Richard B. Nugent: “I agree with much of what my colleague from Massachusetts said, particularly as it relates to our involvement in…”

“I agree with much of what my colleague from Massachusetts said, particularly as it relates to our involvement in Afghanistan and the Karzai regime. Let me read you some quotes, Mr. Speaker, and let's see who we thought said these quotes: The power of what has begun to be termed the Imperial Presidency grows, and the ability of our Democratic institutions, especially the Federal legislative branch to constrain it, seems more uncertain. The next quote: We are a coequal branch of government, and if our system of checks and balances is going to operate, it is imperative that we understand how the executive branch is enforcing or ignoring the bills that are signed into law. And: We are talking about a systematic extra-constitutional mode of conduct by the White House. The conduct threatens to deprive the American people of one of the basic rights of any democracy, the right to elect Representatives who determine what the law is, subject only to the President's veto. That does not mean having a President sign those laws but then say he is free to carry them out or not as only he sees fit. Another quote: I believe it is in all of our interests to work together to rein in any excesses of the executive branch, whether it is in Democratic, Republican, or even Libertarian hands. Lastly, I will suggest to you that all those quotes I just read were from a highly respected Democrat, Mr. Conyers, talking about the George W.…”