The Imperial Presidency

[ihaveaquestion]

[J_William_Ryan]

1. The Imperial Presidency

It’s true that the Framers had a blind spot with regard to political parties, where the rise of parties eroded and undermined the ability of the legislative and judicial to check the executive.

Indeed, it was the intent of the Framers that the executive – although co-equal to the other two branches of government – be ‘less co-equal,’ that the president would serve solely as an administrator, devoid of a partisan agenda.

The rise of the Imperial Presidency and advocacy of unitary executive dogma since the post-war period established the foundation for the potential and capricious authoritarian abuse of power by presidents.

The wrongheaded assumption was that presidents would use their unlimited power and authority in accordance with the law and Constitution, a kind of benevolent dictator, failing to anticipate the ignorance and stupidity of the voters to install the likes of Trump in the White House – a wannabe despot and autocrat.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. CNN: George H.W. Bush was the exact political opposite of Donald Trump

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/01/politics/george-h-w-bush-donald-trump-republican-party/index.html

George H.W. Bush was the exact political opposite of Donald Trump

Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
6 minute read Updated 11:41 AM EST, Sat December 1, 2018

CNN — George H.W. Bush would never have been elected to anything in the modern Republican Party.

It’s not because the former president, who died at age 94 last November, wasn’t a “real” Republican. Bush believed in lower taxes, a smaller federal government and a robust military – the general principles that, until the last few years, have defined modern conservatism.

It’s because of Bush’s approach to politics. He was not a fire-breather. His first instinct was not to vilify anyone who disagreed with him. He believed in the idea that good people can disagree. He saw compromise as a reasonable goal of government.

In the modern parlance of Republican politics, Bush’s gentility would be read as insufficient commitment to the conservative cause. He would be labeled a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) for his dalliances with Democrats on policy.

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[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Federalist Papers 9, 10 & 51

https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-1-10#s-lg-box-wrapper-25493272

The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
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https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-1-10#s-lg-box-wrapper-25493273

The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
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https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-51-60#s-lg-box-wrapper-25493427

The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments
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