What effect has Bush's expansion of Executive Power had on the Presidency?
482584
It has caused a critical imbalance in the separation of powers doctrine, where the Executive thinks he can ignore federal laws passed by Congress, and thinks he can ignore court holdings by the Supreme Court.\n\nAnd the most frightening thing is that there are people out there in large numbers who don't see a problem with this type of pre-tyranny. They don't realize that all great tyrannies started when the Executive decided that the laws and the rules didn't apply to them.\n\nWe've lost the rule of law, because the Executive doesn't think laws should be followed if he doesn't like them. And because the Executive is responsible for enforcing the laws, if he chooses to ignore them, there is apparently no accountability.\n\nBush and his administration are the single greatest threat to the integrity of this country since the Civil War. Not because he's making bad choices -- every president does that. He's a threat because he is single-handedly destroying the balance of power that the framers of the Constitution spent so much time establishing.\n\nThanks to Bush, the terrorists are on the verge of winning, by turning this country into one where laws don't matter.
236620
The change in federalism has been affected through several places in the constitution.  First, Article I, Section 8, the 'implied powers' clause.  This has been used time and time again to expand national authority; but just as much has been the product of social, economic and cultural changes in America.  The 10th amendment was ratified to CREATE a barrier to this (see Brutus ----antifederalist papers). TIme and time again, the Supreme Court has enabled this to occur (See Gibbons v Ogden, McCullough v Maryland from an historical standpoint, but most recently, the Marijuana law in California!)  The commerce clause of Article I (expressed powers of congress in Section 8) has been the MOST oft used expressed power conjoined to the implied power clause.  Hope that helps
586372
That is such a good question.  The reason is because the presidency and its meaning has changed so significantly as america has become a nation or rolled over cowards that won't fight the over taking of our country by the masonic corporate structure for fear that their taxes will be messed with or that they will lose their free parking they get by signaling. The presidency is no longer really anything but a puppet show.  A puppet who has to do what the real powers to be want.  I am so hoping and I think it might be true that President Bush will turn out to be a secret good guy.  Its a long shot and hard to believe but I think he just really might be.  Either way its up to us to preserve the constitution,  if we are a nation of people by the people for the people we as those people must take an interest and fight as individuals (you know single beings who dont belong to any cult group or company) to preserve the freedoms which are our God given rights.  Which are the worlds God given rights,  we can't lose them here before the whole world can have the guarantee of freedoms were suppose too.    So stand up America and end phony wars and dont let cult psuedo religions and/or organized crime take over you life and country.
885941
The PRESIDENT is George Bush until 2008
498589
Our current president claims "executive privelege" over everything.  He has NOT ONCE excercised his veto power, the first president in history to never veto a single tiny bill from Congress.  His answer is to instead is to sign a congressional bill into law and then immediately write a signing statement saying how the law does not apply to him, or simply issue an executive order reversing whatever the bill said when it doesn't suit him.  If that isn't unchecked power, I don't know what is.  His cronies have also been instrumental in passing laws dismantling the bill of rights, it is just now starting that federal judges are getting such cases challenged, but the media isn't reporting the rulings (Scalia totally grilled the Bush administration, the very people that appointed him).
110041
Bush has stretched the resources of the Army almost to the breaking point. He ordered the invasion of a country on a fictional pretense. Thousands of people have died and the\nU.S. is now hundreds of billions of dollars in debt. Other\nworld leaders deride him and wonder how he ever got re-elected,not to mention elected in the first place. The U.S.\nhas been embarassed in front of the world,even if Bush supporters lack the wit to realize it.\n\n NO. He's not a good President.
327431
Yes the President doesn't have the power to change the laws anyway. the Catholics have apposed abortion for ever and nothing has ever been done about it. The smoke screen is this new Act the Bush Administration is trying to sneak in under the table, like the criminals they are. The Constitution Restoration Act written by Pat Robertson & Jerry Falwell. This takes away the rights of the African American and the minority population to put white extreamists (Evangelist Churches) in constant power in the U.S.. You need to read it. It's another Patriot Act that steals Americans rights away.
532140
Actually, the way it works is this:  Congress passes laws that give general, non-specific instructions to the federal agency (in the executive branch) that is supposed to enforce the rules and follow Congress's instructions.  The laws and the agency regulations are all in place, but the Bush administration has made almost no effort to see that the existing rules are actually enforced.  Mining companies face really small fines for major violations -- smaller than most speeding tickets you or I might get, but most mines have just ignored them and not paid them, and the Bush administration has allowed them to do this.  Congress did its job, but the executive branch has a very poor record on seeing that those laws are actually put into force.
1136305
It'll be a much better place; Bush won't be in power anymore.
50415
I do not approve of much the Bush Administration has perpetrated in its five years of existence, but I think it's entirely appropriate to compare present administrations to recent past ones.  Anyway, the Clinton Administration did far more good than bad, so the Bush Administration comes up short anyway.
107341
No! Does everyone not seem to notice that terrorism became large scale when Bush came into power? Nothing like this ever happened when Clinton was in power. I won't deny that Clinton had his faults, but when he it came to international relations, the man was on top of his game. Unless, the US elects a more intelligent and a more capable president, I fear that any actions taken by Bush and the US government will only make things a whole lot worse.
455851
world domination, Bush Administration
831193
I'm happy. The Republican controlled Congress was a rubber stamp for Bush and that breaks the balance of power that there should be in a democracy. Now with a Democrat controlled House and Senate he is going to negotiate and not going to be able to do anything he wants.
182834
Typically, whenever a President leaves office, there is some economic gain.  It happened when the previous 5 Presidents all took office.  It generally comes from the feeling of euphoria that happens on a regime change.  Does it have to do with the new Presidents policies ?  Probably not, but history has shown that it does occur.
735391
Bush, as we have seen, is loathe to use his veto power.  It will be interesting to see if this changes.
293667
well, i'm sure i can't name them all, but a new president was elected, 2 planes hit the World Trade Center, the war on terrorism began, national deficit declined and then rose again, El Nino, Katrina, OJ was acquitted (not of national importance but was broadcast like it was), Hong Kong was handed back over to the Chinese, World War II memorial was implaced, Strom Thurmond died, 2 seats were filled on the Supreme Court, Dick Cheney shot a guy, President Bush was re-elected, i'm sure there's more but i can't think of them all right now.
819983
lol, good question. I love that you are aware of this. Most Americans have no idea that Bush really did this. My guess is that Bush has a lot more money and power. For some reason the republicans are rubber stamping everything for Bush. There is no debate. It's crazy. There are "secret combinations (deals)" in our gov't right now. How else could this have been legalized? I feel bad for our troops right now.