Obama Is Making Plans to Use Executive Power for Action on Several Fronts

nytimes.com ^ | Feb. 12, 2010 | PETER BAKER

[Free ThinkerNY]

WASHINGTON — With much of his legislative agenda stalled in Congress, President Obama and his team are preparing an array of actions using his executive power to advance energy, environmental, fiscal and other domestic policy priorities.

Mr. Obama has not given up hope of progress on Capitol Hill, aides said, and has scheduled a session with Republican leaders on health care later this month. But in the aftermath of a special election in Massachusetts that cost Democrats unilateral control of the Senate, the White House is getting ready to act on its own in the face of partisan gridlock heading into the midterm campaign.

“We are reviewing a list of presidential executive orders and directives to get the job done across a front of issues,” said Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff.

Any president has vast authority to influence policy even without legislation, through executive orders, agency rule-making and administrative fiat. And Mr. Obama’s success this week in pressuring the Senate to confirm 27 nominations by threatening to use his recess appointment power demonstrated that executive authority can also be leveraged to force action by Congress.

Mr. Obama has already decided to create a bipartisan budget commission under his own authority after Congress refused to do so. His administration has signaled that it plans to use its discretion to soften enforcement of the ban on openly gay men and lesbians serving in the military, even as Congress considers repealing the law. And the Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with possible regulations on heat-trapping gases blamed for climate change, while a bill to cap such emissions languishes in the Senate.

In an effort to demonstrate forward momentum, the White House is also drawing more attention to the sorts of actions taken regularly by cabinet departments without much fanfare.

[Nik Naym]

Yup.

And we know how it all turned out for Mussolini.

[unkus]

Evil Bastard.

[dr_who]

three to seven years from now, once Obama’s influence on the courts and the bureaucracy fully sets in. The only thing good about Obama is that he’s scaring people into paying more attention to politics. The bad thing is that he’s distracting people away from some of the other examples of rot that have been eating away at the rest of the federal government and the country at large for decades now.

[Lockbar]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lion Den Dan]

++++One good thing about executive orders is that the next president can completely overturn the orders.++++

There will likely be no next president.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Hitler II

[OKSooner]

“I won.”

[Ditto]

One good thing about executive orders is that the next president can completely overturn the orders.

Assuming that we last long enough to have a 'next president.'

Everything I see from an economic, domestic and security policy basis of this gang of Chicago thugs and their lap dog majority in Congress is that the seem intent on destroying the nation, and doing it as quickly as possible.

I don't think they are 'stupid.' I think it's intentional, and even if some EO or group of them are blatantly Unconstitutional, it may be a moot since the Republic will be in ruins before the Supreme Court gets to hear a case.

[Typical_Whitey]

Gulags for those that dare question his intentions. The Pharoah has spoken so let it be written so let it be done.

Has Obama learned nothing from the era of slavery in the US?

[onyx]

Congress may overturn an executive order by passing legislation in conflict with it or by refusing to approve funding to enforce it. In the former, the president retains the power to veto such a decision; however, the Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds majority to end an executive order. It has been argued that a Congressional override of an executive order is a nearly impossible event due to the supermajority vote required and the fact that such a vote leaves individual lawmakers very vulnerable to political criticism.

LINK

[Danae]

He is an Unconstitutional President and is therefore not bound by the constitution. He is going to do any damn thing he likes unless HE IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE as the Usurper he is.

Don’t wonder why he isn’t following the proper constitutional boundaries separating the powers! Don’t wonder for an instant how he is getting away with blatantly unconstitutional actions!

WE ARE SCREWED if that usurper remains in office.

AND HE KNOWS IT.

[Nebr FAL owner]

Not King, DICTATOR.

[small voice in the wilderness]

1 year in office. And he's already in the bunker.

God forgive me, but I miss Clinton. At least we KNEW where his head was.

[STARWISE]

Dear God .. pray for relief .. quick, decisive relief
from this madness!

[Nebr FAL owner]

These pictures need to be made into posters with the word SOCIALIST/FASCIST/DICTATOR across the bottom. Then they need to be plastered all over the place like the obama/joker posters.

[freekitty]

This man is a complete fool.

[davetex]

I’ve been pondering the same thing.

[HerrBlucher]

FUBO and your executive orders. You are the absolute worst president of all time and you will go down in history as that, and as a total laugingstock. Enjoy.

[RedMDer]

IMPEACH THIS DICTATOR

I think he is feeling cornered and is getting more dangerous.

[STARWISE]

Breathtaking = breaking