Frustrated Obama's message: I'll go it alone
By Tom Curry, National Affairs Writer, NBC News - January 26, 2014
When he stands before lawmakers Tuesday night for his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama will have a message for the divided Congress that has largely stymied his agenda for the past three years: Fine, Ill go it alone.
Ive got a pen, Obama has said in the weeks leading up to the speech, and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward.
Many of Obamas big policy goals have ended up stranded in limbo between the Democratic-controlled Senate trying to advance his agenda and the Republican-led House bent on stopping him.
And, heading into a midterm election year, he faces lame-duck status unless his party can regain control of the House this November.
Frustrated with the Capitol Hill quagmire, the president is increasingly turning toward the power of the presidency to try to solidify his legacy. Obama has pledged to act, saying, We are not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure that were providing Americans the kind of help that they need.
"The president sees this as a year of action, to work with Congress where he can and to bypass Congress where necessary," White House press secretary Jay Carney told ABC News Sunday.
...
Executive orders and directives
Based on what Obama and his aides have said in the run-up to the State of the Union, its likely that he will seek to test the limits of what he can do through executive orders and directives to federal agencies.
...
But congressional Republicans are on a high state of alert for what they see as Obama intrusions on congressional law-making power.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., warned Sunday that when the executive branch tries to assume the legislative powers, that that's a form of tyranny.
...
Frustrated Obama's message: I'll go it alone - NBC Politics
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Would you like some Vaseline with that dictatorship?
By Tom Curry, National Affairs Writer, NBC News - January 26, 2014
When he stands before lawmakers Tuesday night for his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama will have a message for the divided Congress that has largely stymied his agenda for the past three years: Fine, Ill go it alone.
Ive got a pen, Obama has said in the weeks leading up to the speech, and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward.
Many of Obamas big policy goals have ended up stranded in limbo between the Democratic-controlled Senate trying to advance his agenda and the Republican-led House bent on stopping him.
And, heading into a midterm election year, he faces lame-duck status unless his party can regain control of the House this November.
Frustrated with the Capitol Hill quagmire, the president is increasingly turning toward the power of the presidency to try to solidify his legacy. Obama has pledged to act, saying, We are not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure that were providing Americans the kind of help that they need.
"The president sees this as a year of action, to work with Congress where he can and to bypass Congress where necessary," White House press secretary Jay Carney told ABC News Sunday.
...
Executive orders and directives
Based on what Obama and his aides have said in the run-up to the State of the Union, its likely that he will seek to test the limits of what he can do through executive orders and directives to federal agencies.
...
But congressional Republicans are on a high state of alert for what they see as Obama intrusions on congressional law-making power.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., warned Sunday that when the executive branch tries to assume the legislative powers, that that's a form of tyranny.
...
Frustrated Obama's message: I'll go it alone - NBC Politics
------------------------------
Would you like some Vaseline with that dictatorship?
