Comments on: The President in Chains http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191 Gary Hart blog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:25:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gary Hart http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-58 Gary Hart Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:23:24 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-58 Ms. Ark, a point very well taken. It seems to me a struggle is going on both within conservatism and the Republican party for ownership, not only of power but also of language and meaning. Those of us on the sidelines can only wish the best side wins in both cases. Ms. Ark, a point very well taken. It seems to me a struggle is going on both within conservatism and the Republican party for ownership, not only of power but also of language and meaning. Those of us on the sidelines can only wish the best side wins in both cases.

]]> By: Joan D. Ark http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-53 Joan D. Ark Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:17:08 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-53 Senator Hart, Former Congressman Mickey Edwards, a conservative, has also voiced concern about the breakdown in the Constitutional division of power in his book "Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost--And How It Can Find Its Way Back." While his book makes many other points, I am simply noting that it somewhat reassuring that these developments worry thinking people on both sides of the aisle. Senator Hart,

Former Congressman Mickey Edwards, a conservative, has also voiced concern about the breakdown in the Constitutional division of power in his book “Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost–And How It Can Find Its Way Back.” While his book makes many other points, I am simply noting that it somewhat reassuring that these developments worry thinking people on both sides of the aisle.

]]> By: Gary Hart http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-40 Gary Hart Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:53:05 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-40 Thanks to Mike and others for the Garry Wills correction. Be patient, we're operating a start-up here. We'll try to avoid as many typos etc as possible. Thanks to Mike and others for the Garry Wills correction.
Be patient, we’re operating a start-up here. We’ll try to avoid as many typos etc as possible.

]]> By: Mike http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-34 Mike Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:59:46 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-34 The author's name is Garry Wills (with two "r"s). The author’s name is Garry Wills (with two “r”s).

]]> By: Gary Hart http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-32 Gary Hart Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:47:09 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-32 As to partisanship, I would take the same position regarding excessive executive powers if a Democratic administration had sought to promote a scheme like the "unitary executive" for which there is not only no precedent in the U.S.Constitution but also every bulwark against it. See The Federalist. As to Congress, every member is elected by a majority of citizens in his or her district or State. And I don't believe I argued against a commander-in-chief, as the Constitution designates, once Congress has declared war. As to partisanship, I would take the same position regarding excessive executive powers if a Democratic administration had sought to promote a scheme like the “unitary executive” for which there is not only no precedent in the U.S.Constitution but also every bulwark against it. See The Federalist.
As to Congress, every member is elected by a majority of citizens in his or her district or State.
And I don’t believe I argued against a commander-in-chief, as the Constitution designates, once Congress has declared war.

]]> By: Chris Kerr http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-31 Chris Kerr Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:38:22 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-31 C. Kasey - What are you smokin'? Have you ever read the Constitution? If you have, and still feel this way...please move to the EU. You will be much happier their. C. Kasey – What are you smokin’? Have you ever read the Constitution? If you have, and still feel this way…please move to the EU. You will be much happier their.

]]> By: C. Kasey Kitterman http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-30 C. Kasey Kitterman Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:23:36 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-30 The prisons we inhabit, are many times of our own design. To expect an 18th century document to meet the reality of 21st century threats, is both fanciful and dangerous. Post WWII euphoria has been used to drive everything from retail growth to witch hunts. To compete with post war geo politics, the U. S. postured a "cloak of invincibility". America would serve as World Cop, to repulse the intruder and punish the wrongdoer. The execution of those goals seem dependent on fear of American retribution. Due in part to bluster, endless funding of weapons manufacture and MADD politics, the Invincible have stumbled through the last century. Somewhere along the way, an "Ownership Class" began to believe their own propaganda. Cut to current day; a laundry list of neglected issues now confronts us. Apparently elements of the Middle East, intend to redeem, then destroy the West. Our policies are so befuddled with concepts, of what is just, unfair, Constitutional, threatening, worthy of mass destruction, Right, Left, etc; we have become prisoners of our own conceit. The old way of thinking (about our power and our enemies) will turn our "prisons" into crypts. The Cold War mentality, at least superficially, promised a quick " hit back" at an assailant Nation State. The Executive Powers are a reflection of the desire, for pay back, towards anyone, with the temerity to challenge the U. S. The President as Warlord, is an inadequate and belated response to neglected threats. Terrorist ground troops are using a different playbook. A willingness for war without end, a Death Cult mentality, and the most extreme religious fanaticism, are not to be overcome by concentrating power in our President. We are changed, the World is changed by the present challenge. In question to our continued survival, we may find the Constitution the most confining prison of all. The prisons we inhabit, are many times of our own design. To expect an 18th century document to meet the reality of 21st century threats, is both fanciful and dangerous. Post WWII euphoria has been used to drive everything from retail growth to witch hunts. To compete with post war geo politics, the U. S. postured a “cloak of invincibility”. America would serve as World Cop, to repulse the intruder and punish the wrongdoer. The execution of those goals seem dependent on fear of American retribution. Due in part to bluster, endless funding of weapons manufacture and MADD politics, the Invincible have stumbled through the last century. Somewhere along the way, an “Ownership Class” began to believe their own propaganda. Cut to current day; a laundry list of neglected issues now confronts us. Apparently elements of the Middle East, intend to redeem, then destroy the West. Our policies are so befuddled with concepts, of what is just, unfair, Constitutional, threatening, worthy of mass destruction, Right, Left, etc; we have become prisoners of our own conceit. The old way of thinking (about our power and our enemies) will turn our “prisons” into crypts. The Cold War mentality, at least superficially, promised a quick ” hit back” at an assailant Nation State. The Executive Powers are a reflection of the desire, for pay back, towards anyone, with the temerity to challenge the U. S. The President as Warlord, is an inadequate and belated response to neglected threats. Terrorist ground troops are using a different playbook. A willingness for war without end, a Death Cult mentality, and the most extreme religious fanaticism, are not to be overcome by concentrating power in our President. We are changed, the World is changed by the present challenge. In question to our continued survival, we may find the Constitution the most confining prison of all.

