I saw this story on the Onion a couple of days ago…
WASHINGTON, DC—President Bush announced Monday that his administration will permanently sever ties with the democratically controlled United States Congress, ending a nearly 220-year-old alliance between the two governmental branches.
"Our administration no longer recognizes the authority of this rogue body," said Bush in a televised Oval Office address. "Clearly, these combative men and women have a political agenda in direct opposition to our own. They have no concern for my national interests, and have left me no choice."
After six years of cordial relations between the executive and legislative branches of government, tensions flared up in January when Congress came under the control of "hostile new leadership." After a dramatic standoff last week over American policy in Iraq, the president openly denounced Congress, refused to accept calls from majority leaders, and returned Congress–approved legislation unsigned and unread.
Funny stuff, huh? Then I saw this one, NOT from the Onion (it's from USNews)…
With President Bush unable to get much traction so far in moving his agenda through Congress or in improving his job-approval ratings with the public, White House advisers are casting about for ways to jump-start his final two years, including issuing executive orders to get things done without having to ask for support from the Democratic-controlled Congress.
"He should get a list of the executive orders for the last 200 years, as a guide, and choose what he wants to do," says an informal Bush adviser. One proposal that fiscal conservatives are pushing is to halve all capital-gains taxes, as a way to encourage investment and job creation.
Some conservatives argue that even if Bush somehow regains his political footing, whatever he might work out with the Democratic majority in Congress wouldn't be very good legislation, so he should go the executive-order route and bypass Congress altogether.
So what does one do when yet again, satire emulates reality?
Executive Orders (wiki) are about as meaningful as Presidential Signing Statements, meaning they have no real influence, until you examine the content, intent, subjects, and sheer volume that this Presidency has used them to assert, maintain, and consolidate power in the Executive Branch. Yet another constitutional crisis - but what will the new majority do? Also what will the new minority, faced with the prospect of a Democratic President and the loss of more seats in 2008, do to keep Congress relavent?
You can find more on Executive Orders and Directives at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) site, and the US Federal Register.
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