What should congress do about Obama's refusal to enforce his own law?

[Juvenal]

We have an imperial presidency, and have had one for some time. If we like the imperial presidency generally, then criticizing this imperial president for disobeying the law he fought so hard for only to abandon is hypocritical. If, on the other hand, we dislike the imperial presidency, we should oppose its other manifestations, as well.

Do you remember when the last administration argued for a "unitary executive" thinking no one would notice how it rhymed with "mon-archy"?

[Cow Poke]

Do you remember when the last administration argued for a "unitary executive" thinking no one would notice how it rhymed with "mon-archy"?

It was wrong then, and it's still wrong. Obama, as senator and constitutional scholar, spoke against exactly what he's doing.

[Truthseeker]

I am not familiar with the issue (I just learned about it) but I don't think the administrative branch has standing to enforce the "president's" own law!

[Teallaura]

http://video.foxnews.com/v/333584317...d=928378949001

[seanD]

By most count's Obama has either changed or refused to enforce his own health care law more than 20 times, including refusing to enforce specific dates and policy requirements.

The reason why isn't relevant to this thread. The fact that he is arbitrarily changing the text of the law is at issue.

Is this a problem?

If so, what should congress/the American people do about it?

The parties are in a catch-22. The Dems obviously won't condemn Obama for holding it back because they got to pretend they love the bill and show their partisan love for the master of the bill. The Reps won't object to Obama's executive actions because then this would look like they want the bill to be implemented. The Reps also won't repeal it because big pharma wrote the bill (via their lobbyists) and most of the Reps are in the pockets of the medical corporations (campaign "donations," medical industry IPOs, etc.). Or if they attempt anything close to a repeal, they'll just put on a good show and try and amend mere cosmetic details of the bill to make it seem like they're opposing the big bad corporate bill.

[rogue06]

Obama has been doing more to dismantle Obamacare than the Republicans are

[Cow Poke]

Obama has been doing more to dismantle Obamacare than the Republicans are

Well, he's twisting it into a one payer system. It's getting harder to argue that that was not the goal in the first place.

[themuzicman]

The "fact" that it's "arbitrary" isn't relevant to this thread. Gotcha. I'm guessing you don't want to explain why he should be forced to implement the law you want repealed, either?

As ever, Jesse

More important than the law itself is the validity of the Constitution. The President doesn't get to rewrite laws just because it's politically convenient for him to do so.

[themuzicman]

The parties are in a catch-22. The Dems obviously won't condemn Obama for holding it back because they got to pretend they love the bill and show their partisan love for the master of the bill. The Reps won't object to Obama's executive actions because then this would look like they want the bill to be implemented. The Reps also won't repeal it because big pharma wrote the bill (via their lobbyists) and most of the Reps are in the pockets of the medical corporations (campaign "donations," medical industry IPOs, etc.). Or if they attempt anything close to a repeal, they'll just put on a good show and try and amend mere cosmetic details of the bill to make it seem like they're opposing the big bad corporate bill.

You don't think there is a more fundamental constitutional issue, here?

[Cow Poke]

You don't think there is a more fundamental constitutional issue, here?

Sheila Jackson Lee (D) says our Constitution has lasted "some 400 years", and tells us clearly what's constitutional and what's not constitutional.

[rogue06]

Sheila Jackson Lee (D) says our Constitution has lasted "some 400 years", and tells us clearly what's constitutional and what's not constitutional.

What do you expect from someone who asked if the Mars Rover had taken any pictures of the flag planted there in 1969 by Neil Armstrong

She is the perfect example to the quip from Mark Twain: "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

[Cow Poke]

What do you expect from someone who asked if the Mars Rover had taken any pictures of the flag planted there in 1969 by Neil Armstrong

She is the perfect example to the quip from Mark Twain: "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

I just knew that would make you proud.

[seanD]

You don't think there is a more fundamental constitutional issue, here?

Constitution and this government? That ship has sailed brotha.

[Bill the Cat]

By most count's Obama has either changed or refused to enforce his own health care law more than 20 times, including refusing to enforce specific dates and policy requirements.

The reason why isn't relevant to this thread. The fact that he is arbitrarily changing the text of the law is at issue.

Is this a problem?

If so, what should congress/the American people do about it?

“The President... shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed....”

Article II, Section 3 US Constitution

Since Obama is in direct violation of that clause, he should be impeached.

[Juvenal]

It was wrong then, and it's still wrong. Obama, as senator and constitutional scholar, spoke against exactly what he's doing.

*Jimmy Z show video*

Meta-data from phone calls is the exact same thing as a list of books a citizen has checked out from the library?


Dear CP,

On executive orders. We've discussed this before. There's no question Obama has followed the modern trend, issuing fewer executive orders than his predecessor.

I understand you'd like to believe his executive orders are somehow worse than anyone else's, but outside the pews of the Obummer Christian Caucus, that sort of thing needs more than hand-waving to support it. Half of those folks still think he was born in Kenya and is a closet muslim, just like his atheist dad. They will agree to just about anything negative said about him without sparking a single brain cell to support the knee jerk.

The rest of us need evidence. So, once again, let me provide you with the list of Obama's Executive Orders. They're listed ten-to-a-page, 175 of them. I've looked them all over myself. I'm not seeing it. So it's up to you: Find those offenders and arrest 'em!

As ever, Jesse