POLITICS - American Gov't Checks & Balances

[t.r.]

There is a lot of tension on the net regarding Mr. Obama. I've read many far fetched forecasts of gloom if he becomes elected.

Let's be positive and factual for a little change:

- Senate must agree on Presidential appointments for Judges and Cabinet members.

- Congress can VETO any legislation.

- Supreme Court can nullify or void any unconstitutional Executive Orders.

Typically, the President can not appoint either extreme liberal or extreme conservatives to Judicial positions. The same is true of his agenda. Congress has only supported moderate leadership and neither extreme can be successful. Without the support of Congress, the President becomes a glorified Head Clerk for the Executive Branch.

USA survived Clinton and came out with our liberties intact.

Let's have a positive discussion centered upon our Constitution and Bill of Rights for a change.

TR

[505stevec]

Thats what I like... A positive Attitude. Obama is an idiot and we will dearly pay if he gets in office.

[Duff L Bagg]

A positive Attitude.........I am positive that if Oboma is elected he will do everything that he can to wrench every gun you own from your hands with the help of Chucky shumer, Di-Fi, and Puke-losy. Is that positive enough?

[Charles]

t.r. Your post is a breath of fresh air, here in the Land of Chicken Little. This great republic has survived some really bad presidents over it's history and it can survive another from either party. The system of checks and balances does work, has worked and will work again. Thanks again for your word of sanity.

[Ysabel Kid]

Are not we allowed to expect better than this neophyte?

Fact: Obama's positions and voting record are the most extremely leftist of any past contender with a decent shot at the Presidency.

Fact: The MSM wants Obama to win, and the Dem's to enlarge their majorities in the House and Senate.

Fact: The SCOTUS is balanced on a razor's edge, with Justice Kennedy being the swing vote. He is completely unreliable - to both sides. His judicial opinions are inconsistent and immature - at best.

Fact: Despite the lowest approval rating in history, the Dem's in Congress are likely to pick up additional seats in both chambers this fall - and perhaps enough to ensure a supermajority in the Senate. Given the number of RINO's in both chambers, conservative's will not be able to block anything.

Fact: A Dem majority in the house will not vote to override anything Obama vetoes. I would seriously doubt there will be much if any vetoes between a Dem-controlled Congress and Obama.

Yes, the Republic has survived much in the past, but that has been as we remained true to our Founding Father's vision. As we continue to move away from it and towards socialism, we continue to risk not only our freedom, but that of all future generations. History has taught us - painfully - that freedom lost is extremely hard - and usually very costly - to regain.

Obama's economic policies will sink this country into a depression if enacted. We can hope that a Dem-controlled Congress would realize this, but I don't think they care. They do care about growing power and attacking their enemies (i.e. - business, "the rich", etc.). The more people on the public dole, the more voters they have.

I have faith in our country, most of it's people, and it's basic system of government. I must say that I detest the bureaucracy it has become and those in it - the politicians and lawyers - that only seek to expand it at the detriment to the people.

[The Lewis]

But then how will the sky come falling down?! IF Obama gets elected and IF the congress deepens it's liberal majority than there will be two years of potential nastiness but then if they do anything really stupid I have faith that we will vote the rascals out of congress just like we did to Clinton. Congress are really the ones effing things up, one day the people will figure that out and march on their sorry behinds.

[AJMD429]

Our Republican legislators don't have the spine to oppose socialism, and the news media labels anyone who points out any flaws in his ideas as a "racist."

[Old Ironsights]

Congress doesn't VETO anything.

The President has the VETO power. Congress creates &/or kills bills through Procedure.

[J Miller]

Yes, we have or had checks and balances in our government. But the scales balance beam has been jarred off center and doesn't work anymore.

If Obama and more democrats get elected to the government, we are in for a real bad time. Then it will get much worse.


Joe-who just broke his promise not to post on political topics.

[t.r.]

I feel that it is a false assumption to believe that Democrats are united to promote un-constitutional reforms. My observations are that Democrats are largely fragmented on many issues. The extreme LEFT often gets the most media attention but the middle ground Congressmen are certainly in the majority.

Republicans are not entirely united either. Many cases in recent years where Republicans have voted "against the party".

Partisan politics have severely hampered many debates and discussions about what is best for America. Whether this will continue is open to conjectures and opinions.

Congressmen in the House of Representatives are elected to 2 year terms. Those that ignore their home districts have quite often been replaced rather dramatically. The number of Representatives is based upon population.

Congressmen in the Senate are elected to 6 year terms. But the elections are staggered so that only 30% are elected at a given cycle. Once again, Senators who ignore the electorate are replaced. Each state has 2 senators.

In summary, I hope that I can convince doom & gloom Americans that our system of government is not perfect, but we have checks and balances to ensure Constitutional integrity while providing THE PEOPLE many chances to voice their concerns through public debate and within the voting booth.

TR

[J Miller]

t.r.,

You seem to be very optimistic. Just for my curiosity, how long have you been voting and following what's happening in our government?

