5 ms·

There were many people pointing out the dangers of consolidating so much power into the Presidency over the last few years but most of them were told to shut up

by talmand 10y ago

There were many people pointing out the dangers of consolidating so much power into the Presidency over the last few years but most of them were told to shut up with their paranoia conspiracies and racist rhetoric.

drabiega 10y ago
It's probably the 'last few years' part that is what gets someone accused of racism. Pushing the boundaries of presidential power is not unique to Obama and indeed has no party affiliation.
- jsight 10y ago
  Yeah, I think a lot of people have been concerned with this ever since 9/11 and the big expansions of power that seemed to go with it. I completely agree with you that there is no party affiliation with this, and to me that is the most concerning part.
edc117 10y ago
It also didn't help that Congress is more and more doing absolutely nothing of substance. The last 8 years have been nonstop obstructionism, and the next 4 appear to be headed the same way. (note: this is not to say I agree with overuse of executive powers, I do not.)
- zaroth 10y ago
  Not sure why you think next 4 years will be the same... I think the next 4 years will be markedly different due to Trump leadership and Republican majorities in the House and Senate. We're hearing about Repeal & Replace in January, maybe as late as March and voting has already started to lay the framework to allow passage with 51 votes in the Senate.
  - dmix 10y ago
    Regardless Obama expanded executive power more than any president in history. So even if Trump doesn't plan to expand it he has plenty to work with already. I doubt he'll reverse it other than streamlining bloated intel agencies.
    - krapp 10y ago
      He's pledged to reverse all of Obama's "illegal" executive orders... and I assume that, being a Republican, he considers all of them to be illegal. Trump may not do so, but the Republicans seem to want to dismantle Obama's legacy as thoroughly as possible, and blot him and the effect of his presidency from history like Akhenaten. There would probably be a political cost to pay if Trump didn't reverse it, just on principle.
zaroth 10y ago
E.g. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaxiOS6oPs https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaxiOS6oPs

by talmand 10y ago

drabiega 10y ago

It's probably the 'last few years' part that is what gets someone accused of racism. Pushing the boundaries of presidential power is not unique to Obama and indeed has no party affiliation.

jsight 10y ago
Yeah, I think a lot of people have been concerned with this ever since 9/11 and the big expansions of power that seemed to go with it. I completely agree with you that there is no party affiliation with this, and to me that is the most concerning part.

edc117 10y ago

It also didn't help that Congress is more and more doing absolutely nothing of substance. The last 8 years have been nonstop obstructionism, and the next 4 appear to be headed the same way. (note: this is not to say I agree with overuse of executive powers, I do not.)

zaroth 10y ago
Not sure why you think next 4 years will be the same... I think the next 4 years will be markedly different due to Trump leadership and Republican majorities in the House and Senate. We're hearing about Repeal & Replace in January, maybe as late as March and voting has already started to lay the framework to allow passage with 51 votes in the Senate.
- dmix 10y ago
  Regardless Obama expanded executive power more than any president in history. So even if Trump doesn't plan to expand it he has plenty to work with already. I doubt he'll reverse it other than streamlining bloated intel agencies.
  - krapp 10y ago
    He's pledged to reverse all of Obama's "illegal" executive orders... and I assume that, being a Republican, he considers all of them to be illegal. Trump may not do so, but the Republicans seem to want to dismantle Obama's legacy as thoroughly as possible, and blot him and the effect of his presidency from history like Akhenaten. There would probably be a political cost to pay if Trump didn't reverse it, just on principle.

zaroth 10y ago

E.g. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaxiOS6oPs https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaxiOS6oPs