Saturday, January 27, 2007
Commander-in-Chief of what?
Garry Wills, in the NY Times, takes a look at Our Dear Embattled Leader's habit of referring to himself by that grand sounding, and NOT all encompassing, title.
The Constitution is clear on this: “The president shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States.”So we have a pipsqueak ODEL, who couldn't command an army of tin soldiers in a sandbox, telling us he can order us all because he presumes a title greater than it is in fact. It really is time to impeach the SOB.
When Abraham Lincoln took actions based on military considerations, he gave himself the proper title, “commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.” That title is rarely — more like never — heard today. It is just “commander in chief,” or even “commander in chief of the United States.” This reflects the increasing militarization of our politics. The citizenry at large is now thought of as under military discipline. In wartime, it is true, people submit to the national leadership more than in peacetime. The executive branch takes actions in secret, unaccountable to the electorate, to hide its moves from the enemy and protect national secrets. Constitutional shortcuts are taken “for the duration.” But those impositions are removed when normal life returns.
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