Web Letters: Dangerous Privilege

By Aziz Huq

This article appeared in the August 13, 2007 edition of The Nation.

July 26, 2007

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According to the White House interpretation, any impeachment procedure would be unconstitutional, as it would encroach upon the executive privileges of the Bush Administration.

But let’s give credit where credit is due. The Bush Administratrion has implemented a revolutionary dual legal system in the USA. The rest of the country is under a peaceful regime that enabled the White House to enact hefty tax cuts for loyal and faithful supporters who would be deprived of it if the state of war was declared. But Washington, DC, is under different set of rules where Congress is not entitled to intervene into the affairs of the White House during the time of war, for any implementation of the constitutionally prescribed system of checks and balances might be construed by our enemy as a lack of our resolve to win this war.

Isn’t something very wrong when the White House is trying to keep secrets from Congress? The underlying assumption is that the executive and legislative branches are not working toward the same goal--the common interest of the American people. To portray other side as less patriotic and less devoted to the best American interest is very counterproductive and instantly undermines the national unity. But to point a finger at somebody for being incompetent to perform his or her job has always been very patriotic.

Kenan Porobic

Charlotte, NC
08/09/2007 @ 02:11am
This is a very dubious field, constitutionally, in trying to have the Legislative define rights of the Executive against Legislative action. Neither would it be proper to allow the Executive to define Legislative responsibilities. Such definitions properly belong, case-by-case, to the Supreme Court alone, as they arise.

One long-term danger, what one Congress can write, another can easily overturn, with unforseen consequences.

For a parallel, the 1920s Progressive proponents of electing the Supreme Court would not have been happy with the results in the Reagan Era.

John D. Froelich

Upper Darby, PA
07/27/2007 @ 12:24am

Web Letters: Dangerous Privilege

By Aziz Huq

July 26, 2007

Charlotte, NC

Upper Darby, PA

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