Conference speaker Norman Ornstein, in “Checks and Balances? The President Has Few, if Any,” Roll Call, posted Dec. 21, 2005

The Bush approach to presidential power is simple, straightforward and clear: “L’etat, c’est moi.” As conservative constitutional scholar Bruce Fein puts it, even King George III would blush at asserting this level of bald, unchecked power. But the way in which the president is handling the revelations of secret wiretaps on Americans—unapologetic, and promising to continue doing it—makes it clear that this is just what the president believes. (posted Dec. 21, 2005)