A President Trying to Work the Levers He Still Possesses

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/us/politics/congress-and-economy-limit-obamas-domestic-agenda.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=a%20president%20trying%20to%20work%20the%20levers&st=cse

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine
Date: Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 9:06 AM
Subject: re: A President Trying to Work the Levers He Still Possesses
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:
  The power to tax and the power to spend and the power to stimulate are powers of the US Congress. On this, our constitution is clear. An intransigent opposition can deny our President progress on the economy for partisan gain.  The President however remains our Chief Executive, and the department of Justice reports to  him.  As sympathetic as we are to his frustrations with Congress, we still look to him to deliver the promised change. Let him show us the prosecution of torturers. let him tell us who among us were subjects of warrantless wiretaps. Let him dismantle the Bush/Cheney machinery of fear. Let him do this now, because it has always been in his power. Then we'll give him a second term in office, and a loyal Congress that can get his agenda passed.
Barry Haskell Levine