The end of divine rule by George W. Bush

Follow up: The Greater Ramifications

There are ramifications to yesterday’s decision regarding the Clean Air Act that surpass a mere decision regarding the issue of global warming and the role of the EPA. I consider this a significant casein that it has much to do with the system of checks and balances created by the framers of the U.S. constitution.

What has happened in this case, and in the greater arena of U.S. politics in general, is that the executive branch has overstepped its boundaries regarding the realization of the legislative intent of the clean air act. As the Supreme Court notes, the intent in enacting the Clean Air act was both exact and unambiguous. If you take the time to read the full published opinion in this case, the Supreme Court mentions on more than one occasion that the intent of legislature, or “Congressional design” , was stated clearly in this act. At one point it refers to the act’s “clear statutory command” and goes on to state that ”There is no reason, much less a compelling reason, to accept EPA’s invitation to read ambiguity into a clear statute”.

What we have here is a President, acting in his capacity as the head of the executive branch, trying to usurp the authority of Congress by directing the EPA to ignore their statutory mandates. This is in full defiance of the separation of powers in the U.S. and in this case the President was called on it.

One of the primary functions of the Supreme Court is to set forth guidelines for the judiciary in reviewing questions of law. In this instance the court has issued an opinion clearly rebuking this president for violating the law and the powers of congress. In this context I see this decision as having implications that permeate nearly every department and agency within the executive branch of government.

George W. Bush (or George II, the boy who would be king, as I refer to him) has since arriving in office attempted to control the government and media through fear tactics and abuse of his power over the agencies, divisions, and departments falling under his command. This behavior is clearly violative of the basic rules of government enacted by our founding fathers over two hundred years ago. I see this as the first significant step in taking our boy king off his throne. This opinion and its clearly stated warning to the EPA pave the road for other departments to act in defiance of executive manipulation and control over their lawful exercise of authority in a manner consistent with the laws of the land. The following months are likely to prove interesting indeed.

And in conclusion there is yet one more issue to present. Why has the mainstream press in the U.S. completely ignored the greater implications of this opinion? It seems that while Bush’s stranglehold of power over government is coming to its end his assertion of control over the media remains ever strong.