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| Home Front: Politix |
| Rebuking a President--Censure |
| 2014-11-23 |
| For responding to a president who defies his constitutional limits, Congress is said to possess four powers: to impeach, to defund, to investigate, and to withhold confirmation of nominees. But there is a fifth recourse, which the new Republican Congress might consider in view of President Obama's executive amnesty for illegal immigrants: the power to censure. In fact, censure could work in tandem with Congress's other powers, helping the legislature make the moral case for responding to the president's lawlessness. Presidential censure is a rare occurrence. Most notably, in 1834, the Whig-controlled Senate censured President Andrew Jackson, a Democrat, for moving federal deposits from the Second Bank of the United States to local banks, derisively called his "pets" because most were operated by loyal Democrats. |
| Posted by:JohnQC |
| #8 So WTF will censure do, other than make the censurer think that he just did something useful? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2014-11-23 16:54 |
| #7 I would carefully consider how the response might be abused down the road when the pendulum of power swings back towards the Loony Toon couple - Reid and Pelosi. Their eventual replacements are more likely to be even more desperate an unencumbered by ethics. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2014-11-23 16:25 |
| #6 I wonder if Congress can't simply criminalize certain specified acts by federal servants for failing to enforce federal law or spending federal money on proscribed activities, etc. This is much more severe than merely forfeiting jobs or pensions, and would be the most direct way of dealing with extreme / deviant executive orders and failures to faithfully execute the laws. The state and federal legislatures have always had the power to declare certain acts as crimes and to specify punishments for same. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-11-23 15:58 |
| #5 One unfortunate result of President Jackson's actions against the Bank of the United States may have been the severe economic depression that persisted for years in the 1830's. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-11-23 15:53 |
| #4 Famous Presidential Lies Contest Written by, To The Point News LBJ: •We were attacked (in the Gulf of Tonkin) Nixon: •I am not a crook GHW Bush: •Read my lips - No New Taxes Clinton: •I did not have sex with that woman... Miss Lewinski GW Bush: •Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (which was NOT a lie) Champ •I will have the most transparent administration in history. •The stimulus will fund shovel-ready jobs. •I am focused like a laser on creating jobs. •The IRS is not targeting anyone. •It was a spontaneous riot about a movie. •I will put an end to the type of politics that "breeds division, conflict and cynicism". •You didn't build that! •I will restore trust in Government. •The Cambridge cops acted stupidly. •The public will have 5 days to look at every bill that lands on my desk •It's not my red line - it is the world's red line. •Whistle blowers will be protected in my administration. •We got back every dime we used to rescue the banks and auto companies, with interest. •I am not spying on American citizens. •Obama Care will be good for America. •You can keep your family doctor. •Premiums will be lowered by $2500. •If you like it, you can keep your current healthcare plan. •It's just like shopping at Amazon. •I knew nothing about "Fast and Furious" gunrunning to Mexican drug cartels. •I knew nothing about IRS targeting conservative groups. •I knew nothing about what happened in Benghazi. •I have never known my uncle from Kenya who is in the country illegally and that was arrested and told to leave the country over 20 years ago. •And, I have never lived with that uncle. He finally admitted (12-05-2013) that he DID know his uncle and that he DID live with him. •If elected I promise not to renew the Patriot Act. •If elected I will end the war in Iraq and Afghanistan within the 1st 9 months of my term. •I will close Guantanamo within the first 6 months of my term. •I will bridge the gap between black and white and between America and other countries. And the biggest one of all: •"I, Barrack Hussein Obama, pledge to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America." I believe we have a winner. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-11-23 13:49 |
| #3 I'm still waiting to see if Boehner has the nerve to not invite the President to Congress for the State of the Union address. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2014-11-23 13:36 |
| #2 Great Idea, Procopius2k. Wish our elected leaders were as innovative as you are. |
| Posted by: DLR 2014-11-23 11:37 |
| #1 Wait for the new Congress, then have it pass a declaration that any civil service employee who carry out unconstitutional acts forfeits both job and pension. They have a choice, be out of a job for next two years cause Obean or his lackeys fire them or be permanently out of a job in two years. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-11-23 08:45 |