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Addington: Unitary Government? Wha's That?

After grilling John Yoo on the possibility of burying suspects alive, the great, grumpy committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) turned his attention to David Addington to question him on the Unitary Theory of the Executive, something Addington should know something about, oh, considering that was his primary justification for torturing terrorism suspects:

Conyers: Do you feel that the Unitary Theory of the Executive allows the President to do things over and above the stated law of the land?

Addington: The Constitution binds all of us, Congressman, the President, all the U.S. members of Congress, all of the federal judges. We all take an oath to support and defend it. I frankly don't know what you mean by the Unitary Theory of Government. I dont -

Conyers: Have you ever heard of that theory before?

Addington: Oh I have, I've seen it in the newspapers all the time-

Conyers: Do you support it?

Addington: I don't know what it is.

Conyers: You don't know what it is.

Addington: No, and it's always described as something Addington's the great, you know-

Conyers: I see.

We know. It's great, but it's even better in color:


25 Comments

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I know noothink! NOOTHINK!

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Wow, what an attitude--a touch of the ol' Walter Sobchak.

"I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I DON'T ROLL ON SHABBOS!

Must be nice to think so highly of yourself that you can condescend to members of Congress. Is there an award for most arrogant testimony to a congressional committee?

Oh, also: this guy seems like he's awfully comfortable with lying.

They ought to call the Sergeant of Arms right in the middle of this f*k fest, arrest the bastard, and then procedure to waterboard the f*k out of him on national TV.

Despicable.

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Article II Section 1

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

It doesn't say all. It doesn't limit Congress' ability to limit the executive branch.

obviously, the "all" is understood by Addington.

He is basically redefining the Constitution.

The fun part will be when Obama (or a future President) uses the Unitary Executive to enforce environmental laws.

Can't wait to see the Republicans reaction to that!

(snark, BTW. I don't want to see Obama do anything of the sort, nor do I think he will)

The fun part will be when Obama (or a future President) uses the Unitary Executive to enforce environmental laws.

There is a bit of danger in that, though. The whole concept of unitary government is flawed. It's not OK just because you agree with the guy who would be wielding the power, or how the power would be used.

While I agree that it would be priceless to see the looks on their faces... it would ultimately be a bad thing.

Ahh, how nice it must be to wrap yourself in the Constitution, while at the same time shitting in it.

I love it. He's basically saying "I don't know what the THEORY is, but it's a FACT that the Constitution grants ALL executive power in the President."

I would have liked to hear some follow up questions:

Do you believe the Constitution grants the President the power to lock up people indefinitely and torture them?

Has Addington been asked that before?

You know why I love these little clips of testimony? Not because these guys will ever be made to pay for what they've done to our country (they won't), or because we are watching members of Congress standing up to set the record straight (they're not) and state for all the world what is right and wrong about our government (again not), but because no matter how well one reads into what is said in print about the cool arrogance of these guys running roughshod over our country's principles, it is simply mindblowing to see it for one's self in living color. A pic is truly worth a thousand depositions. It's infuriating and scintillatingly entertaining at the same time.

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Can't somebody break out of the gallery and just smack Addington around for a bit then claim temporary insanity overcame them? Said insanity being brought on by the guy whose recollection of trips to Guantamo is fuzzy, too...like he's been to Sandals so many times how can he count them, it's not too memorable a place.

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Addington probably objects to the word "theory" since he doesn't think of it as such. To him it is the Unitary Executive not the "theory" of it.

They lame ass bastards don't have the guts to stand up in public and state what they actually believe because they know it's radically outside the mainstream even for the right wing.

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Addington is the most arrogant individual I have ever seen.

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Another gutless, spineless chickenhawk shilling for an imperial presidency.

The founding Mothers and Fathers would have burned his house to the fucking ground - hopefully with him in it.

Note the dodge -
Q: Can the President to do things over and above the stated law of the land?

A: The Constitution binds all of us.

So implicit in the answer is that the laws do not bind, except as the Constitution makes us. And you can always appeal to the Constitution to ignore a mere schmeer law.

so can we charge Sargent schultz with perjury ???

that's really all you need to know

if we can prove he knew about this last week, and then suddenly doesn't remember it this week, wegot this fucker on a perjury rap

that's the same story scooter libby tried to sell a jury.

scooter knew something on june 25th, and then claimed he "Learned it again as if it were new" on july 15th

and the jury didn't believe him

what did addington know, and when did he know it

anyone else drunk right now from playing the congressional testimony drinking game?

"Al-Qaeda watches CSPAN!"

"Well if they do, they certainly know who you are now"

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Bush said the Constitution was just a goddam piece of paper. In the Bush administration, you're either with them or against them. Addington's with them. Ergo, to Addington, as to Bush, the Constitution's just a goddam piece of paper.

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Re: Addington

Wow - what an abhorrent human being.

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Someone needs to remind this uppity little peon fathead fuck this he is and will always be nothing more than a little bitch boy cabin slave burueacrat. On your knees boy!

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A swift repeated fungo bat to Addington's forehead would be pleasing, but perhaps illegal. Does he live in DC? Independent reporters of Arab descent should constantly wait outside and request interviews.

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The diabolical goofball is promoting his 4th branch veep notions today, too.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/26/addington-executive-branch/

!---->A pic is truly worth a thousand depositions. It's infuriating and scintillatingly entertaining at the same time.

That is the purpose of all this embedded infotainment, the Banality of the Spectacle. Glad you are enjoying the show. I personally don't enjoy it. It's sad and people are dying all around the world because of it.

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Is it just me, or during these kinds of hearings is anyone else wanting a Congressman--any Congressman--to ask:

"So, Mr. Addington, please tell me: have you always been a penile-encephaleptic, or is it something you had to study?"

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Article II, Section 3:

... he [the President] shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed...

That's the clause that the late Barbara Jordan threw in Richard Nixon's face a long, long time ago.

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