Obama Should Thank Abovetopsecret.com, page 2

reply to post by Iamonlyhuman

Although technically you are correct about the president's authority to make treaties with other bodies, that is not how it has worked since George Washington first stood before the senate and asked for their advice concerning a treaty. The fiasco that followed in the senate chambers frustrated Washington to the degree that he said "I will be damned if I ever come to the senate for advice again." and since that day, every president has made treaties without the consent of the senate.

Here is what the Constitution says about the presidential power to make treaties; "He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur." This has not been done since George Washington made that statement.

There are many examples throughout history of how the president exceeds his authority, the most notable would probably be FDR and the "new deal". The supreme court had concluded that part of the new deal was unconstitutional, FDR's response was that if the supreme court tried to block his legislation that he would expand the supreme court by 3 justices and appoint those whom would swing the balance of power in his direction. This is just one example out of possibly a million where the presidency exceeds its authority by manipulating the governmental system as it was intended to function.

Besides there is a loophole for the president to crawl through just in case anyone decided to hold him accountable to protocol. The Constitution states specifically that 2/3 of the senate present must concur. A simple obstacle, how many other times has 11th hour legislation been passed to avoid the will of the people? The federal reserve act is a perfect example that immediately comes to mind. If he cannot garner the support he needs, he will just get those whom agree with him to be there alone one night and then vote on his treaty, law, or whatever else he wishes to have passed.

So in that sense, he has won, at least from that perspective.

You are absolutely correct though in your assertion that congress is the body to blame though. No money can be spent that is not approved by congress. Congress is the nations financier, and congress is supposed to be made up of the people's representatives. Thus, I would say, that congress needs an overhaul. The problem; in this country when you crap on the people that elect you, your punishment is re-election so that you have the opportunity to smear it in their faces the second, third, fourth...etc time. This will never change until the American people stop being too lazy to seek information for themselves. Candidates are not voted for because of qualifications, they are voted for because of notoriety, popularity, and/or how they look. Just take a look at the big deal with the Sara Paulin bikini hoaxes. People supported her because she was pretty and had nice boobs, who cares if she is going to sell your children into poverty. This is the mindset that the country has and until that changes we will never have true representation.