O.o

[apocalypsos]

Bush at today's press conference:

"I don't think that it's good policy to allow Congress to make laws or dictate policy in any area outside of funding. I don't think that's good for the country."

ARE YOU REMUS LUPIN FUCKING SERIOUS?

EDIT: For the record, he's talking in the context of the war, which ... seriously, rephrase. Sheesh.

Comments

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

*goggles*

have I fallen into an alternate universe??????

[marag.livejournal.com]

I want to have something pithy and brilliant to say, but I think I'm not awake enough for that. Instead I'll stick with a classic:

WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT??????!!!!!!!

[copernica3.livejournal.com]

..................WHY. WHY is this fucking IDIOT running the country?!?! *weeps*

[doqz.livejournal.com]

Classic cut-off quote. He was speking in the context of the Iraq War management, on the boundries of Congress in terms of directing wars/military policy.

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

Doesn't matter - he's still a moron. It's their job to make laws.

[doqz.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't have started this, in the first place I guess. Wrong venue, by any measure.

But my point is this - Congress has a specifically curtailed role in military affairs; basically its ability to authorize its start or to bring it to an end by de-funding it.

Current Congress wants to end the war, but not through its traditional constitutional tools. Withdrawing the funds is seen as a risky maneuver that might backfire by placing the onus of likely ethnic cleansing that would follow on the Congress. With some reason that - that's largely what happenned in the wake of the Vietnam war, destroying Democratic Party's credibility on national security that still handicaps them.

So the current ideas being floated are to bring the war to a close by directly affecting operational tempo - schedule/number of reinforcements, scope of strategy, and so on. These are to be done through legislation - in effect Congress passing a law on how to manage Iraq war.

While it is indeed the job of COngress to pass laws, it's very much not their job to do so as part of strategic planning in an ongoing campaign.

Even apart from the specific example of Iraq and consequences it will have there, it sets up a dangerous precedent of diluting the power of the Executive (and it's useful to remember that the office will long survive the current holder) and introducing a stupefying amount of chaos into military operation.

[yueni]

Uhhh. Forgive me if I am wrong or something (not an American citizen here), but... isn't Congress the legislative branch of government? Aren't they supposed to make laws?

[wolfshark]

Okay, this just blows my mind. Why have we not impeached him again?

[wolfshark]

Just out of curiousity, where did you get the quote?

[ficangel.livejournal.com]

She got it from me, where I was watching the conference and recapping as I went along. It was a paraphrase rather than a direct quote, and he was talking about the context of the Iraq war. I went back and corrected the context in my journal, but I still think my point stands. If all that Congress is supposedly in control of is funding, then why the hell is a declaration of war a legislative decision?

[wolfshark]

Okay, cool - I was just wondering if there was a written source I could point people at. And you're absolutely right.

[scary-being-me.livejournal.com]

The founding fathers were big on separation of power and a system of checks and balances.

Declaring war is the job of the legislative branch.

Running the war is the job of the executive branch.

This separation is clearly spelled out in the Constitution.

He is actually correct in saying that congress should not be passing laws on how the war is handled.

It makes me wish we had someone with more than three brain cells running the executive branch.

[ficangel.livejournal.com]

Before someone slaps your hand for it, he was talking about the Iraq war (I should have mentioned that in my recap, but I was getting my snark on and too pissed to see straight), but I think my point stands: Congress has the right to do a hell of a lot more than dictate funding. How long we stay, how many troops there are, and the policies that are enforced on the ground, no matter how Bush might like to pretend that he's Patton, are legislative decisions. If they weren't, then Congressional approval wouldn't be needed to declare war in the first place.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I kind of figured that was the context from the start -- 'cause really, when ISN'T he talking about that anymore? -- but even so, it still comes off as, "Congress should just shut up and give us money."

[tieleen.livejournal.com]

It might be a good idea, though, to clarify the context in your entry -- I like hating on Bush as much as any right-thinking person, but this on, even if he's still in the wrong, seems less clear-cut, or at least more complicated, in this particular context.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Oops, thought I had. *fixes*

[angry-geologist.livejournal.com]

Is anyone here surprised...?

Anyone?

[phiremangston.livejournal.com]

Not in the least, unfortunately. At least there's only one more year... *sighs*

(Ah! I LOVE YOUR ICON. Is it takeable, by chance?)

[angry-geologist.livejournal.com]

Sure- it's not exactly mine, but I can't remember who I took it from. Someone on metaquotes gave me permission...

[phiremangston.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks. I guess I'll just mention I don't know who made it when I upload it. :)

[brigidsblest.livejournal.com]

Gee, and in Civics class in high school I learned that passing laws was Congress' function in government.

Wait until I email old Mr. Greaves and tell him that he and the textbooks were both wrong!

[leiascully.livejournal.com]

Just like how the VP's enormous personal budget didn't get curtailed because the president and the VP aren't "executive branch agencies".

What?

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

I want a president who lives in *this* universe. And has read the Constitution.

Or at least had it read to him.

[silverhill.livejournal.com]

Forget reading the Constitution. I don't think he realizes the Constitution even exists. He thinks being president means he gets to do whatever he wants.

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

We got to achieve objective, man.

[kelly-girl.livejournal.com]

ARE YOU REMUS LUPIN FUCKING SERIOUS?

I think he's Curious George and I keep waiting for that man in the yellow hat to come and collect his ass.

[kkglinka.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, Shrub!

You have just failed the test every immigrant is required to take to acquire their citizenship in this country! If I could direct your attention to the study materials: U.S.Constitution and Bill of Rights, you may retake your exam in six months, pending resubmission of your documentation of residence and all required fees.

[lavenderfrost.livejournal.com]

WORDY McWORD, YO.

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

Well, I certainly hope he's serious. If he turns round when he's leaving the White House for the final time (soon, please gods) and says "Oh, by the way, guys, I was kidding the whole time!" I think a number of people might be even more teed off with him than they are now.

The least we can expect of a man who has done what he has done is that he did it for what seemed to him to be serious reasons.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

Jon Stewart had better get back from vacation soon, he's missin' all the good stuff.

[squee1123.livejournal.com]

..i feel like i should get the Remus Lupin thing but...I just dont.

[squee1123.livejournal.com]

AHAHA I JUST TOTALLY GOT IT!

[astrothsknot.livejournal.com]

How long before you can vote him out?

[idealistagain.livejournal.com]

And in conclusion, I believe that the President and Vice-President of the United States must be impeached. Good night and good luck. (http://thomryng.livejournal.com/584800.html)