Political loathesomeness

[DesertFox]

Walter Williams

Do any of the prospective nominees of either party deserve respect from the American people? The answer partially depends on your knowledge, values and respect for the U.S Constitution.

When either Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or John McCain take office, they are going to place their hand on the Bible and take the oath, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

It will be a phony affirmation, but what's worse is that the chief justice of the United States, who administers the oath, and the average American will believe the new president.

You say, "Hey, Williams, that's a pretty tall charge! Explain yourself." There's a measure introduced in every Congress since 1995, by Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., called The Enumerated Powers Act that would require that all bills introduced in the U.S. Congress include a statement setting forth the specific constitutional authority under which the law is being enacted.

The Enumerated Powers Act currently has 44 co-sponsors in the House. In the Senate, it has never had a single co-sponsor, and that's a Senate that includes our three presidential aspirants. The question one might ask is why would Sens. Obama, Clinton and McCain have a distaste for, and fail to support, a measure binding them to what the Constitution actually permits?

There's a two-part answer to that question. First, few congressmen, including our presidential aspirants, have the integrity, decency and courage to be bound by the Constitution

More (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2008/04/09/political_loathsomeness)

[BuckeyeMike]

The last President to take that oath and mean every word of it was Ronald Reagan.
Few before him and none after. Best be checking their other hand when they are swearing their oath......bet you're gonna find crossed fingers.

[MaximumSam]

While I disagree with Williams' assessment of the general welfare clause, I totally agree with the idea that all federal laws must detail how they comport with the Constitution.

[BarkleUSA]

I'm guessing every bill in Congress under The Enumerated Powers Act would conveniently fall under the "promote the general Welfare" clause found in the preamble.

It's vague enough that any and all medaling that Congress does could be categorized as "promoting the general welfare" - of course the preamble is not among the enumerated sections so maybe it doesn't count.

If they had to tie every bill to something actually enumerated then only defense spending and border enforcement spending would be valid.

[DoctorDoom]

The federal government seldom assumes new authority without the consent of the governed. The bloated, uncontrollable, unaccountable monstrosity in WDC exists because there are tens of millions of blind fools who LIKE to have someone take care of their pathetic asses instead of making their own way in life.

Give government any excuse to assume control and it will do so. When the voters discovered that they could receive largesse from the federal treasury if they elected panderers, they voted them in without a second thought, and government eagerly responded. As a result, the welfare/dependency class is a major part of the reason for the $2.4 trillion federal budget.

If the fedgov were restricted to constitutional functions, liberalism would die. For that reason, the Congress will never pass the Enumerated Powers Act. Their cushy, functionless, unproductive jobs would be at risk.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

The federal government seldom assumes new authority without the consent of the governed. The bloated, uncontrollable, unaccountable monstrosity in WDC exists because there are tens of millions of blind fools who LIKE to have someone take care of their pathetic asses instead of making their own way in life.

Give government any excuse to assume control and it will do so. When the voters discovered that they could receive largesse from the federal treasury if they elected panderers, they voted them in without a second thought, and government eagerly responded. As a result, the welfare/dependency class is a major part of the reason for the $2.4 trillion federal budget.

If the fedgov were restricted to constitutional functions, liberalism would die.

:claps: :claps: :claps: Absolutely! Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[DesertFox]

Well, I don't know that anybody but God has absolute power, and I don't think God has gone corrupt on us; but I can certainly agree that power corrupts, and a lotta power corrupts a lotta. :D

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Smarty-pants, :smirk: