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This week in Washington the first marijuana stores opened up, even though it remains illegal under federal law. The Obama administration cut a deal with Washington's governor to turn a blind eye (in spite of still having a drug czar who is adamantly anti-legalization).
Ignore the question of whether marijuana should or should not be legal. Is it ok for the president to bypass the US Congress on laws that have been previously enacted? If the president wants to be change a law, shouldn't he go to Congress, make his case, and get the change enacted and signed?
Suppose that during the period when the "assault weapon" ban was in effect, George W. Bush had cut a deal with WA, which happens to be a very pro-gun-rights state, to allow the manufacture of magazines holding over 10 rounds. That was illegal under the federal "assault weapon" ban. If Obama can ignore federal law on pot, why not Bush on magazines?
Let me anticipate the objection that is sure to be made by the loony left. They will say that no one ever died from pot, so it's an apples/oranges comparison. First of all, deadliness is neither here nor there when it comes to rule of law. If a thing is illegal, it's illegal, whether or not you can die from it. Secondly, the 10 round limit was always dumb since a mag change can be done in under a second with a little practice.
George W. bypassed congress plenty. He effectively crippled stem cell research with the stroke of a pen. He also unilaterally bypassed the Geneva Convention without Congress, too.
He and the Democratic Senate refuse to work on the GOP House's agenda. Last time I checked, they were elected too.
Your view is that you feel your side - unlike the other side - has the right to get its way no matter how anyone else feels.
As far as a plurality believing he's middle of the road, I'm not sure where you're getting that from. A plurality certainly don't approve of the job he's doing; a solid majority disapprove. Moreover, the fact that he hasn't always governed as a hardcore liberal doesn't mean he doesn't want to - and there's plenty of evidence he's philosophically quite liberal. I'd add that I personally see him as primarily liberal, but I also see some of the things he's done as "conservative" - and those represent pretty much the worst of conservatism.
Nobody is going to get everything they want. Obama was the first one calling for a compromise. He almost had some compromises a couple of times but the GOP slapped it down and Boehner caved to his party of crazies. Then the word compromise became some kind of terrible thing. Obama's numbers are lower. The GOP and congress' are even lower. The reality is neither side is trying to do anything in Congress. However the Senate has done more than the house led GOP. Be fair and call out both sides.
George W. bypassed congress plenty. He effectively crippled stem cell research with the stroke of a pen. He also unilaterally bypassed the Geneva Convention without Congress, too.
Let us suppose for the sake of argument that you are 100% correct. Was it wrong for W Bush to do this but not for Obama? Or wrong for both? Or wrong for neither?
Let us suppose for the sake of argument that you are 100% correct. Was it wrong for W Bush to do this but not for Obama? Or wrong for both? Or wrong for neither?
There's nothing wrong with signing statements in of themselves. They've been used by Presidents to get around the desires of Congress since James Monroe. I may agree or disagree with a PARTICULAR signing statement, but in general I'm neutral on the subject. Obama has actually issued the LEAST signing statements per year in office of any President in the last 100 years or so.
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