INTERVIEWER: So what in a sense, you're saying is that there are certain situations…where the president can decide that it's in the best interests of the nation or something, and do something illegal.
PRESIDENT: Well, when the president does it that means that it is not illegal.
INTERVIEWER By definition.
PRESIDENT: Exactly. Exactly. If the president, for example, approves something because of the national security, or in this case because of a threat to internal peace and order of significant magnitude, then the president's decision in that instance is one that enables those who carry it out, to carry it out without violating a law. Otherwise they're in an impossible position.
Remind you of anyone? Nope, it's not George "It's just a goddamn piece of paper" Bush. It's Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon discussing aspects of executive privilege in an interview with David Frost as it related to United States v. Nixon. Be sure to read the whole interview. I found the quote from Abraham Lincoln particularly interesting.
Funky Dung
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I know I should have some pithy commment. But really, I just want to go curl up in a ball and cry.
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Posted 27 Dec 2005 at 9:09 pm ¶Now I want to say this very carefully because I don't want to be taken out of context in what I am about to say. This post, the quotes, is almost exactly what I hear when Roman Catholics explain to me the infallibility of the Pope's office.
It's not the man, it's the office, but it is the man. Again let me repeat: this is what my ears hear when it is explained, and after years of hearing it I still don't understand.
I am becoming fast friends though with a Ukranian Catholic priest who was educated at the Vatican and is helping me make great strides in understanding Catholocism in general.
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Posted 29 Dec 2005 at 12:07 am ¶I know this comment is rather old, but I think it's worth answering. Any thoughts?
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Posted 04 Oct 2006 at 11:34 am ¶Post a Comment