Bush Administration's Midnight Regulation

This is an aspect of what is commonly called the Imperial Presidency. There's a book written on the topic by a well-known historian named Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. Even though the separation of powers is enshrined into our Constitution, the imperial Presidency has advanced it's power over time. All our wartime presidents have abused their executive powers. While Congress and the judicial branch have consistently failed in their duties of balancing the powers of the executive. In many cases those branches of government were complicit in upholding the unconstitutional authority of the President.

What the article is talking about is just the cherry on the shit sundae. The problem is deeply rooted in our system of government as well as the politicians who govern us. Up until now Nixon was considered the most flagrant abuser of the powers of the Presidency. Though everything controversial Bush did in terms of: undeclared wars, executive privilege, signing statements, illegal wiretapping, electronic surveillance, internment of non/enemy combatants, suspension of habeas corpus, (fuck it, other controversial items here) had a precedence in a past presidency. The precedence which the Bush administration set is the sheer arrogance and gall in which it has implemented it's agenda.

When Obama's transition chief talks about utilizing the extent of "executive authority" warning lights should be going off. By "changing the way government works" or "fixing the problems left by Bush" it is implied the imperial presidency will march on. The proper remedy would be to curtail and contain the powers of the executive branch retroactively. Which doesn't seem likely. Considering which political party or politician would willingly curtail their own power? Who will attack the extraordinary powers of the office instead of the man sitting in the office? Probably nobody, certainly not me.

Hail Caesar!

Jam it back in, in the dark.