Inhofe Praises The ‘Unitary Executive Concept’ For ‘Enhancing Accountability’ Of EPA
Inhofe Praises The ‘Unitary Executive Concept’ For ‘Enhancing Accountability’ Of EPA
It was no surprise that during today’s Senate hearing on the Bush administration’s manipulation of global warming science, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) — a notorious global warming denier — defended the White House. Yet in his opening statement, Inhofe took that defense to the extreme, praising the “Unitary Executive Concept” and claiming it “enhances democratic accountability.” He declared that, since Bush has the right to tell his “subordinates” at the EPA to do whatever he wishes, Bush’s “censorship” of the EPA is “a nonissue”:
INHOFE: It can be argued that the “unitary Executive concept” promotes more effective rulemaking by bringing a broader perspective to bear on important regulatory decisions. It also enhances democratic accountability for regulatory decision-making by pinning responsibility on the President to answer to the public for the regulatory actions taken by his Administration. Therefore, I consider this debate over censorship within the Administration to be a nonissue.
Bush’s “unitary concept” — an effective stranglehold over the EPA — has empowered his administration to trample science in the name of promoting his own partisan, anti-environment agenda:
– At the behest of Dick Cheney, the White House eviscerated testimony on global warming by a CDC official, stripping all reference to the health problems associated with a boiling climate.
– By simply refusing to open an e-mail from the EPA on climate change, the White House effectively forced the EPA to reverse its position that global warming emissions constituted pollution that must be regulated under the Clean Air Act.
– Bush personally intervened to weaken EPA regulations on ozone levels, directly overruling the unanimous consensus of the EPA scientific advisory committee.
– The White House directly pushed EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to deny a state waiver to regulate auto emissions, in direct contradiction of the advice of EPA’s career staffers.
Though it may be a “nonissue” to Inhofe, it’s clear that under Bush, the EPA has morphed into the “Environmental Politicization Agency.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Is there No bottom to this well of Insanity? I know that everything’s got a price, but the well-being of the Planet? Is the President really counting so very much on the Rapture to save the ‘faithful’? Lord, let the country sane up and vote for effective, honorable politicians for a change, thanks!
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pmImpeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Unitary Executive enhances accountability?
That might be funny, if it weren’t so f ucking stupid.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pmCan someone explain to me how a “Unitary Executive Concept” (effictively, placing authority within the hands a single decision-maker, or “deciderer” if you will) brings “a broader perspective” to bear on decisions?
Maybe one of the trolls can translate for me. Twajie? Pee?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pmwhat a crock!
the ‘unitary executive’ is the antithesis of accountability.
Another name for it is dictator, or tyrant.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pmS
E
P
E
R
A
T
I
O
N
O
F
P
O
W
E
R
S
thought I’d spell it out vertically for the cognitively challenged senator from OkieDokey.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 pmINHOFE: It can be argued that the “unitary Executive concept” promotes more effective rulemaking by bringing a broader perspective to bear on important regulatory decisions.
By making one individual , and a colossally ignorant and stupid one at that , in charge of everything ????????
Inhofe would make Merry Ole England in 1775 , extremely proud , protecting the crown…….
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pmInhofe supports fascism.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pmShorter version – We want to break the law and make up our own facts without being held accountable for said crimes and lies.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmWikpedia sez “In American political and legal discourse, the unitary executive theory is a theory or doctrine of Constitutional interpretation that holds it is unconstitutional for Congress to create “independent” agencies, authorities, or other entities that exercise executive, and sometimes quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial, powers, governed by officials the President may be authorized to nominate, perhaps with the advice and consent of Congress, but he is not authorized to remove or discipline. It stems from an interpretation of the separation of powers and of Article II of the U.S. Constitution, that only the President is vested with the power to execute the laws in the executive branch.”
In other words, this bafflegab garbage states that Our Dear Leader can do whatever the f**k he pleases because some arrogant lawyer says so.
