If only the Constitution had been printed on absorbent paper, it might be good for something. White House Spokesliar Dana Perino today:
Q.:Does the President believe [the Vice President is] part of the executive branch?
MS. PERINO: I think that that is an interesting constitutional question, and I think that lots of people can debate it.
In case you weren't clear about what this group of criminals known as BushCheney administration and its Republic supporters believe the proper purpose of the Constitution is:
The executive branch shall construe these sections in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President.
[T]he Constitution doesn’t say, "Every individual in the United States or every citizen is hereby granted or assured the right to habeas." It doesn’t say that.
"We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."
"In my judgment, this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions."
"In light of the president's complete authority over the conduct of war, without a clear statement otherwise, criminal statutes are not read as infringing on the president's ultimate authority in these areas [regarding torture of detainees]"
"There's another principle, which is Congress doesn't have the legislative -- I mean oversight authority over the White House," Snow told CNN. "First, the White House is under no compulsion to do anything. The legislative branch doesn't have oversight," he told MSNBC. "Congress doesn't have any legitimate oversight and responsibilities to the White House," he told Fox News.
Here he is on ABC: "The executive branch is under no compulsion to testify to Congress, because Congress in fact doesn't have oversight ability." . . .
"[Congress] does not have constitutional oversight responsibility over the White House"
So - to test your reading comprehension: What do you think the BushCheney administration believes is the proper role of the United States Constitution? (Hint: President Bush likes to say he has the Constitution "behind" him . . . )
Some diaries just write themselves, y'know?
Now - can we please take away the toy from these out-of-control children? It's costing a lot of money, it's going to get worse, and people are dying.
Please.
(Also available at My Left Wing)