The wisdom enshrined in our Constitution is most evident in the way that power is divided into three separate branches. The founding fathers were well aware of the propensity for human nature to accrue power to the individual, whether it was for the benefit of the people or a tyrant. By interweaving the decision making process through the three branches, they ensured a system of checks and balances that would prevent such a hoarding of power and enable the people to hold their government accountable. For well over 200 years, the system has served our nation well, making it the greatest fountain of freedom ever attained to by any nation.
In establishing the executive branch, the founders understood the need for a single person to make some decisions that simply are not doable by committee. Most decisions however, can best be made by sharing the responsibility via the concept of advise and consent, but leaves the initiating of the needed actions to the executive. The aspects of power granted to the President are significant but limited, and must be shared with the congress and the Supreme Court. In any discussion of the role of the President, we must keep that understanding in mind.
Many books have been written by learned and scholarly individuals that discuss the powers of the presidency. Most Presidents have found themselves, at one time or another, battling with congress to keep the authority they are given by the Constitution. In some cases, they fought to increase their power. Nonetheless, every President has specific duties that he must fulfill if he is to do his job successfully, and those are the items I will focus upon in this discussion.
The primary job given to the President is to defend the nation and the Constitution, and he is sworn to that duty. Four important tools are provided to the President to accomplish those tasks. First, in order to defend the nation, the President is Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces. In time of war it is his job to see to it that they are effectively deployed to achieve victory and keep the nation free. The second tool given to the President is his veto power, and it is to be used by him in seeing to it that congress does not legislate outside the bounds of the Constitution. Third, the President is given the opportunity to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who have a final say in keeping the nation within the bounds of the Constitution. Finally, when the nation has dealings with other countries, the President acts as the representative of the entire country. He is authorized to negotiate treaties and present them to congress for approval, and sets the tone of the nation's foreign policy. The idea of a sole individual engaging in talks with others is a perfect job for the chief executive and makes sense. After a basic agreement is reached, congress can offer modifications or amendments, or reject the entire treaty as a whole. Once the back and forth actions of diplomacy are finished, all involved can hope for a final document that is mutually agreeable to the parties.
The Constitution gives the executive branch the responsibility to enforce the law but not to make law. The Department of Justice is only a created mechanism established by congress to do just that and the President is expected to use the DOJ with care. The President is entitled to nominate an Attorney General to head the department, but that individual is approved by the congress. Sometimes, citizens become exasperated with events and wonder why the President doesn't do something, but fail to consider that he may only act to enforce the law. If it is not legislated by the congress, he may not be able to act.
This breif but basic outline is the essence of the Constitutional authority given to the President. What we need to discuss is the philosophical application of these principles to our government today. It is time to evaluate how our choice of a President in 2008 will affect the nation.
Due to the nature of politics in modern America, the office of President has an added pressure besides the very real one of defending the country and the Constitution. The two party system of power means that the President is also the head of his party. In virtually every administration since Lincoln, this has meant that he must be responsive to those who helped put him in power, i.e. the congressional members. The President is by Constitutional amendment restricted to two 4 year terms, but senators and representatives may be, and often are, re-elected many times, and will be around long after he is gone. Therefore, they naturally have an extremely strong interest in that re-election, and tie success to the fortunes of their party.
Oftentimes, the needs of the nation are in conflict with the supposed "needs of the party". In other words, Mr. President, your idea about such and such a policy is good, but it will hurt us in the next election, so you cannot do that. Or, conversely, your idea isn't very good, but it will help us in the next election, so let's do it. One very current example can illustrate this.
The congress is planning to legislate amnesty for the 15 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. This idea is rejected by over 70% of Americans of all political persuasions. The Democrats do not hold the Presidency, so they have nothing to lose. Although they well know that this new legislation has many undesirable, even unconstitutional aspects to it, they see potential Hispanic votes to help them win elections in the future. The President has the veto power to stop this travesty, but he too is concerned about elections. He and the members of his party also understand the fallacies inherent in this legislation, but the party does not want to appear to be anti-Hispanic, so they want him to work with the congress to get this law passed.
The desire for power in both parties drives the legislative process in Washington constantly. It is partisanship, not leadership, that takes precedence in the governing of our country. This partisanship and power seeking cannot be changed if the American people elect another Democrat OR Republican to the Presidency in 2008! It is impossible! Although each party member seeks his or her own fame and fortune, they understand that increased power increases the scope and value of those two prizes. Therefore, adding the office of President to the party's resume is vital to the individual member.
Over the years, the DEM/GOP/MSM propaganda machines have perfected the time tested rule that states, "If you tell a lie often enough, it will eventually become believed and accepted". The lie is that only they can be President, that they alone are wise and smart and capable. They have convinced us that this is true, that we have no other choice, nowhere else to go, and that if we do not vote for one of them, we have wasted our vote. Isn't that what you and most everyone you know believes? Since this myth is so prevalent, the two parties are able to grow stronger with every election, and the purpose of a political party has become that of increasing power at all costs!
The Constitution, rule of law, and will of the people take second place to the agenda of the elites. They offer up entitlements and pork barrel projects to buy votes, then remind us to send in more tax dollars. Don't worry about the nation, we'll take care of it, trust us. So, in election after election, we have done the same thing over and over again, always hoping for the different result that never has and never will materialize. Unless and until we change the way we think, we will not change how our government operates.
Hence, in this rare Presidential election of 2008, is an opportunity to actually do something different to change the outcome. We, the rightful owners of this great nation, need to act to reclaim our inheritance from the elites. The best way to do that is to DENY THEM THAT WHICH THEY DESIRE MOST OF ALL, THE PRESIDENCY! That act alone would destroy the myth of their invincibility and begin the healing of our country. It would shock the political power structure and restore some common sense to the decision making.
Why wouldn't it, and why should we continue to give ever more power and authority to the two political parties that seem to think they are entitled to it? How would that change anything? With faith and courage, we can do whatever it takes to restore good government to our nation. We are Americans after all, not some bullied third world people who have nothing upon which to base even the concept of freedom. We should not be afraid to exercise the authority we were given by the founding fathers. We have every right to do so, and really, what have we to lose? They have already stolen our birthright, we will simply be taking it back.
That is why this election is so important, and also why the role of the next President should be to restore the Constitution, rule of law, and will of the people as the true principles by which we govern ourselves as a free people. Isn't that what we need from our next President? If it isn't, what do you think is more important?
Go To Presidential Leadership |
|
