Bush Thinks He’s the Emperor
Adding to a long list of subversive signing statements, George W. Bush has taken the knees out from under recently passed postal legislation that requires a warrant to open mail. You'd think with his army of advisers and aides someone might explain to the president that when Congress passes a law, and he signs it, that's the law, not a prompt for interpretive rule.
Adding to a long list of subversive signing statements, George W. Bush has taken the knees out from under recently passed postal legislation that requires a warrant to open mail. You’d think with his army of advisers and aides someone might explain to the president that when Congress passes a law, and he signs it, that’s the law, not a prompt for interpretive rule.
Wait, before you go…AP via the Los Angeles Times:
The law requires government agents to get warrants to open first-class letters.
But when he signed the postal act, Bush added a statement saying that his administration would construe that provision “in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances….”
“The signing statement raises serious questions whether he is authorizing opening of mail contrary to the Constitution and to laws enacted by Congress,” said Ann Beeson, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. “What is the purpose of the signing statement if it isn’t that?”
If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
Courts & Law
Many federal courts are more politically diverse and less ideologically doctrinaire than the present SCOTUS.
If the Democrats' impeachment action fails to address the "constitutional rot" that has occurred over decades, U.S. democracy may be doomed.
The 44th president failed in foreign policy and saw a rise in racial tensions: The "Hope and Change" candidate could not deliver.
The collapse of our democratic institutions began long before the arrival of Trump, who is capitalizing on the evisceration of the rule of law.
The struggle—far from finished—was never as finite or clear-cut as the myth that persists in our collective memory.
Court statements veered from the scientist's original conclusions in at least three cases.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.