Can someone in the press please ask McCain whether or not he agrees with his new Deputy Communications Director when he says that the President has "n
June 1, 2008

Can someone in the press please ask McCain whether or not he agrees with his new Deputy Communications Director when he says that the President has "near dictatorial powers"? Please?

Glenn:

Bill Kristol today proudly announces that one of his Weekly Standard staff members, Michael Goldfarb, was just named the Deputy Communications Director of the McCain campaign. Last April, this newest McCain official participated in a conference call with former Senator George Mitchell, during which Mitchell advocated a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. Afterwards, this is what Goldfarb wrote about what he thinks are the powers the President possesses in our country:

Mitchell's less than persuasive answer [to whether withdrawal timetables "somehow infringe on the president's powers as commander in chief?"]: "Congress is a coequal branch of government...the framers did not want to have one branch in charge of the government."

True enough, but they sought an energetic executive with near dictatorial power in pursuing foreign policy and war. So no, the Constitution does not put Congress on an equal footing with the executive in matters of national security.

After eight years of a President who literally believes in this -- and, indeed, proves it on a near daily basis -- shouldn't it be newsworthy that his Republican successor is, at least, surrounding himself with people who thinks it's a good idea?

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