Obama Using Executive Order To Circumvent Congress After Criticzing GWB For It

[duane1969]

For Mr. Obama, that meeting was a turning point. As a senator and presidential candidate, he had criticized George W. Bush for flouting the role of Congress. And during his first two years in the White House, when Democrats controlled Congress, Mr. Obama largely worked through the legislative process to achieve his domestic policy goals.

But increasingly in recent months, the administration has been seeking ways to act without Congress. Branding its unilateral efforts “We Can’t Wait,” a slogan that aides said Mr. Obama coined at that strategy meeting, the White House has rolled out dozens of new policies — on creating jobs for veterans, preventing drug shortages, raising fuel economy standards, curbing domestic violence and more.

Each time, Mr. Obama has emphasized the fact that he is bypassing lawmakers. When he announced a cut in refinancing fees for federally insured mortgages last month, for example, he said: “If Congress refuses to act, I’ve said that I’ll continue to do everything in my power to act without them.”

Aides say many more such moves are coming. Not just a short-term shift in governing style and a re-election strategy, Mr. Obama’s increasingly assertive use of executive action could foreshadow pitched battles over the separation of powers in his second term, should he win and Republicans consolidate their power in Congress.

Many conservatives have denounced Mr. Obama’s new approach. But William G. Howell, a University of Chicago political science professor and author of “Power Without Persuasion: The Politics of Direct Presidential Action,” said Mr. Obama’s use of executive power to advance domestic policies that could not pass Congress was not new historically. Still, he said, because of Mr. Obama’s past as a critic of executive unilateralism, his transformation is remarkable.

Can't say that I am surprised. Obama ran on a platform of changing the way politics is done and so far all he has done is fall right in step with doing it the same way as everyone before him.

I am sure some (veggie LOL) will think that I am specifically ripping Obama, and to some extent I am since his entire platform was "CHANGE" and "YES WE CAN", but generally I am tired of politicians running on a platform of attacking something or saying they will do things differently and then doing it exactly the way that they criticized it being done.

I would advocate having a recall vote for any politician that either promises to do things differently or has a platform that opposes something and then falls in step with what they opposed to get elected.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47138446...ew_york_times/

[mrveggieman]

I would advocate having a recall vote for any politician that either promises to do things differently or has a platform that opposes something and then falls in step with what they opposed to get elected.

I actually agree with you on this.

[MadMan1978]

and this differs from the Republicans sitting in the White House?

[duane1969]

and this differs from the Republicans sitting in the White House?

No. And that was my point. Politicians, in general, need to adhere to their promises of how they will do things. Obama does not get a free pass because GWB did it. Obama ran on a platform of doing things differently.

Any politician who gets elected on a promise of doing things differently from his opponent or predecesor and then reverts back to doing it the exact same way is either A) a flat-out liar, or B) a failure, and either way needs to be recalled for incompetence.

This crap of doing something and then excusing it because someone else did it is getting old.

[habsheaven]

Can't say that I am surprised. Obama ran on a platform of changing the way politics is done and so far all he has done is fall right in step with doing it the same way as everyone before him.

I am sure some (veggie LOL) will think that I am specifically ripping Obama, and to some extent I am since his entire platform was "CHANGE" and "YES WE CAN", but generally I am tired of politicians running on a platform of attacking something or saying they will do things differently and then doing it exactly the way that they criticized it being done.

I would advocate having a recall vote for any politician that either promises to do things differently or has a platform that opposes something and then falls in step with what they opposed to get elected.

Wouldn't that be EVERY politician?

As for his platform of CHANGE. I will say for the 1000th time; he can only do so much. To change this particular policy he would have to sit on his hands and watch the country fail because that is what the Republicans in both houses want. And for what its worth, his platform for CHANGE is a helluva lot better than the group of Republicans who came to Washington having signed PLEDGES that make compromise IMPOSSIBLE.

[duane1969]

I should add that at this point I am undecided on who I will vote for, if I vote at all. Stuff like this turns me off to a politician. If there is any chance that I would vote for Obama, him saying one thing and doing something else is definitely going to kill that chance.

If Obama wants the moderate vote then he needs to man-up and have some spine.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost

[Afrank45]

Here's my quick thought: I think you (duane) are dead on in the your gripe, no president should be allowed to circumvent our checks and balances system, it is there for a reason.

However the problem with your article is the first complaint they have with him is that he used it to create jobs for veterans, not exactly the best foot forward on complaints.

[habsheaven]

The Robert Frost quote is good. However, it leaves out the possibility that that road less travelled ends at the edge of a cliff.

[duane1969]

Wouldn't that be EVERY politician?

As for his platform of CHANGE. I will say for the 1000th time; he can only do so much. To change this particular policy he would have to sit on his hands and watch the country fail because that is what the Republicans in both houses want. And for what its worth, his platform for CHANGE is a helluva lot better than the group of Republicans who came to Washington having signed PLEDGES that make compromise IMPOSSIBLE.

Yeah, I hear that a lot. Most people who say that ignore the fact that Obama pledged to fight any legislation put forth by the GOP controlled Congress and has threatened to veto every piece of legislation created by Congress. Luckily for him the Dem controlled Senate has trashed every piece of Congress legislation that has come thru and saved him the trouble. Not exactly bi-partisan efforts by the left if you ask me.

The simple fact is that the GOP controls Congress because the people voted it that way. The Republicans ran on a platform and have stuck to it. For Obama and the Dem controlled Senate to shoot down everything that Congress does is essentially refusing to acknowledge what the people voted for.

[habsheaven]

If the Republicans put forth a piece of legislation that showed the least bit of compromise rather than constantly grandstanding by passing bills they know are unacceptable, the Senate and Obama might CHANGE their ways.