On Prime Time Television, Richard Nixon announced his resignation as President of the United States, effective at noon on August 9, 1974. What began as "a second rate burglery" ended with the Judiciary Committee voting to recommend Impeachment to the full House for a vote. Nixon resigned before that vote could be taken.
Nixon complained that he was being persecuted for something everyone else had done. And, yes, that's true to some extent. The idea of an "Imperial Presidency" has its roots after World War II, and the growth of exective authority has allowed Presidents to wield excessive power. Lyndon Johnson allowed the FBI to spy illegally on anti-war activists and Civil Rights protesters.
But today, on the anniversary of Nixon's resignation, we look at an Administration that brings abuse of power to a whole new level. The Cheney-Specter National Security Surveillance Act of 2006 (S.2453) constitutes a virtual declaration of war on the Constitution. Bush's excessive use of Signing Statements circumvents laws. Excerpts from the U.S. Constitution of the United States of America:
Article I, Section 1, All legislative powers (laws) shall be vested in a Congress of the United States which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Article II, Section 1, The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.
Section 3, ‘‘he (the president) shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.’’
Bush lied about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq in order to invade. We are embroiled in an illegal war in Iraq; we've brought about destruction, devastation, and we've led the world to the brink, all over oil.
It's 3:46 PM in Los Angeles. In Connecticut, polls close soon in a primary that the whole world is watching. We stand at a turning point. Let peace, and good judgment, prevail.
(cross posted at My Left Wing)
11 comments:
I'd love to see Bush re-enact this famous shot. Only in dreams...
agi would know..
diva I always love your thoughtful posts.
Dick's deal was Dick Cheney's inspiration to imperialize the Presidency. I think he thinks he's doin' a great job. DAMN that pesky Constitution! Almost as pesky as the Gay Agenda (does it have glitter? Where IS it!)
God, Agi, from your flikr account to God's ears. However when one is a Theomaniac, one doesn't believe one is in the wrong, ever. Because one is the Decider AND the Minimizer.
Sue, the Gay Agenda is coming. Lola Heatherton and Mopsey Evergreen have created a blog called the Gay Agenda, and it is coming. Certain people will be invited to be part of the blogging team (Lola would do this if she had everyone's email address, but some people have hidden that). And Dick Nixon looks like a frickin boy scout next to these people.
I said a very similar comment at Karena's: How scary and sad is it that we can now look at Nixon and think: "Yeah, he was an evil asshole, but I'd gladly have him back in the White House now."
But I must confess something here: On August 8, 1974.... I was only 5 months old.
Lamont beat Lieberman!
Nixon wouldn't believe what is going on today. He would feel like a small time crook compared to bush and co.
Tina, Nixon was complex. He re-invented himself after Watergate as some kind of statesman, but the reality is that his foreign and domestic policies while he was Prez were pretty fucked; he did a lot of "consolidating power" into the Executive Branch, which meant he didn't get proper advice from various departments. Yet we look at him and think "wow. Wish I had Dick Nixon to kick around." BTW, my daughter was two months old when Nixon resigned.
Yoga, I just read the news! Yes, yes, and yes again. There is hope, because some people considered this a referendum on Shrub.
POP, Nixon WAS a small time crook. But I don't think he was capable of what these people are doing. Nixon was IMmoral. He knew the difference between right and wrong, he had morals and acted against them. THIS crowd is A-moral. They don't give a shit, they just do what they want.
We received a postcard in the mail the other day. It was from friend who was visiting Washington D.C. The postcard picture was Nixon's resignation letter. We now have it affixed to our refrigerator, and long for the day when those eleven words are typed above Bush's signature. The planet would rejoice with us.
Robin Andrea, I'm jealous - a real postcard with the resignation letter! Cool. Bush resign? When I can sing high opera.
I would love to Photoshop Dubya's X-mark onto that letter!
Alicia, that's hilarious. An "x" - I'd love to see that photoshopped onto one of the laws he's put signing statements on.
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