]]> By: Chris Kerr http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-28 Chris Kerr Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:13:40 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-28 Gary, Although I find your original article expectedly partisan, I do agree with your comments back to Ms. Pond. If war becomes necessary, it must be waged by a single leader...not a body of some 400-500 separate individuals. The wording of the constitution is the key here: The Congress will “provide for the common defense” and “declare War”. Once declared, the Congress needs to step aside and let the Commander in Chief wage that war. Your statement about mondern Congresses not having the stomach to declare war is a true one. Their cowardly behavior does have a benefit for them (alone), though. It allows them to quickly turn on their President when war takes the unpredictable path it always does. Once again...Congress watches out for its own rear end while the Preseident takes all the risk. Thank God so few Congressmen ever become President... Gary,

Although I find your original article expectedly partisan, I do agree with your comments back to Ms. Pond. If war becomes necessary, it must be waged by a single leader…not a body of some 400-500 separate individuals. The wording of the constitution is the key here: The Congress will “provide for the common defense” and “declare War”. Once declared, the Congress needs to step aside and let the Commander in Chief wage that war.

Your statement about mondern Congresses not having the stomach to declare war is a true one. Their cowardly behavior does have a benefit for them (alone), though. It allows them to quickly turn on their President when war takes the unpredictable path it always does. Once again…Congress watches out for its own rear end while the Preseident takes all the risk. Thank God so few Congressmen ever become President…

]]> By: Kristie Mansfield http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-26 Kristie Mansfield Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:04:27 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-26 Ah, Yes, poor lil' Barack... He had a choice when he chose his war cabinet. Now they are making him do things he doesn't want to do? No one told him or us it was going to be easy, but we didn't expect him to just roll over for them. Chris Floyd: "At some point earlier this month, Barack Obama took a moment out of his busy day to sign an "execute order." That is, he ordered American agents to kill a man without any legal procedure whatsoever: no arrest, no trial, no formal presentation – and disputation – of evidence, no defense…and no warning. They killed him on the open road, in a sneak attack; he was not engaged in combat, he was not posing an imminent threat to anyone at the time, he had not been charged with any crime. This kind of thing is ordinarily regarded as murder. Certainly, if you or I killed someone in this way – or paid someone to do it – then we would find ourselves in the dock, facing life imprisonment or our own execution. But then, you and I are subject to the law; our leaders are not. http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1841-blood-on-the-tracks-the-continuing-lessons-of-terror-and-tyranny.html Turn out the lights.. the party's over... http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1845-curtain-call-grim-glimpses-of-the-worlds-true-workings.html#comments Ah, Yes, poor lil’ Barack…
He had a choice when he chose his war cabinet. Now they are making him do things he doesn’t want to do?
No one told him or us it was going to be easy, but we didn’t expect him to just roll over for them.

Chris Floyd:
“At some point earlier this month, Barack Obama took a moment out of his busy day to sign an “execute order.” That is, he ordered American agents to kill a man without any legal procedure whatsoever: no arrest, no trial, no formal presentation – and disputation – of evidence, no defense…and no warning. They killed him on the open road, in a sneak attack; he was not engaged in combat, he was not posing an imminent threat to anyone at the time, he had not been charged with any crime. This kind of thing is ordinarily regarded as murder. Certainly, if you or I killed someone in this way – or paid someone to do it – then we would find ourselves in the dock, facing life imprisonment or our own execution. But then, you and I are subject to the law; our leaders are not.
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1841-blood-on-the-tracks-the-continuing-lessons-of-terror-and-tyranny.html

Turn out the lights.. the party’s over…
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1845-curtain-call-grim-glimpses-of-the-worlds-true-workings.html#comments

]]> By: A. Friend http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191&cpage=1#comment-25 A. Friend Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:34:45 +0000 http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/?p=191#comment-25 Please spell Garry Wills name correctly (it is "rr")and do get rid of this white on black/blue background if you want regular readers. A. Friend Please spell Garry Wills name correctly (it is “rr”)and do get rid of this white on black/blue background if you want regular readers.

A. Friend

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