The lawsuit being brought against the president contends that Mr. Obama has committed overreach of his office in executing executive orders. However, that's not really what the suit contends because as Former White House Counsel Suing the President Kathy Ruemmler pointed out, the Speaker hasn't actually filed a specific complaint so maybe he still has standing but it's on shaky ground.
We've become accustomed to Republicans in Congress taking every opportunity and avenue available at anytime to try and derail any policy achievement by the president or Congress itself. The Republicans are using this strictly as a campaign season tactic to weaken the president attempting to make him toxic campaigning for other Democrats, which they are free to do and it could be effective. However, what they do not see is that once again, their image will take a definite hard hit the longer it were to go on ultimately not helping their cause.
Republicans will make the last two years of Mr. Obama's presidency difficult without a doubt - sans lawsuit or not - but they'll will suffer for it because as well because when they take things as far as they do, they are unwise in their execution, just like they were with Ted Cruz and the government shutdown. They basically punched themselves in the face with that.
During the round table, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) pointed out that the president can not just delay the employer mandate for a year by executive order for example. And to answer to the rarity of the move, the congressman explained that historic action was needed because of this president's historic overreach. The congressman also needed to be reminded by Andrea Mitchell that Congress' recourse against such actions is that it has the power of the purse.
With that bit of weak hyperbole, we agree with Ms. Ruemmler that the suit is frivolous. Not because we think that the president didn't attempt to reach beyond what he is allowed to as the president - we would say that's actually part of his job description and what president Democrat or Republican hasn't done that? It's frivolous because it's not constructive only adding to the American people's frustration with Congress. Realistically, the speaker has no standing.
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The Bill Clinton Interview - Excerpts
First, it's not a big deal to use the expression 'dead broke,' but it is a big deal when you're name is Hillary Clinton. However, Bill Clinton as he does so well explained her way out of it. It's a 'momentary reaction' he explained that takes away from the real question of what to do about the economy and jobs. That's Bill.
Reince Priebus didn't do his side any favors by saying the words 'out-of-touch' and 'Romney' in the same ten second soundbite. And on a slightly related note as it pertains to income inequality David Gregory asked Mr. Priebus about a division in the party due to establishment vs. tea party politics, which among other things is the higher income Republican vs. lower income Republican - as serious dilemma for Republicans. In the end, we have to admit that Mr. Priebus has a point that there is no division if Republicans pick up seats in the House and also take control of the Senate.
What had already made news during the week from the interview was Mr. Clinton's comment that he found Dick Cheney's assessment of President Obama's handling of Iraq 'unseemly,' given the history. Mr. Cheney rebutted saying that Mr. Clinton is certainly one to understand what unseemly means.
Please...
Dick Cheney certainly has no standing, as it were. And to a large degree, but not entirely, Mr. Clinton is correct to say that if Dick Cheney hadn't pressed for the invasion of Iraq, we wouldn't be in this situation with ISIS in Iraq. Just ask Rand Paul.
Speaking of whom, Mr. Clinton also discredited Mr. Paul's Benghazi comments by pointing out that during the Bush presidency, 10 diplomatic personnel had died. Again, what Republicans have done, this time with Benghazi, is that they have lingered and picked at it for so long with no real results, it's easy to be cynical because it's evident that Republicans have lost sight of the tragedy that it was.
Round Table: Kathy Ruemmler Former White House Counsel, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), Andrea Mitchell NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Nia-Malika Henderson National Political Reporter, The Washington Post
Good Point of the Program:
Andrea Mitchell in reaction to what Mr. Gregory referred to as the Edward Snowden Effect. On the ruling by the Supreme Court that the police can not search your cell phone without a warrant:
Supreme Court Justices have smart phones.
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