What the administration says doesn't matter. It's what they do. They've run into few, if any, limits on their ability to do whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want, to whoever they want. Start wars: check. Rig elections: check. Suppress dissent: check. Spy on citizens: check. Arrest without cause: check. Imprison: check. Torture: check. ... What powers don't they have?

Well, they couldn't raise Terri Shiavo from the dead. They can't make gay people straight. They can't make Iraqis love us. They can't ...

Okay, they're not all-powerful, but they have enough to destroy this nation's democracy.

Posted by Michael Miller at July 1, 2006 06:59 AM

just words on a paper to Bush.

He won't do anything wrt the Supreme Court decision. He will seem to be doing something.

Big difference.

Posted by Flamethrower at July 1, 2006 07:01 AM

Um...the article linked here quotes Romero as saying,

. . . the Supreme Court ruling "gives new vigor to arguments that the administration does not have the power it says it has[]"

So, isn't he just saying that under the law, under the Constitution, Bush doesn't have the powers he claims he has? He's not saying that in the real world, Bush hasn't acted as though he legitimately has such powers. It's a normative and legal argument, not an empirical one.

Anyway.......

Electoral systems/reform is a topic that always intrigues me. I'd be very interested to hear what Left Coasters think about the recent Texas redistricting decision.

Posted by Liveliest Crib at July 1, 2006 07:04 AM

As one of my readers pointed out, now Bush can go to the Congress and with most of the SOBs up for reelection in November, we can fully expect them to rollover and give him any sort of draconian law he asks for.

All in the name of the "wur own turrizm.

Posted by Christopher at July 1, 2006 07:06 AM

He may have the Austin Powers, but he's lacked legitimacy ever since Barbara Bush slipped a roofie to the pool boy back in the Forties.

Posted by Kevin Hayden at July 1, 2006 07:51 AM

he's lacked legitimacy ever since Barbara Bush slipped a roofie to the pool boy back in the Forties.

excellent, kevin.

Posted by benjoya at July 1, 2006 08:07 AM

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