On 6/8/06, Gruss wrote:
>
> While your point regarding impeachment (and I would add
> power-of-the-purse) is valid, my point would be that:
>
> 1.) If other powers have been suspended, why not that one?  And,
> 2.) If the President is able to sell (or buy) Congress on his agenda
> then there's no check.


If Congress agress, then it is left to the courts to uphold the
Constitution. If enough people want to change the Constitution, then that's
life.

I guess the whole thing has been a scary wake up call to me that,
> while our system may be good, it's easily defeatable.  This President
> has come the closer to it's limits, even crossing some, than any
> President in my lifetime.
>
> I am now a dyed-in-the-wool weak government hawk.


It isn't so much a power of government thing to me as it is a warning about
the potential of the tyranny of the majority that DeTocqueville warned
about. A majority may support NSA warrantless wiretaps, but it is still the
role of the courts to judge whether that program, for instance, violates the
law and/or the Consitution.

The basic underlying strength of our country, of liberal democracy in
general, of our very cvilization, is that we all agree to live more or less
by the same rules. There are lots of fights around the edges about what that
means, but the core principles of electoral democracy, civilian control of
the military, and free market economy are not in dispute. Sometimes I think
the fights between Republicans and Democrats are so bitter now because there
is so little that separates the parties.


-- 
---------------
Robert Munn
www.funkymojo.com


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