Nixon & Obama

Reasonable conservatives can disagree on the best strategy for dealing with Obamacare or the best approach to immigration reform. But regardless of the approach one may favor, few would entertain solutions that circumvent the Constitution.

We live in a constitutional republic, and respect for the rule of law is a principle that has united Americans since our founding. In response to the abuse of power that the colonies suffered under the British monarchy, our Founding Fathers created a system of government that divided power and instituted checks and balances so that no single branch of government could rule on its own.

During the Watergate years liberals certainly understood that, as did the media. Republicans initially dismissed criticism of Nixon's "imperial presidency" as crass partisanship. But Nixon was eventually forced out of office because both Republican voters and officeholders concluded that unacceptable lines had been crossed.

We face a crisis today of presidential lawlessness that makes Nixon look like an amateur. That may seem like hyperbole, but the fact that two of America's premier commentators -- Charles Krauthammer and George Will -- felt compelled to address the topic this week speaks volumes about Obama's imperious actions.

Their columns outline the degree of the president's lawlessness in language that is uncharacteristic of either man, and both suggest that such behavior represents a threat to the republic. As Krauthammer concludes:

"At stake is not some constitutional curlicue. At stake is whether the laws are the law. And whether presidents get to write their own."

What Next?

Unfortunately, given the division in Congress, there is not much we can do about these things now. There are legal remedies, but the courts take time. The legislative branch can sue the executive, and it has won a few of these cases. But as Will and Krauthammer detail, there are too many things going unaddressed.

In fact, the situation is so bad that Senator Marco Rubio used Obama's lawlessness as an argument for the Senate's quasi-amnesty legislation.

During an interview this week, Sen. Rubio said, "I believe that this president will be tempted, if nothing happens in Congress, he will be tempted to issue an executive order like he did for the DREAM Act kids a year ago where he basically legalizes 11 million people by the sign of a pen." (Senator, you and I need to have a long talk. That is not a good argument for a bad bill.)

Political leaders on both sides of the aisle should be doing everything possible to elevate the issue and bring it to the public's attention at every opportunity. The late Robert Byrd (D-WV) was not afraid to criticize Obama for his abuse of power, and we need some national Democrats to do the same.

In the meantime, every Republican should be prepared to fold this issue into every answer whenever they are being interviewed or are speaking publicly. For example, when talking about immigration reform, simply say, "We're trying our best to reach a just solution. But let me add this -- no president has the authority or the right to institute amnesty by executive order."

This is not a mere policy dispute, but a fundamental principle about how America is governed. Whether you liked Nixon or not, whether you like Obama or not, America is a nation built on the rule of law. No president has a right to unilaterally make or ignore our laws.

Muslim Brotherhood Targets Egypt's Christians

Last night ABC News surprisingly led its coverage of the chaos in Egypt by noting how Muslim Brotherhood mobs were attacking churches and Christian homes. Let me remind you that the mobs now burning churches throughout Egypt are made up of the very people that Obama is demanding be brought back into the government.

When the Arab Spring came to Cairo two years ago, the media waxed eloquent about the crowds gathered in Tahrir Square. Many were pro-Western youth eager to escape the restrictions of the Mubarak regime. But they lost the elections to Islamists, led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Now the mobs in the streets protesting the government are Muslim Brotherhood extremists and the media appear to be siding with them.

The fact that the Muslim Brotherhood was elected means little. When anti-democratic forces win elections bad things will happen. Hitler and his Nazi Party were democratically elected to power in Germany. Hamas won the elections in Gaza. Elections are the result of democracy, they are not a cause of it.

Big Brother Fears

There is a breaking story today in the Washington Post and other news outlets alleging routine violations of privacy rules by the NSA. Many of these incidents appear to be accidental. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of such violations guarantees continued scrutiny of the entire program and it will be attacked by the libertarian right as well as the activist left.

This disclosure, along with other recent revelations about DEA and IRS cooperation with the NSA, raises new concerns and strongly suggests that a second look may be needed to ensure this program designed to protect us has not become a threat itself.

There must be a way to monitor Islamists and radical mosques without monitoring average Americans.