Let’s revisit the U.S. Constitution, please!!!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 pmInhofe is signalling the number of working brain cells in his head , along with the size of his unit………..
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:20 pmDear God, it just keeps going on. All I can guess is that we have been under “emergency rule” since 9/11 and Bush and his crime family are playing it for all it’s worth.
Make sure you do all you can to support Dennis Kucinich’s efforts this Friday. Make sure we all do everything we can to move impeachment into real hearings. I don’t care how late it is, we have got to take ack our government before there is nothing to take back.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pmack = back on #11 sorry
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:23 pmDefending dictatorship.
Disgusting.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:23 pmOnly someone who wishes for an imperial presidency supports the undocumented ‘unitary executive’ theory. The phrase does not exist in the Cosntitution or the Bill of Rights. The phrase was invented by the petulant dimwit curren;t squatting in our WH. His lawyers dreamed up the concept as a way to validate the permanent republican majority, and president as king. It is an unAmerican theory, absolutely opposite of what our founding fathers had in mind.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:27 pmbeat goes on, I thought you were channeling martian, as in Mars Attacks!
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:27 pmI’m reading the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich now, so the idea of a unitary executive takes on that special parallel universe feeling.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 pmUntiary eeezekitiv = Three co-equal branches – legislative, judicial, Cheneyive, all subservient to the eezekitiv, (in theory, that is. As we all know the Cheneyive branch is actually in charge)…
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:29 pmThe “Unitary Executive Concept” violates our Constitutional form of government. Period.
Only an idiot would think or say otherwise.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 pmLet’s see if he still feels that way when Obama’s President.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 pmNow there’s a surprise! Herr Inhofe, a champion of Cheney’s Censorship and Propaganda Program (CCPP).
Inhofe would be a natural dressed in a Nazi uniform and wearing a monocle.
He knows NOTHING!
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pmLivid Lib, he was awfully surprised to see guys running with the ball on the football field using his patented salute to push would be tacklers out of the way.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pmThe EPA isn’t the only federal agency politicized by Bushco. Just about all of them have fallen into the stranglehold of a dictator — oops, “unitary executive”.
I wonder how Inhofe and his ilk will feel about the “unitary executive concept” in six months when President Obama takes office? I predict they’ll be screaming like drama queens.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pmA clip out of a VERY good article about the unitary executive “concept” written by Jennifer Van Bergen:
‘Prominent among those in the movement to preserve presidential power and champion the unitary executive doctrine were the founding members of the Federalist Society, nearly all of whom worked in the Nixon, Ford, and Reagan White Houses.’
Isn’t Roberts (Supreme Court) a member of the Federalist Society?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pmEither the maggots finally digested Inhofe’s last brain cell or he is hanging his hat on the introductory phrase “it can be argued.” Technically, it can be argued that the Earth is flat and was created six thousand years ago — taken seriously, no, argued yes. Here is another guess that the concept of the unitary executive becomes less popular amongst the wingers as of the afternoon of January 20, 2009.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:39 pmIt also enhances democratic accountability for regulatory decision-making by pinning responsibility on the President to answer to the public for the regulatory actions taken by his Administration.
“Answer to the public”? Bush? That’s the funniest thing I’ve read in ages. It really must be upside-down world in Oklahoma.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pmCrap. I always knew he was retarded.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:44 pmThe ‘concept’ of a unitary executive is in direct contradiction of the founding father’s vision of a government in which checks and balances are used to prevent just such a concept from taking hold.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:44 pmOK Annie!! You apologize to all retarded people, right now!
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm:o(
Sowwy.
~A
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:46 pmI have to say – Inhofe is actually quite right about this:
The responsibility for the actions taken by this administration rests solely with the President and his enablers in the White House. And one day he will have to answer to the public for the destructive actions taken by the EPA and all the other agencies under his despotic rule.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 pmRU, may I please bring up Inhofe’s worship of Adolph Hitler as a great leader…?
