Obama: Bush's Laws Will Be Scrutinized For Constitutionality If I Become President

Reuters:

Maybe it's his background teaching constitutional law.

If elected president, Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said one of the first things he wants to do is ensure the constitutionality of all the laws and executive orders passed while Republican President George W. Bush has been in office.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[irishgawdess]

Well, if we can't impeach the a**holes, the next best thing will be to turn their illegal executive orders back to "normal" and make sure the laws they "jury rigged" to suit their evil plans will be returned to full constitutionality.

Jeez, the Obama White House will have a LOT of paperwork to go through. Talk about job security!

[Vyvjala]

The dullard and vlad's little playhouse needs to be torn up........­..........­....

[riverhouse]

It's our only hope as a nation. Neither McCain nor Hillary would have the confidence to do this. Those two are so ego bound that they would roll in the mud with such power bestowed on them as president. This is exactly what I most like about Obama. He's so well grounded as a human being.

[irishgawdess]

I think McCain and Hillary would have the confidence *not* to turn the laws back! I like your idea of them rolling in the mud, as in "pigs in mud." And, how about: they'll turn the laws back when pigs fly!

We could go on....

[oogabooga]

America = Constitution. Obama = Real Patriotism.

[kae]

Goody! Someone who knows what - INALIENABLE - means;)

[Testtubebaby]

That's right Obama get the some of the left thinking Republican women on your side!

[irishgawdess]

Would that be a bad thing?

[rbenjamin]

If elected president, Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said one of the first things he wants to do is ensure the constitutionality of all the laws and executive orders passed while Republican President George W. Bush has been in office.

That's why the White House and Republican Party are going ballistic over McClellan's book. The Bush team fears the Republicans are going to lose the next election badly. They believe Obama means what he says. Investigation will reveal criminal, not just constitutional, wrong doing like we have never seen in this country. Higher ups in the Bush administration know the are likely to be prosecuted. Not so higher ups in the Bush administration know prosecutors go after big fish by grilling small fry. Even if you don't actually go to jail, legal defense is going to bankrupt you. The best defense is to cooperate fully, and nothing speaks cooperation so much putting little corroborating evidence to put on the table. So, before leaving for the last time, a prudent staffer might want to check files, e-mails, logs etc. for some dirt and get to a copy machine pronto, If the copy machine is under Marine guard, a digital camera will do. The Prisoner's Dilemma, more or less. This is what the Bush administration fears most. Publicly beating on McClellan is meant to send a clear signal to the White House Staff. I think it will, but the results may be to increase leakage, not curtail it.

[drblack]

Realize that he is talking about laws made by Bush, like his signing statements and Executive Orders.
I would argue , and so would anyone familiar with the Constitution that Presidents are NEVER allowed to make ANY laws. That power is clearly given only to Congress.
I do hope that the new Congress with President Obama will repeal the Freedom Destroying and tyrannical "Patriot Act"
It was passed without debate, at a time when emotions were high and it sets the stage for a US Police State. In fact almost no one in Congress even read the bill before passing it. Nader even offered $10,000 to any Congressman who came and read it in full at a specific location he set up in Washington DC. Only two senators took him up on his offer.
We already had laws and government divisions that deal with killing, espionage, etc.
If the laws that were in place had been followed on 9-11 and before the Twin Towers would still be standing.
The USA needs less laws,and a more open and efficient government.
Freedom is the key and all the laws passed since 9-11 dealing with law enforcement and terrorism make us less free, more of a police state and less safe.
The Military commissions act is another that needs repealed.
In fact every law that the Bush administration and Congress passed in the last 8 years that has anything to do with terrorism or law enforcement should probably be repealed.

[ddharder]

The US is already virtually a police and military state. The US has almost as many in prison as the rest of the world combined; double that of China, the next highest, yet China has 5 times as many people. The US currently spends more than 1/2 of the entire world's military budget.

I am an American expat living in Russia and I feel far more free in the ex Soviet Union than I ever did in the US. In the US you are beholden to a long list of government agencies that tax you, that fine you, that require information from you, that control you. Here my wife and I just live our lives with virtually no government intrusion. The only time I know they are there is during my once per year visa ritual.

[irishgawdess]

American citizens are without the right of habeas corpus now, at least as it concerns "turrism." We can be whisked off the street, charged with terrorist activities and become los desaparecidos

It would be great to get rid of Homeland Security, as you said drblack, we already had laws and government divisions to handle terrorism, espionage. If only the numbers of employees could be restored in various departments, we'd have more oversight.

I'd like to see FEMA restored, and for gawd's sake, lets get Jamie Lee Witt back in charge of the damn thing!

Competency... oh joy. We're (almost) free at last!

[ddharder]

If this isn't one of the best reasons to vote for this guy, I don't know what is. Libertarians should seriously consider voting for him over Barr as well. Any libertarian with two brain cells to rub together must know that Barr doesn't have a chance in hell of getting elected, so the pragmatic thing to do is elect the guy on the ticket who has the best chance of getting elected who also promises to meet your demands half way.

NSA needs to go. Free Speech zones need to be struck down. Patriot Act, Military Act, Gitmo, go, go, go.

[irishgawdess]

We have "free speech zones"?? Where are they? ;-P)

I agree with all the lovely little "acts" and illegal renditions that require a Gitmo-type location as you mentioned. Restore FEMA with James Lee Witt.

[levibatgirl]

This is the last worthless year our Constitution and Lady Liberty will have to spend.

; )

[bookish]

It's a start.

Also bring indictments for war crimes.

Let's see a list of specifics, sir.

[ddharder]

I'd love to see it. I'm not sure there is going to be enough political capital to pull it off though.

[irishgawdess]

Political capital or rather a veto-proof majority in Congress?

[MuchMadness]

I am very happy that President Obama will seek to overturn the unconstitutional actions of the current president. I hope that he will also nominate justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade and other unconstitutional and anti-constitutional judicial pronouncements. We need to restore more power to Congress and reduce the power of the imperial presidency and renegade judiciary.

[ddharder]

Like what? Seperation of church and state? Please...

[castlerider]

That means we'll be out of Iraq quickly because that is an illegal and unconstutionally enacted campaign. Excellent posture to take on, Mr. President.

[DAVESEAN]

Media
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Statement Regarding Barack Obama


The Law School has received many media requests about Barack Obama, especially about his status as "Senior Lecturer."

From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers has high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined

[lthuedk 1]

Thank you, Senator Obama.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/unanticipated.html

Getting it all back, pried from the grip of tyranny, has been on my mind for a while. One day, I'd like to see the House and Senate unburdened by unpleasant but urgently needed tasks in the restoration of a balance of power.