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November 15, 2009

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Letter: Citizens don’t seem to matter to White House

Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 | 5:42 a.m.

Regardless of what some lawyers say about the right of President Bush to declare war or start a war, if the United States is still a democracy, he must have a majority of the people behind him and permission of Congress. The latter are the people we elected to represent us.

Lawyers will find a loophole in the law of gravity if you pay them enough. The administration's view of our government's checks and balances seems to be getting out of hand.

Bush seems to look at the public as an obstacle to be avoided, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia has observed. We might add that Bush and Cheney also seem to consider Congress an enemy of the executive branch. "This kind of executive mentality can only emanate from the arrogance ... that believes the White House is the fountain of wisdom in Washington," Byrd said.

None of our allies seem to think that is true, and a growing number of ordinary citizens are beginning to resent being bypassed by White House leaders in deciding what is best for the U.S.A.

We don't need another unsupported Vietnam War.

PAUL GWIN

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