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:48 pmOMG! After all this time I just figured out that Coburn and Inhofe are BOTH from Oklahoma. Has the EPA figure out yet what is in the drinking water in Oklahoma? We really need to quarantine that state.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:49 pmL.H. Annie, of course you may. And I was sort of teasing about apologizing, but to put Imhotep with that crowd just isn’t fair…{;>}
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 pmTuberculosis seems to forget a little phrase called
“OVERSIGHT”..
Jeebutz.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:59 pmHuh?
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 pmby pinning responsibility on the President to answer to the public for the regulatory actions taken by his Administration.
I’m trying desperately to remember any time that anything has been ‘pinned’ on this band of criminals…
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:01 pmIn other words, Tiberius, if the president does it, it is not against the law…?
OK. I see.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:01 pmAnnie, I’m sure that Hitler is grinning ear to ear over Imhotep’s worship of the chymp. From his fiery cave in the ninth level of hell.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 pmIt’s “Tiberius” now, is it?
Okay then.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:03 pmAnnie, can you really take a comment by a guy named after a river seriously?
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:03 pmTiberius Says:
Senator Inhofe is absolutely correct given that the EPA is an agency of the executive branch and the President is the head of the executive branch. Considering that any of you would jump all over the administration and hold it accountable for anything the EPA says, that same administration should have, and does have, control over what is said by its agency.
The administration is responsible for assuring that EPA staff do their jobs well, not for telling them what to say and not for skewing science to fit their ideology (or their corporate chums). This is a Republic, and the EPA is not a propaganda division of the Executive.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:04 pmThis guy seems to have a rather wide stance.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pmActually, Tiberius was another Roman emperor. Another “father figure,” no doubt.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 pmTiberius Says:
…administration should have, and does have, control over what is said by its agency.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I’m sure you’ll feel the same under President Obama.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 pmTiberius likes the wide stance. Just keep tapping and your Republican dreams will come true.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:08 pmI do not believe in a supreme being but if I did I would suggest that the Intelligent Designer have a recall of the Model Inhofe.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:08 pmReasons:
Complete failure of its moral and intellectual modem; lacking in mental restraints of fits of abject stupidity; failure to meet the most primate standard by which homo sapiens sapiens is recognize. Suggestion – recall and recycle and down grade to pig.
Tiberius Says:
Senator Inhofe is absolutely correct given that the EPA is an agency of the executive branch and the President is the head of the executive branch.
Our trolls really love them some man-love don’t they? All their monikers suggest an affinity for man on man love and devotion – which is why they love Bush (a man’s man). Geez, just how clear do they want to make their intentions?
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 pmKeep talking Jimmy. Every time you make a scene your poll numbers go down. Keep up your support for the gang of thugs who have deeply damaged our country and destroyed the GOP.
Has Jimmy decided which oil company he’s going to lobby for? Is he wishing he had resigned before the “new rules” took effect? Does he have enough stashed away to maintain his lifestyle during the one year waiting period? I’m sure the good voters of Oklahoma are thinking the same things.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:12 pmL.H. Annie, if I’m not mistaken,the emperor so named was named after the Tiber river… I’ll have to double chk that…
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:23 pmThis troll does seem to want to proclaim the US an empire, kinda like Emperor Palpatine, wouldn’t you say?
Please tell me who is running against this nut so I can send them money right away.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:27 pmBingo
Tiberius (Ti.) — from Etruscan Thefarie, probably from the river; common
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:28 pmRiverRat, PRESIDENT Obama won’t follow in the mold (literally) of your object of devotion, Herren Bush und Cheney. So go jump in your namesake, without flotation device, preferably.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:29 pmPlease identify the “hatred” in StratRat’s post. Seems to me all it is, is puzzlement over the easily-read subtexts in comments such as yours, Tiberius.
I see no hatred there.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:34 pmWell please, educate me.
What in StratRat’s text constitutes “hatred”?
