Ex-congressman says ideals took detour
Mickey Edwards says ideals took detour

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By Jane Glenn Cannon
Published: April 4, 2008

NORMAN — A president who believes he is above the law and a Congress that supports that position are eroding the Constitution and the principles upon which the country was founded, former Oklahoma Rep. Mickey Edwards said this week.

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"I worry considerably, deeply, in fact, whether the Constitution matters anymore,” Edwards said.

A Republican and "Reagan conservative,” Edwards represented the Oklahoma City area in Congress for 16 years, from 1977 to 1993. In the 15 years since, Edwards said, he has watched the emergence of "a new type of conservatism,” a type he calls "not conservative at all.”

Instead, he said, the current administration has overstepped its bounds, ignored the checks and balances imposed by the Constitution and "basically, taken the position the president doesn't have to obey the same laws that you and I do.”

While much of his criticism is aimed at President Bush, Edwards said, "that's because he's the president in the box right now, but what's happening now is the culmination of growing trends.”

‘The biggest threat'?
Edwards is the author of a new book, "Reclaiming Conservatism: How a Great American Political Movement Got Lost — and How It Can Find Its Way Back.” He spoke Wednesday as part of the Josh Lee lecture series at the University of Oklahoma about his book and why he decided to write it.

For 40 years, Edwards said, he has been called a conservative leader, "but ‘conservative' has come to stand for ideas and policies that are the antithesis of what conservatives once stood for.”

Conservatives were once the strongest advocates for American liberties and constitutional guarantees, he said, "but today, they pose the biggest threat.” When a president signs a bill into law, "it is the law. It is binding on me and you. But this president says, ‘I don't agree that I necessarily have to abide by it.'”

President Bush and/or members of the executive staff have ignored congressional mandates 1,100 times, Edwards said, "and that's not just rhetoric.” Edwards said the count comes from a study done by the Government Accounting Office.

The president and his staff have cited "executive privilege” as the reason for not following congressional mandates, Edwards said.

The Constitution provides for "executive privilege” to allow a president to communicate with his staff in private, Edwards said, "but this administration has extended executive privilege to mean communication between any members of the executive branch, whether the president is involved or not.”

Edwards also criticized "patriot” laws that allow the government to wiretap residents without a court order.


 


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Today's American people are a wonderful people, but they are unwilling or unable to democratically construct a government worthy of themselves. The leaders must do this, with or without the Constitution, Kevin. So far, these attempts have failed. The Bush-Cheney non-democratic form of government is as inadequate as the Lyndon Johnson form. So not just any old non-democratic form of government will do. Jerry, I don't think Mickey Edwards is irrelevant, because he symbolizes many people who are still believe in the myth of a democratically chosen and efficient government. They need to be won over, not ridiculed. One people, one empire, one leader: this is not easily achieved, but nothing else seems to work.
dee, oklahoma city - Apr 4, 2008 at 2:30 pm
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I wonder if the Constitution matters anymore either. It has been withered by fear mongering politicians and sheep-like citizens falling for their every calling.
Kevin, Shawnee - Apr 4, 2008 at 10:01 am
Mickey Edwards is irrelevant,past and present.
Jerry L., Guthrie - Apr 4, 2008 at 9:36 am
Hooray for Mickey Edwards, who not only genuinely represented this district but was actually an articulate spokesman for old fashioned conservatism. If today's so-called conservatives can't have a Bush they'll support a Clinton. Oklahoman Republicans went overwhelmingly in 1980 for Bush, against McCain, and this year's Oklahoma Democrats went overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton over Obama. What's the difference ..... Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. My only criticism of Mickey Edwards is that he still believes democracy can provide an effective and efficient government. It cannot. We need another way, and one WITHOUT today's "conservatives."
earl, oklahoma city - Apr 4, 2008 at 9:10 am
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