Thomas,
re: Thus, Congress could --taking a page from Gonzales's playbook -- send fifteen plainclothes Capitol Hill police officers to arrest the Attorney General and take him into custody. Either the House or Senate, alone, would have the power to hold him until the end of the 110th Congress. In truth, a majority of either chamber of Congress has more power than a president, the Department of Justice, and federal courts to take summary actions against those who refuse to honor its processes.
They could, and they should.
It doesn't appear that way (because of all the rhetorical crap he gets), but Bush is the ultimate "Teflon President". He evades the constitution at every turn, but is never held to account. The power that is being bestowed upon the Executive, not by law but by the acquiescence of the Congressional branch, will be hard to reverse. The next President, Rep or Dem, will inherit those powers, and maybe try to extend them.
I'm not sure who is worse, the Executive or the Congressional branch. The gutting of habeas corpus is a perfect example. It was at the hands of the Executive, but so far the Congress has done nothing to reverse it.
By not doing their duty under the constitution Congress is as culpable as the run away Executive. If they don't provide a "check and balance", intended for exactly this circumstance, they are equally guilty. |
