Presidential Malfeasance

Today, I have signed into law H.R. 3199, the "USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005," and then S. 2271, the "USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006." The bills will help us continue to fight terrorism effectively and to combat the use of the illegal drug methamphetamine that is ruining too many lives.

The executive branch shall construe the provisions of H.R. 3199 that call for furnishing information to entities outside the executive branch, such as sections 106A and 119, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch and to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties.

The executive branch shall construe section 756(e)(2) of H.R. 3199, which calls for an executive branch official to submit to the Congress recommendations for legislative action, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch and to recommend for the consideration of the Congress such measures as he judges necessary and expedient.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

March 9, 2006.

This is the full text of "President's Statement on H.R. 199, the 'USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005'", otherwise known as the signing statement President Bush issued along with his signing of the Patriot Act reauthorization.

One of the very few aspects of the reauthorization that has made civil libertarians even moderately comfortable is the increased oversight required in the use of the powers thus granted. As increasing numbers of people (even among his own party) have begun to recognize that handing the President a blank check may be a mistake, even if he has the best of intentions, the renewed Patriot Act contains provisions to correct at least some of that problem, requiring the Administration to brief Congress regularly on certain aspects of his use of Patriot Act powers.

So we focus on this part of the signing statement: The executive branch shall construe the provisions of H.R. 3199 that call for furnishing information to entities outside the executive branch, such as sections 106A and 119, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch and to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties.

This is legalese for "Thanks for reauthorizing these powers, I spit on your oversight", one of the clearest examples yet that this President feels he is above the law, and that restrictions placed on him by the laws of the country, the Congress, and even the Constitution itself are not valid.

When is he going to realize that President does not equal Monarch? And when are the last paltry few of his supporters going to realize that he's dangerously amassing power and claiming authority in direct contradiction to the best interests of the nation and its citizenry?

(Tip of the hat to this article.)

Liam.