

But I would like to see the conversation change for this election. The real issue - the issue that undermines all the other issues - is the issue of executive power. We currently have an executive in office who feels no obligation to submit to oversight, who values loyalty over competence, ideology over science, and secrecy above all else.



The current batch of presidential candidates needs to take a stand on these issues; the next president cannot continue these ridiculous policies.



Signing statements: During the Roberts hearings, you couldn't get enough description of the make-up of the Supreme Court as "three strict constructionists, three moderates, and three activist judges who continually try to legislate from the bench." Legislate from the bench? For the past six years, Bush has (through the use of signing statements) been legislating from the Oval Office! The constitutional check on the legislature is the president's veto. I want to hear the current batch of candidates pledge to either enforce the law as passed in Congress, or veto it.



Executive privilege: Every use of executive privilege in the past fifty years has been to cover up something shady. I want the candidates to demonstrate they know it's a privilege and not a policy.







So to the candidates: Please give us the opportunity to trust you.