LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.  
November 10, 2009
Log in / Register

 Choose a size
Text Size

Most Read

Afghanistan's Sham Army

Kucinich: Why I Voted No

When a Time Bomb Is Ticking

Goldman Sachs Becomes 'SNL' Punchline

When Voters Disrupt the Tea Party

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
 * NEW! * When a Time Bomb Is Ticking
Kucinich: Why I Voted No

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture

Digs
Financial Meltdown 101
Vetting Sarah Palin

Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Greenwald: Bush Acting Like a Monarch

Email this item Email    Print this item Print   
Posted on Aug 18, 2006

In an interview with Democracy Now!, constitutional lawyer and bestselling author Glenn Greenwald explains how a federal judge rejected the president’s monarchial leanings when she ordered a halt to his warrantless eavesdropping program.


Democracy Now!:

AMY GOODMAN: Glenn Greenwald, that was a pretty strong quote of U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who said, “There are no hereditary kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution.”

GLENN GREENWALD: Well, it is strong language. And interestingly, though, the Supreme Court of the United States used similar language one month ago in Hamdan, when it said also that the President has no right, including in the area of national security, including in time of war, to act outside of the law, that in our system of government, the President is subject to the rule of law. Only a king can operate outside of the rule of law. And this court has adopted that approach, that rhetoric, because the Bush administration’s theory of executive power really does vest in him the power of a monarch, and it’s very encouraging, and surprisingly so, to see courts being so explicit about what this government is arguing in and why it’s so wrong.

Link

More Below the Ad

Advertisement


Elsewhere: .

Comments

Are you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.

By joey, August 19, 2006 at 4:49 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

GW’s GOT THE STATEMENT ALMOST CORRECT.
SOMEONE IS HAVING
TROUBLE WITH THE WAY HE SEES THE WORLD.
IT’S NOT THE DEMS.

Report this

By joey, August 19, 2006 at 4:41 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

GW GOT THE STATEMENT ALMOST CORRECT.
SOMEONE IS HAVING
WITH HIS REALITY BUT
IT’S NOT THE DEMS.

Report this

By Mad As Hell, August 19, 2006 at 12:23 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Y’know, there’s a REASON I always refer to him as “Mad King George”.

Here we have a tradition of no kings, no dictators and this dic-tator-head is trying to create one, and maybe get himself crowned.

In Spain, with little history of democracy and a long history of kings and dictators, King Juan Carlos, upon being handed ABSOLUTE power in November of 1975, used that very power to create a modern democratic state—stripping himself of his absolute power in the process.  The result? He is THE most loved king is Spanish history.  Spain is, as a result, now in the EU and prospering like she NEVER would have under Franco.

And under Mad King George our economy is in the crapper (his BEST economic quarters are worse than the WORST under Clinton), our rights are being undermined, our international prestige is lower than ever, and he’s demanding MORE power.

FDR understood you get more done by CONVINCING people to work with you, not by hammering it down on them as a dictat from Fearless Leader!

Report this

By R. A. Earl, August 18, 2006 at 8:12 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Right on! Further, the GREAT monarchs, for example, Elizabeth II of England, wouldn’t dream of circumventing their country’s laws because they have TOO MUCH RESPECT for their people and the societies they are honored to represent. (Perhaps also because these days even monarchs can find themselves unemployed if they don’t do the jobs they’re paid to do).

Remind me please of any examples of GENUINE RESPECT GWB has for ANYTHING or ANYBODY (other than money and power).

Report this

By Paul G, August 18, 2006 at 7:24 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

My faith has been restored in the American Justice system. Congratulations to Judge Anna Diggs Taylor for making a stand and reminding His
Royal Highness George W Bush, that the American Constitution does not allow his flagrant assault on privacy.
I thought the Americans got rid of the Monarchy a long time ago…..........

Report this

Add Your Comment

Posts by unregistered readers are moderated. Posts by members
are published immediately. Why wait? Register today!







Number of characters remaining: 4000

Notify you when others comment on this article?


Are you a human?
Retype the word you see here.


Please read and abide by our comment policy.
By submitting this comment, you agree to this site's terms and conditions.

 
Click here to learn more about Truthdig
 

 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
Chrome Bag - Free Shipping
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
Copyright © 2009 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.