Quote:
Originally Posted by mikesouth
If this president was around in a different time he'd have been executed for treason.
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I'd disagree about this statement. We have had Presidents do much worse. Remember that Lincoln and Grant both suspended Habeas Corpus under their power. Even Clinton put a wrench in it after the Oklahoma City bombings.
As for other powers, remember that we've had Sedition Acts in this country for most of its existence. We had Presidents denounce Native Americans as lesser beings, forced them to move West, and locked up or hung any Americans who associated with them. We had President's make laws barring poor whites from conversing with blacks and even drinking from the same fountain. They didn't allow women to vote or even own property, and wars that required drafts allowed the rich to buy their way out.
Our rights have been trampled on throughout this country's existence. Heck, we technically don't even elect our own President. I think you can point to any point in time in our country's history and find a President or government trying to eliminate or reduce someone's rights.