Quote:
Originally Posted by Lamplighter
Was it Nixon or Cheney or who(?) that said something like: "If the President says it's lawful, it is legal."
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That was how Nixon justified Watergate. It was probably a last straw that caused many Nixon extremists to consider backing away from the President. It eventually made possible a vote for his impeachment.
Yes, Cheney also used that reasoning. Justified by 'findings' that said even torture was good and acceptable. Unfortunately, many Americans also agreed, without doubt, with Cheney.
What has changed? Our extremists in government are greater in numbers, power, and gall.
Back during Watergate, this 'Imperial Presidency' is why Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren demanded a unanimous vote against Nixon. He worried that even an 8-1 vote would encourage the military to move against the court on orders from Nixon. Many forget back then how much concern existed for overt challenges to Constitutional law. "Imperial Presidency' was part of a larger fear. The Supreme Court had to consider even (least likely) alternatives such as a military occupation of the Supreme Court. Because Nixon's "Imperial Presidency" said a president's 'findings' were automatic laws.