I don’t see it. Help me out.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:38 pmEverytime Inohofe speaks, he gets dumber and dumber. Senator Inohofe . . . when did your advisors tell you that being a dodo-bird is on par with being smart?
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pmTiberius = Mr. P
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:43 pmCome on, Tiberius, I’m serious. I need some guidance on what demonstrates “hatred”.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:45 pmWow. James Inhofe and Tom Coburn both shamed in (almost) consecutive posts. Hey, Oklahoma! Get some new Senators!
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pmTiberius, how ’bout that lesson now?
I’m really anxious to learn.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pmI always thought that Alaska had the worst pair in the Senate with Teddy Stevens and Don (the Perp) Young. They may the crookedest two but Oklahoma has taken the clear lead on the biggest pair of AssKlowns in the Senate.
Must make those Boomer Sooners proud to be represented by these two.
WHOOOO!
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:13 pmupside, Don Young is Alaska’s Representative in the House.
Ted Stevens’ colleague in the Senate is Lisa Murkowski
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:16 pmInhofe is still allowed out in public?? I thought in Oklahoma there were still asylums that took him..shame…the man is so stupid…
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:18 pmRalph,
You are right, my Bad. Just that Young had been around almost as long as Stevens. (Brain Fart)
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 pmThe Unitary executive brings a “broader” perspective? That’s interesting. Sounds like our old friend Inhofe may be a fan of Lysenkoism. That worked out well for Stalin and the USSR.
I love it. Instead of actually scientifically determining how much toxin we can be exposed to before risk of health issues, we should just have the democratically elected executive use their broad perspective to settle the matter. That would work well. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since the Republican congress decided that they could make better medical decisions for Terry Schiavo than her husband and caretakers.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 pmI knew Inhofe flunked science, but he apparently didn’t do too well in civics either.
The genius of the US Constitution is that the founding fathers provided a series of checks and balances. Recognizing that any one group gaining too much power could misuse that power, the Constitution seperated power.
As this is too theoretical for Inhofe, let me point out that Saddam Hussein was a unitary executive. A banana republic dictator is the unitary executive. No matter how benevolent a lineage of kings, eventually one of them will overstep the good of the people. So apparently, Inhofe wants to go back to the British monarchy of the 1700s and pre-revolution France.
(I might add, that this is also my argument against the 2 party system. If one party gets too much power, they can misuse it. Over time, almost certain to happen)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 pmPlease send money to Inhofe’s opponent, Andrew Rice, http://www.andrewforoklahoma.com/
I don’t know him, but he sounds like a kind man who cares about the world and about our country.
Inhofe must go.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 pmINHOFE: It can be argued that the “unitary Executive concept” promotes more effective rulemaking by bringing a broader perspective to bear on important regulatory decisions. It also enhances democratic accountability for regulatory decision-making by pinning responsibility on the President to answer to the public for the regulatory actions taken by his Administration. Therefore, I consider this debate over censorship within the Administration to be a nonissue.
Wow, talk about drinking the Kool Aid. “Broader perspective,” “enhanced accountability,” from a dictatorship? That’s just nucking futs.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 pmArticle I, Section 8, Clause 18: {The Congress shall have Power…} To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
What the trolls and Bush-lovers fail to understand is that it is The Congress which decides how our government is to function. It is the duty of the president to carry out (i.e. “execute”) the laws passed by The Congress. And that includes responding to Congressional requests for reports. It is not an option. To do otherwise is to fail “to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” I do not believe that Bush has done anything in “good faith”, let alone carry out the law of the land.
Why is he still president?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:46 pmI have to ask every time I hear (R) (OK) Sen james Inhofe.
If he is like this and he represents the state of Oklahoma.
He has been re elected.
What are the people of Oklahoma like?????
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:58 amWhat are the people of Oklahoma like?????
Seriously confused????
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 amShouldn’t there be either urine samples taken or breathalysers before these guys vote or speak? Just to let us know whether to take them seriously or not.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:25 am