Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Mary Lou Tringali, PhD's avatar

Exactly on target, Sir! You know first hand how government should work, and over your illustrious career, you’ve seen the “good, bad, and ugly.” But these last years were a mockery of our constitutional republic. The government has been strangled and only a few elitists were able to change the will of the people. Finally, January 20, 2025 saw a change that actually gave voice to minds and wills of the populace. In just two weeks, Trump has brought forth more good changes than we saw in the last four years. As you wrote about your metaphoric sword, I can see it shiny and bright, as it had been tarnished and gritty. May it stay shiny again and blind those who would try to tarnish it with lies and abuse.

Expand full comment
A. Thomas Kozubal's avatar

Good piece, Sir! I was curious about how presidents have played this 'game' of 'Executive Order Ping Pong' over time. I found an interesting statistic: The eight presidents from 1901 to 1952 issued an average of 207 orders per year (FDR [obviously!] was the winner by far). By comparison, the eight presidents from 1981 to the present issued an average of 38 per year. Source: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/executive-orders, accessed February 4, 2025.

Now, I am the first to admit that variables abound as to why the numbers are what they are. But I also have to admit that every president has had a reason to, as President Obama famously noted, use his "telephone and pen."

America was fundamentally transformed in the FDR era, and I would argue not for the better. So, I agree: use Congress as designed ... and make the average number of orders ZERO. That would be constitutional, methinks. 😉

Expand full comment
7 more comments...

No posts