[jyl]

More broadly - in my opinion, Bush and his Administration are out of control in their drive to increase the power of the Presidency.

In the US system, the President already has incredible power. He has virtually complete control over warmaking and foreign policy. He controls, through his cabinet and agency heads, a huge federal government with tens of millions of employees involved in almost every part of our lives. He is the leader of his political party, and as such has huge influence over about 1/2 of the nation's Congressmen. In Bush's case, his party controls both houses of Congress as well.

Yet, Bush and his people seem determined with further increasing the President's power. Cheney in particular has been obsessed with this.

So the Administration has taken the legal position that the President has "inherent authority" to take whatever actions he deems necessary that are arguably related to national security. This is the main argument used to support the warrantless wiretapping program, the indefinite detentions without trial, and the torture at secret prisons.

However, the inherent authority claim doesn't apply to laws or matters unrelated to national security (at least, so far they haven't tried to make the argument). So the Administration has vastly expanded the program of "signing statements", as an attempt to modify and limit all laws.

To date, the Supreme Court has been somethng of a barrier to the Administration's power expansion. However, with his two appointments, Bush may have solved that problem. Justice Alito in particular was active in efforts to expand the Presidency's power, back in the Reagan days.

Whatever you think of Bush, I contend it is dangerous and unwise for the office of the Presidency to accumulate so much power. If you adore Bush and think its great for him and Cheney have such power, consider how you'll feel when the next Clinton takes office and becomes armed with these powers.

A wise President with a sense of history would recognize the need for balance in our government. He would resist the temptations to seize powers. Bush is an extremely unwise person. Whether he is personally power-hungry, or simply being led around by his advisers, the end effect is the same.

Its amazing, we can deplore the power grab that Putin is making in Russia, and not recognize what is going on right here at home.