I've been reading most of the recent diaries about the signing statement issues, the impeachment debate and the other discussions concerning how Congress can/should deal with a President that no longer respects the rule of law, the other branches of government, the American people, and who might actually be batshit crazy (to use the term from the DSM IV). There don't seem to be any easy answers . . .
UNTIL NOW!
This morning, as I was lying in my bed, still recovering from this horrible flu that seems to be going around, I was visited by a long and strange dream of the type that I often have (sick or not . . . I mean, my dreams are nuts; like live action Salvador Dali works), and was having a conversation with someone about the nature of Congress and the fact that they hold the "purse strings" but not much else between that and impeachment. This nebulous entity then said, "Well . . . why don't they just de-fund the Treasury Department and the Secret Service?"
I thought, "That's just CRAZY! Their duty is to protect the President . . . oooohhh! I getcha! He's incredibly unpopular! But what about the other duties assigned to the Treasury Department and the Secret Service in particular? Those are important! Er . . . ALSO important!"
To which this dream entity replied, "Look pal, I just work here, I don't know the intricate details of how Congress works. Maybe they could shift those duties to other agencies, and if that is the Executive's perogative, then . . . well, this IS a high-stakes game of chicken, isn't it? And the President's actions are ALREADY gravely endangering the American people, aren't they? Why not make the stakes a little more personal? Maybe they won't have to actually even do it and they could always re-fund it later. The conservative side has always SAID they've wanted to return this country's government to something from the early 19th century, why not give them what they want?"
At this point the dream faded away and I slowly drifted into wakefulness.
"Wow! I thought, maybe those purse strings ARE effective! And since the Secret Service is not mentioned in the Constitution and was created (I think) by an act of Congress in the 19th Century I suppose it is entirely within their purview to get rid of it (hmm. you know, Perhaps I should actually look this crap up before posting my diary . . . BAH! It's Saturday morning!).
The President is just a citizen, not a King. Perhaps the answer is simply to remind him of this fact by removing the things that smack of the privileges of kingship. Maybe they wouldn't have to go so far as to defund the Secret Service (after all, they do a lot of good work, they are necessary and those guys need their jobs; why should they lose them?). Could Congress pass legislation that no longer provides housing for the President? Perhaps turn the White House into a National Museum? The President has a house already, he can live there (he could designate a room a "home office" and write it off on his Income Tax!). Perhaps rent an apartment in D.C., after all, he makes a pretty decent salary. Maybe have Air Force One decomissioned and provide a stipend for his air travel on commercial airlines (it would save the American tax payer a LOT of money, and we could still have him travel first class, I mean, he IS still the President). You know, there are so many things I've never even thought of that could be done and all of them would have the added bonuses of reducing the size and cost of the Federal Government! Could they reduce his pay to minimum wage? They could do that to ALL the employees in the Executive Branch! Because, you know, they shouldn't be doing it for the money anyway; it's about the joy one feels being a public servant of this great nation. Maybe Chief Justice Roberts could also have his pay reduced next year! Minimum wage for all appointed officials!
Hee Hee!