A Little Bit of a History Lesson
by James Glaser
February 4, 2008

I am not a lawyer, but I am able to read and understand most things. Sunday I was taking a look at our United States Constitution and re-read some passages that seem important. Here is the preamble to that document.

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

That seems to be straight forward and clear to me. The constitution was written to establish a government. The constitution would also lay out the rules that would secure our freedom, give us justice and liberty, and provide for our common defense. There doesn't seem to be any hidden messages here. Everything is out in the open as to why we have a constitution.

As I started reading this, I was reminded that every politician we elect to Washington takes an oath to defend this document and what it says, so here is something to think on.

Article 1, Section 1 Legislative powers in whom vested

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of the Senate and House of Representatives

That is crystal clear, the House and the Senate have all the power to legislate our laws concerning federal matters. The Judges in the Supreme Court can't make laws, and neither can the President. This next section will explain it better than I can. It comes from section 7

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the president of the United States; if he approve, he shall sign it, but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, two thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the president within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

Here is where we have a real problem today. Remember both the President and our legislators have taken an oath to defend and protect what is in the Constitution. Well, hundreds of times President George W. Bush has signed a bill given to him by Congress, thus making it a law, but after he signs this new law, he attaches a signing statement saying that he doesn't have to abide by part or all of that law. Here is an example of one of his signing statements.

President Bush Signs H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 into Law
[2008-01] — 44 WCPD ___ (January ___, 2008)

Today, I have signed into law H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. The Act authorizes funding for the defense of the United States and its interests abroad, for military construction, and for national security-related energy programs.

Provisions of the Act, including sections 841, 846, 1079, and 1222, purport to impose requirements that could inhibit the President's ability to carry out his constitutional obligations to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, to protect national security, to supervise the executive branch, and to execute his authority as Commander in Chief. The executive branch shall construe such provisions in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE
January 28, 2008

The President signs a bill into law, (this example is one of over 800) then changes what that law means. Now George Bush believes he has that right, even though the Constitution says differently, so he is not upholding what he took an oath to uphold. (The Constitution) But on the other hand, Congress lets him do this without a fight, thus they are not upholding their oath to defend and protect the Constitution.

Like I said at the beginning, I not a lawyer, but I believe if you take the time to read the whole Constitution, you will start to feel as I do. That is, every elected official in Washington should be impeached, as nobody takes their oath about protecting our Constitution, sworn on a Bible, seriously.

Post Script:

One of my readers suggested I read these sections of the Constitution to see what I thought, and I thank him.

Sunday another two American Soldiers were killed in Iraq. Ron Paul is the only candidate left in the race for president who would pull our troops out of Iraq. Every other candidate wants to increase the size of our military, and sit around and try and figure out an honorable way to get our troops home. They all agree that this could take years. Years, and thousands of more American lives.

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