I've been voting since I turned 18 in 1970, and I'm one of the younger ones here. I've seen the steady unending slide to socialism and eventually communism happening in this country. I've watched our government become so left oriented that to find a true conservative, you have to look outside of the government.

It's good to be optimistic, but don't ignore what's happening right in front of your eyes.



Joe-who broke his promise again. Shame shame

[Andrew]

It' ok Joe, we'll let it slide today.

Well I've not been following what's going/went on for very long, but, I do have a decent idea of what I like. What's going on, ain't it.

[k8bor]

What scares the heck out of me is him drumming up support from outside the US. I get a little worried that something is going to scew(sp?) out of round somehow because of it. In my estimation, his lack of respect for the flag or his lack of enthusiasm for being connected with it is what worries me. Talk about a "world order"?

Just my 2%. Personally, I'm going to do everything I can to keep him from being elected.

But then, this is from a guy that thinks the UK isn't very far off from the ""V" for vendetta" way of life. I've been voting since 1968. It's a completely different country than I grew up in, and my current lack of recognition keeps me on the edge.

Sorry, the subject just pulls my trigger............. I AM worried. I have 6 grandkids and keep thinking about what they're going to have to deal with.

[Gun Smith]

Let's not forget what a congressman does for a living. Run for office! He/she will do, or say, anything to be reelected.

[FWiedner]

Levergunners are so cute when they get idealistic.

Checks and balances only work when the responsible entities take responsiblity for their assigned duties and are not directly politicallly aligned with the goals of the other governmental branches. The Legislature surrendered power to the Executive several years ago, and the Judicial has no hesitation against legislating from the bench. The Executive has forgotten who pays the bills.

T.R. dude, yer tryin' to pick it up from the clean end.

[t.r.]

I understand the frustrations with American politics. I am also dismayed by the power of organized liberal media and huge spending special interest groups. I agree that many elected officials are very focused upon pleasing their largest campaign supporters with little or diminished regard for the electorate.

I am not a Democrat nor have ever been. I voted in presidential elections for 1st time in 1976. Before that, I had no interest in elections. But I've voted every election since 1976.

If Obama is elected, I'm absolutely convinced that Constitutional Checks & Balances will prevent him from accomplishing the doom & gloom forecasts that are so prevelant on the net.

You're allowed to disagree. (politely)
TR

[rjohns94]

I am with YK and Fweidner on this one. T.R. - you and I have been voting the same length of time. This election is like no other in history. Surely that can be seen. With a possible two Supreme Court appointments and Democrats sitting as Chair of all the committees, A democratic Senate and House ready to confirm, A president that cares nothing of America who is run by a wife who cares even less, we are in for some very scary times. On one issue, taxes, my household stands to have an increase of over $20,000 in taxes a year. I don't have it available. How many do? On the military - When Clinton was in office, top Military officials resigned over the bungling policies. Force reductions left our country vulnerable, an enemy unchecked and the US weakened. I know, I was there in the commands where those policies hit hardest. Fast forward to 911. The results of such policies. If Obama is elected, the effects and cuts are going to be much worse. The first 100 days of his presidency will be the most productive. Without the checks and balances a split house would give, Obama will destroy our lives as we know it. 2nd Amendment rights will be ignored, taxes will be placed, businesses will be told what they must do with their profits. Your retirement income will be taxed, your sale of homes will be taxed, Your inheritance will be taxed, all doubling in taxes or more. I drive 52 miles to work. I chose not to live in a state that taxes my retirement income. Now Obama wants to go after that income. With gas prices and increased taxes, I won't be able to afford to drive to work! The checks and balance system does not work anymore. Govt spending is through the roof. The supreme court does not defend the constitution, it legislates. The executive branch abuses its power, and if thats not enough, it creates more power for itself under false pretenses. We aren't playing with the same deck of cards as in the past. On top of all of this, we have an enemy that has declared war on us, to kill all of us until we believe what they believe. We have put God out of the schools, and public places, and now off the $1 coin. We have open borders that drain our resources. We are no longer producers, having outsourced that to many foreign countries. Our trade deficit is out of control. Our dollar is weak. And we have Obama who is going to further all of those trends. I see no positive and no hope in the check and balances that don't exist.

[t.r.]

Mike:

I agree with your summary of "what's wrong with America".

My biggest worries:

- Congressman are overly influenced by special interest PACs and desiring to be attractive to media players.

- Vast majority of Americans receive their view of candidates from TV sources. Opinions and so-called issues are shaped by media. Yet newspapers, magazines, and TV station ownership has become centralized with only a handful of owners. This condition is not helpful to our Republic. Limited media reporting and shaping of opinions borders upon being Fascist.

- Ten Commandments are widely criticized by media. Yet these God given statutary limitations upon human behavior are the basis for Common Law. I prefer to perceive these Commandments as a fence to keep evil out instead of a fence to inhibit happiness of those within this fence.

There are many Democrats and Republican Congressmen that will unite against Fascism if Obama tries that route to make a power play. Please do not under-estimate the power of Congress.

Can McCain defeat Obama? This is a question that remains to be answered by motivated citizens at the polls. Perhaps we should all become involved with "get out the vote" type of local campaign support.

TR