The American Press is given a Civics Lesson

[Vambram]

Stephen Miller gave the White House press corps a "civics lesson" on presidential powers at Thursday's press briefing, to the delight of conservatives.
The White House deputy chief of staff for policy responded to a question comparing media concerns about Elon Musk serving as an "unelected bureaucrat" while ignoring former President Joe Biden's declining mental state.

"You’re tempting me to say very harsh things about some of our media friends," he began. "It is true that many of the people in this room for four years failed to cover the fact that Joe Biden was mentally incompetent and was not running the country."
"It is also true that many people in this room who have used this talking point that Elon is not elected fail to understand how government works. So I’m glad for the opportunity for a brief civics lesson," he continued.

"A president is elected by the whole American people. He’s the only official in the entire government that is elected by the entire nation, right? Judges are appointed. Members of Congress are elected at the district or state level. The Constitution, Article II has a clause known as the Vesting Clause. And it says the executive power shall be vested in a president, singular. The whole will of democracy is imbued into the elected president. That president then appoints staff to then impose that democratic will onto the government."
Miller went on to describe what he felt was the true threat.

"The threat to democracy, indeed the existential threat to democracy, is the unelected bureaucracy of lifetime-tenured civil servants who believe they answer to no one, who believes [sic] they can do whatever they want without consequence, who believes they can set their own agenda no matter what Americans vote for," he said. Miller went on to call out FBI, Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department bureaucrats who "don’t want to change" despite Americans voting in favor of radical reform.
"What President Trump is doing is he is removing federal bureaucrats who are defying democracy by failing to implement his lawful orders, which are the will of the whole American people," he concluded.

Stephen Miller calls out WH press for ignoring Biden's decline, gives 'civics lesson' on presidential power

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller answered a question about people insisting Elon Musk is an “unelected bureaucrat" in the Trump administration.

www.foxnews.com

 

[civilwarbuff]

Stephen Miller gave the White House press corps a "civics lesson" on presidential powers at Thursday's press briefing, to the delight of conservatives.
The White House deputy chief of staff for policy responded to a question comparing media concerns about Elon Musk serving as an "unelected bureaucrat" while ignoring former President Joe Biden's declining mental state.

"You’re tempting me to say very harsh things about some of our media friends," he began. "It is true that many of the people in this room for four years failed to cover the fact that Joe Biden was mentally incompetent and was not running the country."
"It is also true that many people in this room who have used this talking point that Elon is not elected fail to understand how government works. So I’m glad for the opportunity for a brief civics lesson," he continued.

"A president is elected by the whole American people. He’s the only official in the entire government that is elected by the entire nation, right? Judges are appointed. Members of Congress are elected at the district or state level. The Constitution, Article II has a clause known as the Vesting Clause. And it says the executive power shall be vested in a president, singular. The whole will of democracy is imbued into the elected president. That president then appoints staff to then impose that democratic will onto the government."
Miller went on to describe what he felt was the true threat.

"The threat to democracy, indeed the existential threat to democracy, is the unelected bureaucracy of lifetime-tenured civil servants who believe they answer to no one, who believes [sic] they can do whatever they want without consequence, who believes they can set their own agenda no matter what Americans vote for," he said. Miller went on to call out FBI, Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department bureaucrats who "don’t want to change" despite Americans voting in favor of radical reform.
"What President Trump is doing is he is removing federal bureaucrats who are defying democracy by failing to implement his lawful orders, which are the will of the whole American people," he concluded.

Stephen Miller calls out WH press for ignoring Biden's decline, gives 'civics lesson' on presidential power

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller answered a question about people insisting Elon Musk is an “unelected bureaucrat" in the Trump administration.

www.foxnews.com

 

[A2SG]

I guess we'll see how this civics lesson holds the next time a Democrat is elected President.

-- A2SG, seems to me the conservative attitude toward the judiciary and unelected bureaucrats was a bit different during the previous administration....

 

[FireDragon76]

The Unitary Executive is a crackpot legal theory. The actual Constitution requires oversight of the Executive by the first branch of government... Congress.

 

[Vambram]

The Unitary Executive is a crackpot legal theory. The actual Constitution requires oversight of the Executive by the first branch of government... Congress.

The actual Constitution requires three branches of the federal government that are all co-equals in overall power, thus giving us a balanced form of power.

 

[Fantine]

Biased opinions aren't "lessons." They're just so much hot air.

 

[Vambram]

"The threat to democracy, indeed the existential threat to democracy, is the unelected bureaucracy of lifetime-tenured civil servants who believe they answer to no one, who believes [sic] they can do whatever they want without consequence, who believes they can set their own agenda no matter what Americans vote for,"

@Fantine

What's your take on this opinion about the unelected bureaucracy?

 

[rjs330]

The Unitary Executive is a crackpot legal theory. The actual Constitution requires oversight of the Executive by the first branch of government... Congress.

Then I guess we are good then because Congress is behind him so far.

 

[Fantine]

@Fantine

What's your take on this opinion about the unelected bureaucracy?

I believe it's another gross exaggeration of the Trump Administration who seeks to replace this "unelected bureaucracy" with and "unelected oligarchy--" Musk and a cabinet of billionaires, from Bessent to Lutnick to McMahon and others.

The unelected oligarchy have gotten to their positions of power IRL by placing profits before people, often ruthlessly and callously. If you have worked for big corporations (I haven't but my husband has been in management in several) you quickly learn what the corporate values are (or aren't) and how insignificant people are in relation to profits.

