/01/2007
04/01/2007 - 04/08/2007
04/08/2007 - 04/15/2007
04/15/2007 - 04/22/2007
04/22/2007 - 04/29/2007
04/29/2007 - 05/06/2007
05/06/2007 - 05/13/2007
05/13/2007 - 05/20/2007
05/20/2007 - 05/27/2007
05/27/2007 - 06/03/2007
06/03/2007 - 06/10/2007
06/10/2007 - 06/17/2007
06/17/2007 - 06/24/2007
06/24/2007 - 07/01/2007
07/01/2007 - 07/08/2007
07/08/2007 - 07/15/2007
07/15/2007 - 07/22/2007
07/22/2007 - 07/29/2007
07/29/2007 - 08/05/2007
08/05/2007 - 08/12/2007
08/12/2007 - 08/19/2007
08/19/2007 - 08/26/2007
08/26/2007 - 09/02/2007
09/02/2007 - 09/09/2007
09/09/2007 - 09/16/2007
09/16/2007 - 09/23/2007
09/23/2007 - 09/30/2007
09/30/2007 - 10/07/2007
10/07/2007 - 10/14/2007
10/14/2007 - 10/21/2007
10/21/2007 - 10/28/2007
10/28/2007 - 11/04/2007
11/04/2007 - 11/11/2007
11/11/2007 - 11/18/2007
11/18/2007 - 11/25/2007
11/25/2007 - 12/02/2007
12/02/2007 - 12/09/2007
12/09/2007 - 12/16/2007
12/16/2007 - 12/23/2007
12/23/2007 - 12/30/2007
12/30/2007 - 01/06/2008
01/06/2008 - 01/13/2008
01/13/2008 - 01/20/2008
01/20/2008 - 01/27/2008
01/27/2008 - 02/03/2008
02/03/2008 - 02/10/2008
02/10/2008 - 02/17/2008
02/17/2008 - 02/24/2008
02/24/2008 - 03/02/2008
03/02/2008 - 03/09/2008
03/09/2008 - 03/16/2008
03/16/2008 - 03/23/2008
03/23/2008 - 03/30/2008
03/30/2008 - 04/06/2008
04/06/2008 - 04/13/2008
04/13/2008 - 04/20/2008
04/20/2008 - 04/27/2008
04/27/2008 - 05/04/2008
05/04/2008 - 05/11/2008
05/11/2008 - 05/18/2008
05/18/2008 - 05/25/2008
05/25/2008 - 06/01/2008
06/01/2008 - 06/08/2008
06/08/2008 - 06/15/2008
06/15/2008 - 06/22/2008
06/22/2008 - 06/29/2008
06/29/2008 - 07/06/2008
07/06/2008 - 07/13/2008
07/13/2008 - 07/20/2008
07/20/2008 - 07/27/2008
07/27/2008 - 08/03/2008
08/03/2008 - 08/10/2008
08/10/2008 - 08/17/2008
08/17/2008 - 08/24/2008
08/24/2008 - 08/31/2008
08/31/2008 - 09/07/2008
09/07/2008 - 09/14/2008
09/14/2008 - 09/21/2008
09/21/2008 - 09/28/2008
09/28/2008 - 10/05/2008
10/05/2008 - 10/12/2008
10/12/2008 - 10/19/2008
10/19/2008 - 10/26/2008
10/26/2008 - 11/02/2008
11/02/2008 - 11/09/2008
11/09/2008 - 11/16/2008
11/16/2008 - 11/23/2008
11/23/2008 - 11/30/2008
11/30/2008 - 12/07/2008
12/07/2008 - 12/14/2008
12/14/2008 - 12/21/2008
12/21/2008 - 12/28/2008
12/28/2008 - 01/04/2009
01/04/2009 - 01/11/2009
01/11/2009 - 01/18/2009
01/18/2009 - 01/25/2009
01/25/2009 - 02/01/2009
02/01/2009 - 02/08/2009
02/08/2009 - 02/15/2009
02/15/2009 - 02/22/2009
02/22/2009 - 03/01/2009
03/01/2009 - 03/08/2009
03/08/2009 - 03/15/2009
03/15/2009 - 03/22/2009
03/22/2009 - 03/29/2009
03/29/2009 - 04/05/2009
04/05/2009 - 04/12/2009
04/12/2009 - 04/19/2009
04/19/2009 - 04/26/2009
04/26/2009 - 05/03/2009
05/03/2009 - 05/10/2009
05/10/2009 - 05/17/2009
05/17/2009 - 05/24/2009
05/24/2009 - 05/31/2009
05/31/2009 - 06/07/2009
06/07/2009 - 06/14/2009
06/14/2009 - 06/21/2009
06/21/2009 - 06/28/2009
06/28/2009 - 07/05/2009
07/05/2009 - 07/12/2009
07/12/2009 - 07/19/2009
07/19/2009 - 07/26/2009
07/26/2009 - 08/02/2009
08/02/2009 - 08/09/2009
08/09/2009 - 08/16/2009
08/16/2009 - 08/23/2009
08/23/2009 - 08/30/2009
08/30/2009 - 09/06/2009
09/06/2009 - 09/13/2009
09/13/2009 - 09/20/2009
09/20/2009 - 09/27/2009
09/27/2009 - 10/04/2009
10/04/2009 - 10/11/2009
10/11/2009 - 10/18/2009
10/18/2009 - 10/25/2009
10/25/2009 - 11/01/2009
11/01/2009 - 11/08/2009
11/08/2009 - 11/15/2009
11/15/2009 - 11/22/2009
11/22/2009 - 11/29/2009
11/29/2009 - 12/06/2009
12/06/2009 - 12/13/2009
12/13/2009 - 12/20/2009
12/20/2009 - 12/27/2009
12/27/2009 - 01/03/2010
01/03/2010 - 01/10/2010
01/10/2010 - 01/17/2010
01/17/2010 - 01/24/2010
01/24/2010 - 01/31/2010
01/31/2010 - 02/07/2010
02/07/2010 - 02/14/2010
02/14/2010 - 02/21/2010
02/21/2010 - 02/28/2010
02/28/2010 - 03/07/2010
03/07/2010 - 03/14/2010
03/14/2010 - 03/21/2010
03/21/2010 - 03/28/2010
03/28/2010 - 04/04/2010
04/04/2010 - 04/11/2010
04/11/2010 - 04/18/2010
04/18/2010 - 04/25/2010
04/25/2010 - 05/02/2010
05/02/2010 - 05/09/2010
05/09/2010 - 05/16/2010
05/16/2010 - 05/23/2010
05/23/2010 - 05/30/2010
05/30/2010 - 06/06/2010
06/06/2010 - 06/13/2010
06/13/2010 - 06/20/2010
06/20/2010 - 06/27/2010
06/27/2010 - 07/04/2010
07/04/2010 - 07/11/2010
07/11/2010 - 07/18/2010
07/18/2010 - 07/25/2010
07/25/2010 - 08/01/2010
08/01/2010 - 08/08/2010
08/08/2010 - 08/15/2010
08/15/2010 - 08/22/2010
08/22/2010 - 08/29/2010
08/29/2010 - 09/05/2010
09/05/2010 - 09/12/2010
09/12/2010 - 09/19/2010
09/19/2010 - 09/26/2010
09/26/2010 - 10/03/2010
10/03/2010 - 10/10/2010
10/10/2010 - 10/17/2010
10/17/2010 - 10/24/2010
10/24/2010 - 10/31/2010
10/31/2010 - 11/07/2010
11/07/2010 - 11/14/2010
11/14/2010 - 11/21/2010
11/21/2010 - 11/28/2010
11/28/2010 - 12/05/2010
12/05/2010 - 12/12/2010
12/12/2010 - 12/19/2010
12/19/2010 - 12/26/2010
12/26/2010 - 01/02/2011
01/02/2011 - 01/09/2011
01/09/2011 - 01/16/2011
01/16/2011 - 01/23/2011
01/23/2011 - 01/30/2011
01/30/2011 - 02/06/2011
02/06/2011 - 02/13/2011
02/13/2011 - 02/20/2011
02/20/2011 - 02/27/2011
02/27/2011 - 03/06/2011
03/06/2011 - 03/13/2011
03/13/2011 - 03/20/2011
03/20/2011 - 03/27/2011
03/27/2011 - 04/03/2011
