If you don’t like something or want to get something done, you don’t let little things like the Constitution get in your way.
For more than three years Emperor Obama has been behaving as if the separation of powers is a pesky fly to be swatted away whenever it becomes too annoying.
If Congress doesn’t pass the legislation he desires, he uses his executive powers and regulatory agencies to get his way. If he doesn’t like a law or thinks it’s unconstitutional, he tells his minions and bureaucrats not to enforce it.
In the past, Emperor Obama used the EPA to create new cap-and-trade laws and the Department of Health and Human Services to force Catholics and other religious groups to go against their own consciences and provide their employees with abortion and birth-control coverage in their health care packages.
His latest edict came last week when he decided it would be nice to give about 1.4 million undocumented young immigrants temporary relief from deportation.
It didn’t matter to Emperor Obama what the legislative branch thought about the “DREAM Act,” which would provide conditional permanent residency to the well-behaved children of parents who came to the U.S. illegally.
It also didn’t matter to him that various versions of the act had failed to get through Congress for 10 years. He signed an imperial order and pronounced that his administration would stop deporting young illegal immigrants who meet the requirements of the DREAM Act.
In other words, once again our imperial president told Congress to buzz off. Saving his royal butt from being tossed out of the White House was more important than the rule of law and constitutional niceties.
This latest presidential power grab really wasn’t about helping young Latinos or working toward a long-run solution to a tricky immigration problem. It was about getting more Latinos to reward him with their votes in November.
Senator Marco Rubio had put forth an immigration plan that sought a long-term solution, but now it’s been shelved. Instead of doing the right thing and reaching across the aisle to Rubio and working with him, our imperious president played his usual cynical game of political solitaire.
Have you noticed how he never wants to solve anything in the long run? Whether it’s the payroll tax extension, the Keystone Pipeline or immigration, he wants it to remain an issue until December so he can use it as a ploy to get re-elected.
Emperor Obama obviously could not care less about helping the Latino population. When Democrats had control of both houses of Congress he did absolutely nothing for them.
Now he’s doing to Latinos what Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly did to the children of Pennsylvania — using and abusing them. With his short-sighted politicking, Emperor Obama has hurt the Latino cause in the long run.
More important is his disrespect for the U.S. Constitution. When he was elected president, not emperor, he raised his hand and swore to uphold the Constitution — the whole Constitution.
But like so-called “Cafeteria Catholics,” who pick and choose which rules of the Church they’ll abide by, or like those who pick and choose which of the Ten Commandments to follow, Barack Obama has become a Cafeteria Constitutionalist.
People on the right and many on the left are seriously concerned that we have an imperial president in the White House. Let’s hope the American people will be made aware of it, too, because they’re the only ones who can dethrone Emperor Obama.
• Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of “The New Reagan Revolution” (St. Martin’s Press, 2011). He is the founder and chairman of The Reagan Group and president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Visit his website at www.reagan.com, or e-mail comments to Reagan@caglecartoons.com.
mnjcpa posted at 8:07 am on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Great article Mike.
Of course most of these character flaws were known about Obama prior to 2008 but many were caught up in the hologram that the media presented. Now on full display is who the Obama administration really is - his record, in the back pockets of labor unions, with his own `kill list` after crucifying Bush for his military actions, and intent on destroying the constitution and the free market.
November can't come quick enough to get these radicals out of office.
dustbowl11 posted at 10:27 am on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Respect the separation of powers? Like Ronald Reagan did with Iran Contra?
openureyes posted at 10:52 am on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Dude.
"Now he’s doing to Latinos what Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly did to the children of Pennsylvania..."
Really?
No one is "seriously concerned that we have an imperial president in the White House," unless they're seriously out of touch or shamelessly promoting their own agenda. Like you, Mr. Reagan.
How appropriate that your email is @caglecartoons.com.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:20 am on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
And how does the gay Reagan make a living? Does he have a real job?
Or does he live off the offerings of right wingers who pay their tithes to his brand of political " religion " ?
mnjcpa posted at 12:27 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Libs just can't resist going off topic - it's just bizarre. Debate the issues of whether he's right or not about what he's pointing out about Obama rather than changing the subject.
Reagon's son's sexual preference and his dad's choices are irrelevant. The article is about Obama's gross negligence in office, period. Big difference openureyes when someone promotes their `business` that's a private concern and an elected official that is nothing more than a hologram of who he really is. Thank goodness for the First Amendment so there's now plenty of information about these radicals.
