Comments on: David Addington and Ignoring the Constitution http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:08:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Donklephant » Blog Archive » Why Cheney Isn’t Following Executive Order http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-361194 Donklephant » Blog Archive » Why Cheney Isn’t Following Executive Order Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:05:32 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-361194 [...] By the way, I’ve written about this David Addington guy before. He’s pretty much a legal maverick in his views about the power of the Executive Branch, and the following is from my post about Addington… …this strategy rests on a reading of the Constitution that few legal scholars shareâ€â€?namely, that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, has the authority to disregard virtually all previously known legal boundaries, if national security demands it. Under this framework, statutes prohibiting torture, secret detention, and warrantless surveillance have been set aside. A former high-ranking Administration lawyer who worked extensively on national-security issues said that the Administration’s legal positions were, to a remarkable degree, “all Addington.â€Â? Another lawyer, Richard L. Shiffrin, who until 2003 was the Pentagon’s deputy general counsel for intelligence, said that Addington was “an unopposable force.â€Â? [...] [...] By the way, I’ve written about this David Addington guy before. He’s pretty much a legal maverick in his views about the power of the Executive Branch, and the following is from my post about Addington… …this strategy rests on a reading of the Constitution that few legal scholars shareâ€â€?namely, that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, has the authority to disregard virtually all previously known legal boundaries, if national security demands it. Under this framework, statutes prohibiting torture, secret detention, and warrantless surveillance have been set aside. A former high-ranking Administration lawyer who worked extensively on national-security issues said that the Administration’s legal positions were, to a remarkable degree, “all Addington.â€Â? Another lawyer, Richard L. Shiffrin, who until 2003 was the Pentagon’s deputy general counsel for intelligence, said that Addington was “an unopposable force.â€Â? [...]

]]> By: C. Sampson http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-75561 C. Sampson Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:45:05 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-75561 Addington's compatriot Yoo writes on presidential powers in NYT editorial: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/opinion/17yoo.html?th&emc=th Addington’s compatriot Yoo writes on presidential powers in NYT editorial:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/opinion/17yoo.html?th&emc=th

]]> By: Meredith http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-48014 Meredith Thu, 06 Jul 2006 15:50:54 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-48014 Geez Lewis, This is separation of powers were talking about here - The whole freakin' point of setting up the Constitution. I guess you would rather wait until it's completely painfully obvious that the Executive branch has assumed more power than the other two branches. By the way, none of this has anything to do with being a proud, patriotic American. No, Bush is not going to be an emperor, but he has exhibited a philosophy (along with most of his administration) that he believes the executive branch of government should have more power than the other two branches when in a time of war. Of course, the "war on terror" will most likely be more like the "hundred years war," and so the logical conclusion is . . . eventually we will all just accept that the executive has to be more powerful because it's for our own good. Under our Constitution, this is just not allowed. Period. People like you will enable administrations like this to slowly encroach on our rights and amend the Constitution until our form of government has morphed into who knows what. And yes, Lewis, you're damn right I wear my foil hat everyday and check all my phones for bugs. Oh, and I had all my metal fillings replaced with porcelain. Geez Lewis,

This is separation of powers were talking about here – The whole freakin’ point of setting up the Constitution. I guess you would rather wait until it’s completely painfully obvious that the Executive branch has assumed more power than the other two branches. By the way, none of this has anything to do with being a proud, patriotic American. No, Bush is not going to be an emperor, but he has exhibited a philosophy (along with most of his administration) that he believes the executive branch of government should have more power than the other two branches when in a time of war. Of course, the “war on terror” will most likely be more like the “hundred years war,” and so the logical conclusion is . . . eventually we will all just accept that the executive has to be more powerful because it’s for our own good.

Under our Constitution, this is just not allowed. Period. People like you will enable administrations like this to slowly encroach on our rights and amend the Constitution until our form of government has morphed into who knows what.

And yes, Lewis, you’re damn right I wear my foil hat everyday and check all my phones for bugs. Oh, and I had all my metal fillings replaced with porcelain.

