Presidential Power

Presidential Power Grows: Will You Love Every Future President?

David Swanson | Posted 10.15.2009 | Politics

Read More: Patriot Act, Presidential Power, Presidential Signing Statements, Obama Presidential Power, Politics News
David Swanson

Some of the powers that Bush and Cheney stole from Congress, the courts, and the states are being abused less severely under Obama; others, more so; but far more crucially, all are being maintained.

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A 'Must Read' for the Book Czar

William Fisher | Posted 07.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, U.S. Constitution, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Presidential Power, Founding Fathers, James Madison, George H.W. Bush, Politics News
William Fisher

Ambitious assertions of presidential power are the logical outcome of a decades-long trend that started with Reagan and culminated under the "unitary executive" doctrine embraced by the George W. Bush administration.

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The Rise of American Czarism

David Sirota | Posted 02.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Vice Presidential Powers, Presidential Power, American Czarism, Presidents, Politics News
David Sirota

Presidents almost always usurp power. And while Obama will hopefully usurp it less, the move towards American Czarism will no doubt continue to imperil our democracy.

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Conservative Lawyers Defend Holder (and the Unitary Executive)

Doug Kendall | Posted 02.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Eric Holder Attorney General, Presidential Power, John Yoo, Constitution, Unitary Executive, Surveillance. Torture, Barack Obama, Rule of Law, Dick Cheney, Politics News
Doug Kendall

The letter in defense of Eric Holder is a classic articulation of the idea that the President is a unitary executive. It also happens to be essentially right.

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As Congress Lay Dying

David Swanson | Posted 01.01.2009 | Politics

Read More: Congressional Powers, Russ Feingold, Congress, Presidential Powers, Jerrold Nadler, Obama Transition, Presidential Power, Barack Obama, Politics News
David Swanson

The only possible path to truly transformative democratic change lies in re-empowering and reforming Congress.

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One Interview, Two Gaffes

Mark Kleiman | Posted 06.16.2008 | Media

Read More: Lying, John McCain, Presidential Power, Media, Clinton, Telcom Immunity, Kenner, Media News
Mark Kleiman

John McCain gave an interview to Newsweek and flip flopped twice, which may be a single-interview record.

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