Xah Lee's Unixism

[Jack Peacock]

"Chuck Dillon" <spam at nimblegen.com> wrote in message 
news:chsbod$q0i$1 at grandcanyon.binc.net...
> Your argument is shallow if you direct it to the person who happens to be 
> holding the office of President at the moment.  The President can't 
> introduce or pass law.
>
Laws no, but the definition of a law can be ambiguous.  Congress has given 
federal agencies under the President broad power to issue regulations with 
the same effect as laws, but without going through the legislative process. 
Anyone who has ever battled with the Bureau of Land Management or ran afoul 
of the Endangered Species Act knows that "laws" are often created by fiat in 
a Washington DC office building.

Then there are presidential Executive Orders which are often attempts to end 
run around a lack of congressional cooperation.  Clinton attempted to use 
this to outlaw firearms posession in federal housing until the Supreme Court 
put a stop to it.

And finally there are international treaties, which operate with the force 
of law but are not passed by the House of Representatives.  The President 
signs it and the Senate confirms it, but half the legislative process is cut 
out.  Often all that protects the country from disasters like the Kyoto 
Treaty is a filibuster by a Senate minority.
  Jack Peacock