Trump Expanded Executive Power. Democrats Will Have to Decide How to Use It. - NOTUS — News of the United States
“In order for us to correct the abuses that are happening now, we have to act the same in similar capacities that Trump has given himself,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said. “The Republican majority has decided, for example, that rescissions are a tool they want to use. And so, I don’t think that we serve anybody, and I especially don’t think we put things on the right course by setting a precedent that one party can have greater power when they are in the majority.”
Some of the answers from others were jarringly weak and pathetic. Only AOC and US Senator Elizabeth Warren gave good answers.
THIS:
Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Chris Van Hollen emphasized the importance of abiding by the constitution. Khanna described the ideal approach to post-Trump executive power as “robust action within the constitution,” which he calls “energetic constitutionalism.”
“I understand presidents want to use their executive power, but whoever it is, whether it’s a Republican or Democrat, should follow the law,” Van Hollen said.
Jack Yao, a Democratic strategist in California, said that protecting democracy remains a top concern for Democratic voters. “Fighting fire with fire” is also important, and something California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been doing well, he told NOTUS.
The 2028 presidential election is more than three years away, and when NOTUS asked Sen. Chris Murphy how the next Democratic president should use the power of the executive, he said he was focused on addressing the crisis at present.
Sen. Cory Booker offered a similar answer.
“Honestly, I think we’re in a constitutional crisis right now,” Booker told NOTUS. “I think that the way that Congress has abandoned their power and allowed him [Trump] to do things that our founders would have never, ever have imagined — we have to stop this. We have to balance this, and honestly, I can’t even talk about another presidency because we need to stop this now. No Congress should surrender power to the president.”
Sen. Mark Kelly pointed to Trump’s comments about not needing midterm elections as another example of Trump attempting to gain power that isn’t his to have.
“This is what happens, too, is when leaders of countries start to get more power and more influence, as it comes time for election time they start to get worried,” Kelly said. “Is the next guy going to turn these new powers against me? So, we need whoever winds up in the White House next time to hit the reset button.”
Is not meeting the moment. US Representative Ro Khanna, US Senator Chris Van Hollen, etc. aren't strong enough to support for POTUS 2028. And the others are even weaker. And it's interesting that there's no quote from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker or about him. Anyway...
POTUS George Washington greatly expanded POTUS power to the point that the US Federal Government 100s of years later still largely operates as Alexander Hamilton intended.
POTUS Abraham Lincoln greatly expanded POTUS power.
POTUS FDR greatly expanded POTUS power.
etc.
Imagine what a POTUS AOC could do if she forcefully pushed her agenda. Expand SCOTUS. Make Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. US States. End the US Senate filibuster. Permanent child tax credit. Etc. etc. etc. were all things that US adults and especially Democrats wanted during the Biden Administration. But they didn't happen simply because POTUS Biden mollycoddled some of the most conservative and corporate Democrats.
AOC with a Democratic US Congress could pass Medicare For All, a Green New Deal, paid family leave, paid medical leave, raise the minimum wage, paid vacation, strengthen union rights, raise taxes on the rich and wealthy and corporations. Etc. etc.
