What Do You Do When You Lose Your Rubber Stamp?

No wonder he's the Decider. Now that the Repubs no longer have a majority in either Congressional branch, the Prez is simply claiming new powers for himself. Everybody's linking to today's article in the New York Daily News, which reveals Bush's bold assertion in a signing statement that, without a warrant, he can open any mail he deems it necessary to open. The irony is that he did this in a signing statement issued when he signed "Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act," which protects mail form invasions of privacy.

It's not like the Prez is going behind our backs to do any of this. He issued the signing statement two weeks ago when he signed the bill, and it can be found right on the White House site. Here's the relevant paragraph:

The executive branch shall construe subsection 404(c) of title 39, as enacted by subsection 1010(e) of the Act, which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection.

This statement was issued on December 20, but an (admittedly quick) Google News search found that only Donklephant caught it before the Daily News. Congressional Democrats say they'll look into the matter, but we've all got to be vigilant to keep an eye on precisely what powers the Prez may be claiming.

PS--While I was writing this, I heard a local TV news broadcast tease this story by saying, "Find out why the government can now open your mail." That's so completely not true. Despite the fact that he's asserting the authority, the Prez does not have that authority. I suppose someone will finally have to challenge these signing statements to prove that they don't carry the weight of law, but until then, aside from the administration's insistence otherwise, there's no reason to believe that they do.