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JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#107876: Jan 3rd 2016 at 7:39:01 AM

[up] I mean executive action in general, not just in the case of gun control.

edited 3rd Jan '16 7:39:14 AM by JackOLantern1337

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#107877: Jan 3rd 2016 at 9:09:03 AM

Just about anything until either Congress or the courts stop him - and he can get a veto over Congress.

In general, many of the existing functions of government are controlled by agencies under the executive branch, which often have lawmaking powers through what's called "enabling legislation." So, to name one of the most notorious examples (at least, notorious among Republicans), the EPA has the authority to make regulations (which have the force of law) regulating environmental matters and polllution. The EPA is under Presidential control (down a couple of levels from the President, but an order issued in the Oval Office will make its way down). So, as the current Congress believes that all evidence on global warming is a sign of liberal bias among scientists, they aren't going to pass any kind of laws targeted toward controlling global warming...but the President can order the EPA to make regulations that do so, and so bypass Congress.

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#107878: Jan 3rd 2016 at 9:13:28 AM

So basically the President is at this point effectively an elected monarch, given both the power and respect the institution commands. Mind you, given the insanity of our Congress, that is probably the thing that has saved us from ruin. I may not like Obama much, especially on foreign policy, but he's certainly better than having us run by the Republicans.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#107879: Jan 3rd 2016 at 9:18:27 AM

[up] He's head of the only branch of government that's able to get anything done in this era of total malfeasance by Republicans in Congress. That is something that the Founders envisioned.

edited 3rd Jan '16 9:19:24 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#107880: Jan 3rd 2016 at 9:27:57 AM

[up] I'm not saying it's a bad thing, Obama is using this power only after trying every other alternative, and while he may be close to a monarch, he is an elected one, and one who has term limits.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#107881: Jan 3rd 2016 at 9:34:58 AM

The key is that the terrorists up on Oregon are armed and seem to crave a Waco-style end to the situation. A might different from a peaceful sit-in.

Of course, the Obama Administration almost deserves this for being so soft on them down at the Bundy ranch, but the optics are far different here, it's not armed personnel on a private residence defending somebody from a subpoena and summons, it's armed individuals trespassing and threatening sedition and destruction of government property.

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#107882: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:07:06 AM

[up][up]The problem with said elected monarchy is that a lot of us are damn scared of the prospect of the Don getting the job.

We saw an example of why in 2006, when the shoe was on the other foot. Congress had told Bush to get the fuck out of Iraq, Bush said no, leaving the Democrats with two choices: either let things keep going, or try something suicidal like defunding the army in mid-war (at which point a coup d'etat would not be off the table).

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#107883: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:23:36 AM

I thought they were a bunch of "Freemen on the land" Sovereign Citizen types who think that any laws they don't agree with are invalid.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#107884: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:28:35 AM

[up] Pretty much this, yes. Which makes them a direct political challenge to the Federal government — a literal armed insurrection. Any outcome that does not end up with them dead or jailed is a lose for the nation.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#107885: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:47:10 AM

My parents are convinced Obama has been issuing too many executive orders

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#107886: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:47:38 AM

Keep in mind that leftist groups have pulled similar stunts and have been praised as heroes, such as AIM's occupation of Wounded Knee, an incident that did lead to a shootout.

[up] He is, but he has been left with little to no choice. He has tried every alternative to this and has been rebuffed.

edited 3rd Jan '16 10:48:17 AM by JackOLantern1337

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#107887: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:50:26 AM

@ Fighteer: So you'd welcome the Air National Guard using the visitor centre for target practice?

Keep Rolling On
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#107888: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:52:39 AM

Hasn't he still issued less than W at this point?

EDIT: Clinton put out 364, W put out 291. Barry's on 216 as of August 2015.

edited 3rd Jan '16 10:54:08 AM by Deadbeatloser22

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#107889: Jan 3rd 2016 at 11:00:55 AM

[up]You're acting like they care about facts.

Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#107890: Jan 3rd 2016 at 11:04:06 AM

Plus, they'll also ask for an explicit source instead of someone posting in a forum. And after that I expect they'll just move the goalposts in some way- "Well, Obama did more of THIS and THIS than any other president"

edited 3rd Jan '16 11:04:53 AM by Xopher001

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#107891: Jan 3rd 2016 at 11:24:43 AM

So some twitter folks have named the armed occupiers "Y'All Qaeda". I lol'd.

Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#107892: Jan 3rd 2016 at 11:40:07 AM

I think we need to invent safe Knockout Gas already

Maybe get then exhausted(loud usic and such)and hit them with a low dosage of the stuff that exists?

edited 3rd Jan '16 11:42:20 AM by Joesolo

I'm baaaaaaack
FieldMarshalFry Field Marshal of Cracked from World Internet War 1 Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Field Marshal of Cracked
#107893: Jan 3rd 2016 at 11:49:49 AM

at the very least turn on Grindr in their general area...

advancing the front into TV Tropes
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#107894: Jan 3rd 2016 at 12:25:53 PM

West Baltimore remains a shit hole. Holly hell. I am honestly half convinced that we should deploy the national guard to the place. Just about anybody could do a better job of running it than the current governments of that city, and the state of Michigan.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#107895: Jan 3rd 2016 at 1:25:29 PM

@Greenmantle: Let's put it this way: I would not cry over their corpses. I don't advocate the Federal government adopting a "shoot first" mentality when dealing with this sort of situation, but a "surrender or die" ultimatum seems warranted here.

edited 3rd Jan '16 1:27:07 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#107896: Jan 3rd 2016 at 1:53:47 PM

Actually killing them would likely just antagonize the others. And, as many have said, we really don't need an insurgency at home, even one that would likely petter out quickly.

Now if they start killing people, by all means, but otherwise it'd be unneeded.

Honestly, right now the most they are really doing is squatting and yelling a lot.

I'm baaaaaaack
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#107897: Jan 3rd 2016 at 1:59:43 PM

[up] With guns, on federal property.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#107898: Jan 3rd 2016 at 2:01:19 PM

[up][up][up][up]Damn that graffiti is just a couple of blocks away from where I used to live.

edited 3rd Jan '16 2:02:00 PM by AngelusNox

Inter arma enim silent leges
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#107899: Jan 3rd 2016 at 2:07:23 PM

[up] I'm so sorry.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#107900: Jan 3rd 2016 at 2:07:32 PM

@jack I'm not saying they're right. Just that there's not in the way of crimes. It's a situation that you can really just let stew.

Honestly they should have cracked the fuck down at the ranch. Full on Show off force, had Nat guard helicopters fly the cattle out before they knew what happened, or something similar.

edited 3rd Jan '16 2:09:33 PM by Joesolo

I'm baaaaaaack

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