]]> By: Donklephant » Blog Archive » Treason, The Press and Waking Up http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-46131 Donklephant » Blog Archive » Treason, The Press and Waking Up Sun, 02 Jul 2006 06:33:37 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-46131 [...] These revelations, coupled with those I spoke of yesterday about David Addington’s questionable interpretations (or lack thereof) of the Constitution, add up to a serious breach of trust on the part of our current leadership. There’s nothing patriotic about silencing the press. Nothing. It weakens our nation. Period. That’s not leadership. That’s simply trying to create a situation where your methods can’t be questioned. And if anything is Unamerican…that’s it. [...] [...] These revelations, coupled with those I spoke of yesterday about David Addington’s questionable interpretations (or lack thereof) of the Constitution, add up to a serious breach of trust on the part of our current leadership. There’s nothing patriotic about silencing the press. Nothing. It weakens our nation. Period. That’s not leadership. That’s simply trying to create a situation where your methods can’t be questioned. And if anything is Unamerican…that’s it. [...]

]]> By: ES http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-46092 ES Sun, 02 Jul 2006 05:22:56 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-46092 This whole thing with the Hamdan case, "new paradigm", and the various writers of the paradigm, my mind would come back to this story in the New Yorker (27 FEB 2006). http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060227fa_fact This whole thing with the Hamdan case, “new paradigm”, and the various writers of the paradigm, my mind would come back to this story in the New Yorker (27 FEB 2006).

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060227fa_fact

]]> By: Lewis http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45902 Lewis Sat, 01 Jul 2006 14:52:05 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45902 More paranoia about the evil Bush Empire and how they're all going to enslave us and make Bush Emperor for life. Is the anti Bush crowd afraid to sleep with the lights off too? Could be a bogie man in the closet. Honestly, do you think it's even remotely likely that this will happen or that Bush even wants to be emperor? Do you really deep down inside believe that Bush isn't a proud and patriotic American (just like y'all)regardless of the fact that you don't agree with his policies? My God, people need to grow up and get real. More paranoia about the evil Bush Empire and how they’re all going to enslave us and make Bush Emperor for life. Is the anti Bush crowd afraid to sleep with the lights off too? Could be a bogie man in the closet.

Honestly, do you think it’s even remotely likely that this will happen or that Bush even wants to be emperor? Do you really deep down inside believe that Bush isn’t a proud and patriotic American (just like y’all)regardless of the fact that you don’t agree with his policies?

My God, people need to grow up and get real.

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45712 Justin Gardner Sat, 01 Jul 2006 04:48:36 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45712 By the way, I highly recommend the PBS Frontline documentary, 'The Dark Side.' A good look into the pre-war policy of the Bush administration and how it led to where we are today. By the way, I highly recommend the PBS Frontline documentary, ‘The Dark Side.’ A good look into the pre-war policy of the Bush administration and how it led to where we are today.

]]> By: DosPeros http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45671 DosPeros Sat, 01 Jul 2006 02:30:25 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45671 Allende deserved what he got & Pinochet is a hero in my book. But my family has been fighting communist in Latin America for a very long time. As for the French and Kissinger, who cares? Other than Christopher Hitchens. John, do you realize the Addington would take an indictment from the Hague as a badge of honor. Allende deserved what he got & Pinochet is a hero in my book. But my family has been fighting communist in Latin America for a very long time. As for the French and Kissinger, who cares? Other than Christopher Hitchens. John, do you realize the Addington would take an indictment from the Hague as a badge of honor.

]]> By: david78209 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45631 david78209 Sat, 01 Jul 2006 01:17:34 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45631 I hope the International Criminal Court in The Hague has a file on David Addington. He had a good bit to do with the legal opinions that said the Geneva Conventions didn't apply to prisoners at Guantanamo and Abu Gharib. I'm not holding my breath waiting for his trial as a war criminal, though I think he deserves it, but seriously hope he "enjoys" the same type of retirement as Henry Kissinger and Augustin Pinochet, if not that of Slobodan Milosivec. Kissinger can't travel to France and much of Europe because he's wanted for questioning regarding things like the assassination of a Chilean diplomat in Washington DC. Pinochet, of course, has to pretend to be too sick or senile to be tried even in his native Chile. I hope the International Criminal Court in The Hague has a file on David Addington. He had a good bit to do with the legal opinions that said the Geneva Conventions didn’t apply to prisoners at Guantanamo and Abu Gharib. I’m not holding my breath waiting for his trial as a war criminal, though I think he deserves it, but seriously hope he “enjoys” the same type of retirement as Henry Kissinger and Augustin Pinochet, if not that of Slobodan Milosivec. Kissinger can’t travel to France and much of Europe because he’s wanted for questioning regarding things like the assassination of a Chilean diplomat in Washington DC. Pinochet, of course, has to pretend to be too sick or senile to be tried even in his native Chile.

