Downside of Living in an Echo Chamber
I am wondering if this performance represents a failure of Obama's staff to perform even the most rudimentary ideological Turing test. I am sure it has not been discussed on Lefty blogs, but it would take only the briefest perusal of center or Right news sources to guess that this would be the first and most obvious challenging question Obama would get on his Immigration decision. Is the President's staff simply not used to getting anything but softball questions? Or are they just incompetent?
And they likely will, though it remains to be seen how the new Repug Congress attacks the now 2-pronged issue: Obama’s illegal executive action, and immigration reform.
If they reverse whatever discretion Obama does have (assuming he does have some), and Obama vetoes, then you have more imperial Presidency, and possibly another Congressional lawsuit.
mesaeconoguy: If they reverse whatever discretion Obama does have (assuming he does have some), and Obama vetoes
That's the way the system works. Either override the veto, or elect a new president.
You have entirely failed to support your assertion that there is precedent, and that Obama’s contention – Congressional inaction – grants him discretion in this matter.
Accusations are not evidence.
Accusations of this kind better have evidence to back them up, and they do.
mesaeconoguy: You have entirely failed to support your assertion that there is precedent
Arizona v. United States: "A principal feature of the removal system is the broad discretion exercised by immigration officials. Federal officials, as an initial matter, must decide whether it makes sense to pursue removal at all... Discretion in the enforcement of immigration law embraces immediate human concerns."
mesaeconoguy: Congressional inaction
Congress acted to give the executive broad powers to protect the family unit. 8 U.S. Code § 1229b. Congress said removal can be cancelled if it creates an unusual hardship to spouse, parent, or child, who is either a citizen, or lawful permanent resident. That's why the executive action only applied to some undocumented aliens, and not others.
Congress can better address the issue, including those not under the executive order. That's up to them.
mesaeconoguy: Accusations of this kind better have evidence to back them up
That's what courts are for, but the accusation alone does not represent evidence.
No, that’s not how the system works.
The system works with functioning institutional resilience, which includes a working Senate, which we have not had in 8 years.
It also works with members who understand roles and boundaries within that system.
The Obama Administration has had none of that.
The Obama Administration has done more institutional damage to government than any other administration in US history.
It is likely irreparable.
Federal officials cannot override actions of states who are most impacted by federal inaction. The
President cannot simultaneously decide not to enforce extant law (and unilaterally change it), while simultaneously preventing States from enforcing it themselves.
The accusation would not have been made without evidence, given the seriousness of it.
"We provided statute and court rulings supporting our position."
Are you a hive mind? No wonder you support illegal aliens.
Yes, Zach is a narcissistic asshole who spews nonsense while referring to himself in the plural. He's too consumed by his megalomania to realize that he sounds like a pretentious and ignorant fucktard.