Conservative lawyer Bruce Fein: Impeach Bush and Cheney

Since taking office in 2001, the current President has used his executive powers to bypass more than 1100 laws.

Here’s just one example: When Congress passed an amendment barring cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of detainees in American custody, President Bush attached a ''signing statement'' onto the measure, noting that he could interpret the amendment as he saw fit with his constitutional authority as commander in chief.

Last year, The American Bar Association approved a resolution condemning Bush's practice of changing the legislation he signs into law.

And then there are executive orders. On July 17, Bush issued an executive order blocking property of certain persons who threaten stabilization efforts in Iraq. On Friday, the ACLU issued a warning about the order, saying although it is aimed at supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, its sweeping provisions pose risks for American citizens and humanitarian workers in Iraq. The order allows the Treasury Department to freeze the funds of anyone who indirectly threatens the peace or stability of Iraq, or who undermines efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform.

The signing statements and executive orders raise many questions about the constitution, checks and balances, international law, and civil liberties.

Bruce Fein, a conservative constitutional lawyer, says it’s time for Congress to rein in Bush’s abusive actions. He says the Democrats are allowing Bush to trash the Constitution because most of them know nothing about the Constitution and are concerned only with making headlines about minor issues and getting themselves reelected.

Bruce Fein served as associate deputy attorney general under President Ronald Reagan. Today he is a constitutional lawyer at Bruce Fein & Associates and chair of the American Freedom Agenda, an organization devoted to restoring check and balances and protections against government abuses. He’s also coming out with a new book called, “Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle of Our Constitution and Democracy.”

Bruce recently wrote an article for Slate calling for the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

Dr. Phillip Cooper, law professor at Portland State University and author of “ By Order of the President: The Use & Abuse of Executive Direct Action.” Philip Cooper argues that President Bush and his legal team have been quietly working to concentrate ever more governmental power into the White House.

Bruce Fein and Phillip Cooper were on my radio show today. Listen here.