VofReason posted at 12:59 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
"No one is "seriously concerned that we have an imperial president in the White House," unless they're seriously out of touch or shamelessly promoting their own agenda. " And what world does this "dude" live in. I am pretty sure most people who work, try to support a family and are worried about their economic future are a little concerned. Perhaps the reality show and videogame crowd hasn't quit caught on, but the grown-ups are definitly concerned.
VofReason posted at 1:02 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
And hey, I thought liberals liked Homosexuals. Or is that just ones who vote Democrat and have looney ideas. Or maybe they just like them when they are trying to use them against someone.
dustbowl11 posted at 1:21 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
mnjcpa,
Nothing is ever relevant to you unless it supports your particular political bias. Exercise of executive powers is fine if it is Reagan or Bush II but not if it is a Dem. Fortunately, you do not get to decide what is relevant.
openureyes posted at 1:41 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
mnjcpa - I don't know what you're trying to say in that second-to-last sentence. Seriously, I'm not being facetious. Are you saying there's a big difference between a businessman like Mr. Reagan and a POTUS?
VofR - I don't know what world you come from, but in this one the term "dude" has been popular since at least the 60's. That you would assume my using it reveals anything accurate about my age says more about you than me, sonny boy. So you're pretty sure most working, family-supporting people worried about their economic future are concerned that the president really wants to be emperor? I'm absolutely sure you're seriously out of touch. Guess it's a wash, then.
mnjcpa posted at 2:25 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Hey dustbowl I'm always happy to debate an article but you want to go off in a direction that has nothing to do with the article. The Constitution is a pesky document that Obama finds multiple corrupt ways to get around it.
Every week we're dealing with this radical liberal. Now the Emperor has invoked executive privilege in Fast & Furious. National security isn't at risk- the attorney general of the US has flat lied throughout this investigation so the only logical conclusion is they've got something to hide.
Explain your logic that this criticism isn't relevant because of political bias to Brian Terry's family.
dustbowl11 posted at 3:06 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
mjncpa,
I know that this is going to sound like a broken record to you, but Bush II started the program. So I guess there needs to be a line apologizing to the family. My point is, that you guys don't seem to care when it is your party doing the same things you criticize Obama for doing. Like the bailouts. That is hypocrisy isn't it?
mnjcpa posted at 3:33 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Okay, fair game – if it’s Bush’s fault and Holder stopped it why don’t they just release the documents so we can see that it’s Bush’ fault? And if it’s Bush’ fault why does Holder need executive privilege? What is Holder hiding? If it’s Bush’s fault they should be angling to share that information.
All you have to do dust is apply logic – liberals always get skunked when it’s applied.
Engaged Voter posted at 4:57 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Is this mouthbreather starting to suffer from the same malady as his father?
Comparing the president to a pedophile...I wonder how Michael would have felt had someone done the same to his father. What a complete tool.
"so-called “Cafeteria Catholics,” who pick and choose which rules of the Church they’ll abide by, or like those who pick and choose which of the Ten Commandments to follow..."
ALL Catholics...heck, ALL Christians pick and choose which Bible doctrines to abide by and which to ignore. I've yet to ever meet a Christian who followed all 613 Commandments (that's right, there are 613, not 10).
Oh, and Michael? One of those commandments is to NOT LIE - you might want to brush up on it, you conceited, two-faced hatemonger.
mnjcpa posted at 5:52 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Wow there's some serious venom coming from Engaged - so much for adult debate.
Dale Whiting posted at 8:15 pm on Thu, Jun 21, 2012.
Emperor Obama, Emperor Bush 43, Emperor Clinton, Emperor Bush 41, Emperor Reagan, Emperor Nixon, Emperor Johnson, Emperor Kennedy, Emperor Roosevelt. Who did I leave out? Eisenhower, Truman, Ford, Carter, they were not emperors. But most who achieve the officer do act like emperors. They are supposed to. Or haven't you figured that out yet, Michael?
mnjcpa posted at 6:15 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Big difference Dale between Obama and the other Presidents Dale.
That pesky Constitution was one others respected while Obama is intent on destroying it or just ignoring it when it suits his whim. The title is aptly named for this President.
Cubs1908 posted at 9:00 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
"Libs just can't resist going off topic - it's just bizarre. Debate the issues of whether he's right or not about what he's pointing out about Obama rather than changing the subject."
Un-freaking-believable. The columnist compares the President to a child rapist and you blame liberals for going off-topic.