04/03/2011 - 04/10/2011
04/10/2011 - 04/17/2011
04/17/2011 - 04/24/2011
04/24/2011 - 05/01/2011
05/01/2011 - 05/08/2011
05/08/2011 - 05/15/2011
05/15/2011 - 05/22/2011
05/22/2011 - 05/29/2011
05/29/2011 - 06/05/2011
06/05/2011 - 06/12/2011
06/12/2011 - 06/19/2011
06/19/2011 - 06/26/2011
06/26/2011 - 07/03/2011
07/03/2011 - 07/10/2011
07/10/2011 - 07/17/2011
07/17/2011 - 07/24/2011
07/24/2011 - 07/31/2011
07/31/2011 - 08/07/2011
08/07/2011 - 08/14/2011
08/14/2011 - 08/21/2011
08/21/2011 - 08/28/2011
08/28/2011 - 09/04/2011
09/04/2011 - 09/11/2011
09/11/2011 - 09/18/2011
09/18/2011 - 09/25/2011
09/25/2011 - 10/02/2011
10/02/2011 - 10/09/2011
10/09/2011 - 10/16/2011
10/16/2011 - 10/23/2011
10/23/2011 - 10/30/2011
10/30/2011 - 11/06/2011
11/06/2011 - 11/13/2011
11/13/2011 - 11/20/2011
11/20/2011 - 11/27/2011
11/27/2011 - 12/04/2011
12/04/2011 - 12/11/2011
12/11/2011 - 12/18/2011
12/18/2011 - 12/25/2011
12/25/2011 - 01/01/2012
01/01/2012 - 01/08/2012
01/08/2012 - 01/15/2012
01/15/2012 - 01/22/2012
01/22/2012 - 01/29/2012
01/29/2012 - 02/05/2012
02/05/2012 - 02/12/2012
02/12/2012 - 02/19/2012
02/19/2012 - 02/26/2012
02/26/2012 - 03/04/2012
03/04/2012 - 03/11/2012
03/11/2012 - 03/18/2012
03/18/2012 - 03/25/2012
03/25/2012 - 04/01/2012
04/01/2012 - 04/08/2012
04/08/2012 - 04/15/2012
04/15/2012 - 04/22/2012
04/22/2012 - 04/29/2012
04/29/2012 - 05/06/2012
05/06/2012 - 05/13/2012
05/13/2012 - 05/20/2012
05/20/2012 - 05/27/2012
05/27/2012 - 06/03/2012
06/03/2012 - 06/10/2012
06/10/2012 - 06/17/2012
06/17/2012 - 06/24/2012
06/24/2012 - 07/01/2012
07/01/2012 - 07/08/2012
07/08/2012 - 07/15/2012
07/15/2012 - 07/22/2012
07/22/2012 - 07/29/2012
07/29/2012 - 08/05/2012
08/05/2012 - 08/12/2012
08/12/2012 - 08/19/2012
08/19/2012 - 08/26/2012
08/26/2012 - 09/02/2012
09/02/2012 - 09/09/2012
09/09/2012 - 09/16/2012
09/16/2012 - 09/23/2012
09/23/2012 - 09/30/2012
09/30/2012 - 10/07/2012
10/07/2012 - 10/14/2012
10/14/2012 - 10/21/2012
10/21/2012 - 10/28/2012
10/28/2012 - 11/04/2012
11/04/2012 - 11/11/2012
11/11/2012 - 11/18/2012
11/18/2012 - 11/25/2012
11/25/2012 - 12/02/2012
12/02/2012 - 12/09/2012
12/09/2012 - 12/16/2012
12/16/2012 - 12/23/2012
RECENT COMMENTS
[Tip: Point cursor to any comment to see title of post being discussed.]
SEARCH THIS SITE
BLUE'S NEWS
Get the Google News widget and many other great free widgets
at Widgetbox !
ACT BLUE
BLUE LINKS
Environmental Links
Gay/Lesbian Links
News & Media Links
Organization Links
Political Links
Religious Links
Watchdog Links
BLUE ROLL
MISCELLANEOUS