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45540 Justin Gardner Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:35:23 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45540 Good catch everybody. I had missed that. Thanks for the links. Good catch everybody. I had missed that. Thanks for the links.

]]> By: Mike P. http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45502 Mike P. Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:00:49 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45502 Addington is one, however, it seems most of the liberal blogs have also pointed to the so called "Yoo Memo" ( http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/warpowers925.htm ) as the "source" of the Administration's claims to unbridled authority. Addington is one, however, it seems most of the liberal blogs have also pointed to the so called “Yoo Memo” ( http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/warpowers925.htm ) as the “source” of the Administration’s claims to unbridled authority.

]]> By: ES http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45471 ES Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:00:39 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45471 You had mentioned Mssrs. Gonzales and Addington as the architects of the administration of the 'new paradigm', but you had forgotten to list Mr. John Yoo. In yesterday's Op-Ed section of USA Today (link below), he again takes a swing for the 'new paradigm' against Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. Yoo was not forthright in his Op-Ed to why he has a dog in this fight. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-06-29-oppose_x.htm Thanks to various websites, Andrew Sullivan linking to TCS Daily (Bainbridge article), and it has a link leading to a FindLaw article about 'Unitary Executive' paradigm in the administration. I think this is the same as what you label as 'New Paradigm'. Ms. Van Bergen's article can be found at the following location - http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20060109_bergen.html You had mentioned Mssrs. Gonzales and Addington as the architects of the administration of the ‘new paradigm’, but you had forgotten to list Mr. John Yoo.

In yesterday’s Op-Ed section of USA Today (link below), he again takes a swing for the ‘new paradigm’ against Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. Yoo was not forthright in his Op-Ed to why he has a dog in this fight.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-06-29-oppose_x.htm

Thanks to various websites, Andrew Sullivan linking to TCS Daily (Bainbridge article), and it has a link leading to a FindLaw article about ‘Unitary Executive’ paradigm in the administration. I think this is the same as what you label as ‘New Paradigm’. Ms. Van Bergen’s article can be found at the following location -

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20060109_bergen.html

]]> By: Mashall Applewhite http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45466 Mashall Applewhite Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:40:40 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45466 To be perfectly honest, he scares me too, as I have read bits and pieces about him. To my knowledge, there weren’t any pictures of him until recently. Nobody knew what he looked like. The common personality trait between many people within this White House seems to be the same: the infallibility of the leader, indifference to law and order, totally hell-bent on the agenda based on ideology. It’s almost like a fanatical political religion. When Bush was elected in 2000 I figured we would get someone who governed with consensus like he supposedly did while Governor in Texas. Someone who, like his father, was more of a moderate Republican, which was willing to work with others and be more of a pragmatist. But I never expected them to act like this. Never in a million years would I have suspected them to be such fanatical ideologues with nothing but control and power on the mind. They are not Republicans in the least sense. They are not weary of power, they crave it even as they accumulate more of it. They are authoritarians down to the bone and sadly have more in common with Mussolini than John Locke at least in terms of ‘protecting’ the citizens. To be perfectly honest, he scares me too, as I have read bits and pieces about him. To my knowledge, there weren’t any pictures of him until recently. Nobody knew what he looked like.

The common personality trait between many people within this White House seems to be the same: the infallibility of the leader, indifference to law and order, totally hell-bent on the agenda based on ideology. It’s almost like a fanatical political religion.

When Bush was elected in 2000 I figured we would get someone who governed with consensus like he supposedly did while Governor in Texas. Someone who, like his father, was more of a moderate Republican, which was willing to work with others and be more of a pragmatist. But I never expected them to act like this. Never in a million years would I have suspected them to be such fanatical ideologues with nothing but control and power on the mind. They are not Republicans in the least sense. They are not weary of power, they crave it even as they accumulate more of it. They are authoritarians down to the bone and sadly have more in common with Mussolini than John Locke at least in terms of ‘protecting’ the citizens.

]]> By: A Moderate from South Dakota » Blog Archive » I Can Do Whatever Is Necessary, The Architect http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-45461 A Moderate from South Dakota » Blog Archive » I Can Do Whatever Is Necessary, The Architect Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:24:51 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/06/30/david-addington-and-ignoring-the-constitution/#comment-45461 [...] Donklephant has more details. [...] [...] Donklephant has more details. [...]

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