BTW - Reagan has a gay son, but Michael isn't gay. I would agree with the poster that says this info is not relevant, but it still shouldn't be misrepresented.
mnjcpa posted at 9:26 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Okay cool - agreed it was a poor metaphor but does that mean every other issue he speaks of is incorrect? Hardly. Look at the totality of the piece and the issues he presents.
Just like Pelosi (as a mother and grandmother) has the gall to say that the Republicans are going after Holder because of voter suppression. I'm sure Brian Terry's family are real happy with that explanation. The woman has no conscience or morals.
CSalafia posted at 10:35 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
More and more, I'm finding that those who scream "Constitution!" the loudest (i.e. Tea Partiers and other assorted righties) typically have no idea what it says.
Executive orders have been used since 1789 and the power to use them are granted under two sections of the US Constitution.
Curse that emperor George Washington! It's all his fault, he started it!
mnjcpa posted at 10:56 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Oh yeah CSalafia - so I guess that makes it okay for Obama to disregard it, likely logic of a liberal.
CSalafia posted at 11:09 am on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
MN - It's not disregarding the Constitution if he's doing what's allowed, and granted, by not just one, but two, sections within the Constitution.
Thanks for proving my point.
mnjcpa posted at 2:44 pm on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
You haven't proven anything. Executive privilege is an important safeguard against congressional overreach to preserve the separation of powers. It’s been in American law since Watergate. Legal experts disagree though which communications apply.
But that's not the point. The attorney general should be a steward of the law that is fairly and equally administered – not just Obama's political view.
I think it’s obvious. Obama has claimed that he had no prior knowledge of F&F on multiple occasions. So don’t you have to ask yourself what possible legitimate basis — national security or otherwise — does Holder have to deprive Congress of the requested information? Holder's lied and stonewalled on multiple occasions for over a year over relevant and pertinent information requested by Congress hiding behind some lame `internal` investigation bs.
This is an arrogant and lawless cover-up that appears calculated to buy the Obama administration time until after the November election. My hope is Republicans don’t back down. These arrogant radical liberals are not above the law.
VofReason posted at 3:24 pm on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Yes Open, I am familiar with the term Dude and usually assign the proper relavence of everything that follows out of the issuer's mouth. Here is a suggested exercise for you. Run into the street and yell out, "the President is entirely for the people, don't worry he has got this economy thing down. " The reception you get will be the real "eye opener".
VofReason posted at 3:27 pm on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Engaged Voter has some real issues. Whenever I hear people issue hate against people who love Jesus (ie Christians) and people who profess faith in God (ie Catholics) it makes me wonder. And those must have been some sneaky people back then to fool the Government into putting God on the building and money and all.
Engaged Voter posted at 5:33 pm on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Once again a hate filled bigot accuses ME of hate...*yawn*. It's getting old.
"And those must have been some sneaky people back then to fool the Government into putting God on the building and money and all."
Yes, they were sneaky...but "back then"? It was LESS THAN SIXTY YEARS AGO.
You WERE aware that our ORIGINAL Pledge and ORIGINAL currency had no religious phrases, right? Right?!
Or are you one of the history-revisionists who claims Jesus was a founding father?
mrconservative posted at 8:33 pm on Fri, Jun 22, 2012.
Our Founding Fathers were strong Chrstians, so yeah, EV, in a way, Jesus was a founder.
And we do have prophets on the earth. There's nothing you can say to sway me. One day, you'll learn for yourself that I was right. I look forward to that day.
mrconservative posted at 9:22 pm on Sun, Jun 24, 2012.
Do me a favor, E.V.
1. Go to YouTube.
2. Type in the song, "He Ain't the Leavin' Kind", preferrably on that show the lyrics.
3. Listen CAREFULLY to the lyrics.
4. Ask yourself this question: Who is the narrator referring to, particularly in the Chorus?
I expect to see an answer somewhere below this comment.
mrconservative posted at 10:47 pm on Tue, Jun 26, 2012.
EV, you are guilty of hate speech. Just read your last ten comments.
mrconservative posted at 10:54 pm on Tue, Jun 26, 2012.
The "original" Pledge of Allegiance had no mention made of God, true. Thank God they changed it so that it does.
This is a nation under God. Get used to it, EV.
BTW, EV, are you Larry Kluth? Because that would be very interesting. Both you and he have one thing in common: You're both NUTS! CAG MAG! YOICKS! CRAZY! WHACKO!
mrconservative posted at 10:36 pm on Fri, Jun 29, 2012.
You're still a liar, Willie.