Posted by (+103) 6 years ago
Words and concepts matter, or so we are told. I am flummoxed and angered by the lack of concern or outrage that our Congress is being allowed to redefine the concept of what it means to be a "lameduck" President. A lameduck is defined as a duly elected official whose successor has already been selected.
By the traditional definition, President Obama is NOT yet a lameduck President. The party nominees are still yet to be decided. He is still bound by the constitution to carry out all of his duties. The Senate is bound by the constitution to carry out their duties.
Allowing the current republican lead senate to redefine what it means to be a lameduck is outrageous and an egregious abuse of their power. It establishes a terrible precedent. If the current President is a "lameduck" ten months before the general election where will the next line in the sand occur?
Will the next President of the United States, even be allowed to run the country at all? After all they would only be in power for approximately 1400 days. Why allow that individual to appoint anyone or make any long-term decisions? Is there a substantive difference between being in power for 300 days versus 1400 days? If so, what would that difference be?
Republicans like to remind us about the importance of the rule of law and a strict constructionists view of our founding documents. Yet, they are now defecating on the Constitution and throwing a temper-tantrum that would send any two-year old into a timeout.
We cannot allow them to get away with this change in definition. They must be held accountable. In my opinion, the party in charge of the House and Senate matters more than who will be President. With all the noise about who will be next in the Whitehouse, it's easy to overlook the actions, or lack thereof, of a do-nothing congress.
We can't make that mistake. If we don't force Congress to do their job, we will continue to have an ineffective, non-functional, and obstructionist government. Disrespecting the President and the presidency by the lameduck treatment is unprofessional. This behavior needs to STOP NOW.
By the traditional definition, President Obama is NOT yet a lameduck President. The party nominees are still yet to be decided. He is still bound by the constitution to carry out all of his duties. The Senate is bound by the constitution to carry out their duties.
Allowing the current republican lead senate to redefine what it means to be a lameduck is outrageous and an egregious abuse of their power. It establishes a terrible precedent. If the current President is a "lameduck" ten months before the general election where will the next line in the sand occur?
Will the next President of the United States, even be allowed to run the country at all? After all they would only be in power for approximately 1400 days. Why allow that individual to appoint anyone or make any long-term decisions? Is there a substantive difference between being in power for 300 days versus 1400 days? If so, what would that difference be?
Republicans like to remind us about the importance of the rule of law and a strict constructionists view of our founding documents. Yet, they are now defecating on the Constitution and throwing a temper-tantrum that would send any two-year old into a timeout.
We cannot allow them to get away with this change in definition. They must be held accountable. In my opinion, the party in charge of the House and Senate matters more than who will be President. With all the noise about who will be next in the Whitehouse, it's easy to overlook the actions, or lack thereof, of a do-nothing congress.
We can't make that mistake. If we don't force Congress to do their job, we will continue to have an ineffective, non-functional, and obstructionist government. Disrespecting the President and the presidency by the lameduck treatment is unprofessional. This behavior needs to STOP NOW.