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George Wants More and More Power
by James Glaser
Without a doubt George Bush is the most powerful man in the world, but throughout history, those with power always seem to want more power. For five years now George Bush has been tying to consolidate more and more power. If Congress passes a law he doesn't like, George just attaches a "signing statement" to the bill that says he does not have to obey that particular law. It has been reported the President has attached these statements to more than 800 laws. With George Bush, the Constitution, and laws on the books for years mean nothing to him. America has never been a country that makes torture legal. . . . that is until George Bush came along. Now America can and has, kidnapped people all over the world, and sends them to secret prisons where torture can be used without America's Rule of Law taking effect. Being Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, having his own set of laws, and his own prison system is not enough power for George Bush. Now he wants control of our National Guard. Robert Tanner, writing for the Associated Press reports, "The nation's governors are closing ranks in opposition to a proposal in Congress that would let the president take control of the National Guard in emergencies without consent of the governors." Republican Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, said, "The idea of federalizing yet another function of government in America is a, the wrong direction, and b, counterproductive. The system has worked quite well, notwithstanding what went wrong with Katrina." The federal response to hurricane Katrina should show the nation that neither the Bush administration nor any federal agency can handle the power they have now. So, giving them control over what has always been a State institution like the National Guard would be foolish. Power for power's sake has no place in American government, and power for George's sake is the behavior of a despot.*
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