About That “Abuse Of Executive Orders” Thing








Source: Nymag.com

Wait, what?




4 thoughts on “About That “Abuse Of Executive Orders” Thing

  1. I liked this post, as the way you closed it at the end indicates a willingness to change your view on an issue if the facts disprove your previously-held view… which is something that I like to think I can take pride in myself. However, as a crazy member of the right and someone who did watch the SOTU let me try and bring some perspective to the table.

    A lot of the reason behind the outrage is not purely the number of executive orders President Obama has undertaken during his two terms, but the reasoning for them as well as his disposition when he brings up his intention to use his ‘pen.’

    Executive orders, under the Constitution, are intended to help the POTUS use discretionary power to decide where and when federal agencies and already-existing legislation should be implemented. Obama has made it very clear that he intends to circumvent Congress in creating new law, which is not the job of the executive at all. In reality, this is partially lip service to rally his base, but raising the minimum wage for federally contracted workers is something that should really be left to the legislative branch.

    1. Thank you for your reply. You make a fair point in that much of the actual vehemence from the Republican party is coming from the idea that the President is going to use the executive order to get around Congress. I agree that it’s likely intended to rally the base more than indicate a strategic outline, but as a member of that base, I can attest that we really, really needed that rallying. It’s been a dismal few months for us.

      But on another level, I can’t help but wonder if it might actually play out exactly as Obama said that it will. I think that the Republican Party is being carved up by the feuding between the various blocs within it and that feuding is making it very difficult to accomplish anything via a bipartisan approach. Which faction of the Republican Party do you choose to work with on something like the raising of the minimum wage? If the “mainstream” Republicans say, yeah, minimum wage increases are a good idea, the Tea Party is going to paint them as capitulating to the enemy and the mainstream party sees its support fracture.

      1. I think that what will likely occur is the president will issue the EO for the federally contracted workers and that will make it easier for the federal minimum wage being raised to be swallowed by Congress. But I think you are right as far as the Republican party fracturing. As a Republican voter myself, I have been watching in horror, esp. since Obama’s second term began. I wouldn’t say the “Tea Party” is much to blame for this, but more due to the varying views each individual Repub on the Hill has on how the minimum wage would affect the economy. In addition, they are all trying to pander to their constituencies which, like many liberal constituencies, are ignorant to the real pro’s and con’s of such a raise. The Democrats have this advantage over the Republicans in the economic arena, a more unified take on economic issues whereas there is more variety in the Republican party which kills them in the House every time. Piled on top of this are the ‘rogues’ such as Ted Cruz and Bachmann who consciously act in a very extremist way to get the spotlight on them when they have no real higher-office aspirations and are content right where they are. The Democrats have proven to be more able to unify on the landmark votes and this minimum wage thing will probably showcase that, if you ask me.

        1. Very true.

          As much as I like to poke fun at the current Republican disunity (and I really do like to do that), if you were to ask me to give my serious, non-sarcastic opinion on the future of the Right, it would be my hope that they pull together and shed the hijacking extremist elements. Healthy and coherent opposition is better for everyone, liberals and conservatives alike. The current fracture might make good fodder for snarky bloggers like myself, but for actual voters, it’s not a laughing matter.

          I can remember the Democratic Party during the Bush years and how despairing that was for lefties like me; the party seemed unfocused and anemic, unable to unify against a strong, organized Republican party.

          It’s a sobering history lesson and a reminder that Democrats shouldn’t get comfortable, because no side is immune to such fracturing.

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