Governmental leaders are supposed to be "servant leaders," following the example of Jesus (in secular terms, a role model of compassion and healing.) The unelected oligarchy has the role model of money--and most if not all of them have probably lobbed off thousands of employees, purchased and repackaged companies leaving thousands out of work, etc. And they think it is right because their duty is to maximize profits.

So my take on the unelected bureaucracy is that it is hundreds of times more moral, ethical, and governmentally appropriate than its replacement (as you will soon discover, to your sorrow.)

For more information on the right kind of leadership, check out Goodreads reviews of "Jesus, CEO." Jesus Christ, CEO

 

[Vambram]

So my take on the unelected bureaucracy is that it is hundreds of times more moral, ethical, and governmentally appropriate than its replacement (as you will soon discover, to your sorrow,.)

It should come as no surprise to you that I absolutely and 100% disagree very strongly with your conclusion.

 

[Fantine]

It should come as no surprise to you that I absolutely and 100% disagree very strongly with your conclusion.

My conclusion comes from my strong belief that people must come before profits, and that government is in business to serve the people of America by creating opportunity for all--through a strong middle-class, laws that prioritize living wages and work-life balance, educational opportunities, and laws that provide support for constitutional rights.

This is the kind of government Eisenhower had in the 1950's--and it insured widespread prosperity--not top down income inequality that somehow never reaches the rest of us.

These are the kind of values that are good for America.

 

[Vambram]

My conclusion comes from my strong belief that people must come before profits, and that government is in business to serve the people of America by creating opportunity for all--through a strong middle-class, laws that prioritize living wages and work-life balance, educational opportunities, and laws that provide support for constitutional rights.

This is the kind of government Eisenhower had in the 1950's--and it insured widespread prosperity--not top down income inequality that somehow never reaches the rest of us.

These are the kind of values that are good for America.

Unfortunately, with the unelected bureaucracy, we have seen that there are far too many government workers who are either incompetent, too politically biased, ... or both!

 

[wing2000]

Then I guess we are good then because Congress is behind him so far.

A Congress in name only.

 

[wing2000]

Steven Miller portends to give a civics lesson?

Is that a joke?

 

[rjs330]

A Congress in name only.

Lol, just because they happen to agree with the president's actions that he's entitled to take it's in name only? Does oversight mean oppose to you?

 

[wing2000]

Lol, just because they happen to agree with the president's actions that he's entitled to take it's in name only? Does oversight mean oppose to you?

Some examples of Republicans giving up their Congressional power:


House Republicans leaders also quietly surrendered their chamber’s ability to undo Mr. Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China in an effort to shield their members from having to take a politically tough vote. That switched off the only legislative recourse that Congress has to challenge the tariffs that are all but certain to have a major impact on their constituents.

Republicans have also stood by, many of them cheering, as the administration has upended federal departments and programs funded by Congress and fired thousands of workers with no notice to or consultation with the lawmakers charged with overseeing federal agencies. So far, no congressional committee has held an oversight hearing to scrutinize the moves or demand answers that would typically be expected when an administration undertakes such major changes.

Under G.O.P., Congress Cedes Power to Trump, Eroding Its Influence

On spending, oversight and other issues, Republican lawmakers have willingly ceded power traditionally reserved for Congress to the Trump White House.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Pommer]

Lol, just because they happen to agree with the president's actions that he's entitled to take it's in name only? Does oversight mean oppose to you?

The Constitutional system we live under, assumes that Congress would fight to maintain those powers ceded to it by the Constitution.

By allowing the Executive Branch to assume the power-of-the-purse, Congress abrogates their duties, putting the Institution in peril of losing it forever.

 

[rjs330]

Some examples of Republicans giving up their Congressional power:


House Republicans leaders also quietly surrendered their chamber’s ability to undo Mr. Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China in an effort to shield their members from having to take a politically tough vote. That switched off the only legislative recourse that Congress has to challenge the tariffs that are all but certain to have a major impact on their constituents.

Republicans have also stood by, many of them cheering, as the administration has upended federal departments and programs funded by Congress and fired thousands of workers with no notice to or consultation with the lawmakers charged with overseeing federal agencies. So far, no congressional committee has held an oversight hearing to scrutinize the moves or demand answers that would typically be expected when an administration undertakes such major changes.

Under G.O.P., Congress Cedes Power to Trump, Eroding Its Influence

On spending, oversight and other issues, Republican lawmakers have willingly ceded power traditionally reserved for Congress to the Trump White House.

www.nytimes.com

What they are doing is agreeing with the president. It appears to me that oversight means oppose to you. They are only exercising oversight if they oppose.

I know you oppose what the President is doing. I hate to break it to you but Congress doesn't. As we saw during his speech. The majority in Congress is utilizing their oversight to signal that they support his actions and as time goes on they will work to pass laws which further supports them. Oversight complete.

 

[rjs330]

By allowing the Executive Branch to assume the power-of-the-purse, Congress abrogates their duties, putting the Institution in peril of losing it forever.

The Executive has done no such thing. The Executive still gets its money from Congress. That hasn't changed. Congress still has the power of the purse. What makes you think otherwise?

 

[wing2000]

The Executive has done no such thing. The Executive still gets its money from Congress. That hasn't changed. Congress still has the power of the purse. What makes you think otherwise?

As you probably know, the White House believes they have the power to pause funding that has been authorized by Congress to spend on a specific purpose. Their aim is to pause funding until the target agency or function is simply defunct. USAID, Dept of Eduction, etc....

While this matter is decided in the courts, great harm has already been done to multiple government agencies.