Declaring himself dictator

In a stunning repudiation of such constitutional principles as divided government, checks and balances, and limited powers, Bushco has given itself the authority to ignore the law whenever it sees fit:

President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.

Among the laws Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative-action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, ''whistle-blower" protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally funded research.

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Many legal scholars say they believe that Bush's theory about his own powers goes too far and that he is seizing for himself some of the law-making role of Congress and the Constitution-interpreting role of the courts.

Phillip Cooper, a Portland State University law professor who has studied the executive power claims Bush made during his first term, said Bush and his legal team have spent the past five years quietly working to concentrate ever more governmental power into the White House.

Glenn Greenwald has a much more legally informed take than I'm able to offer, but I'll parrot his assertion that the traditional media may finally be waking up to this naked power grab. However, if the Rubber Stamp Congress or the judiciary aren't willing to beat back this executive encroachment upon their respective legislative and interpretive authorities, we may as well call constitutional government in the United States DOA.