Friday, December 7, 2007

Audio: Congress pushing back.

http://www.everyzing.com/viewMedia.jsp?index=1&start=0&sort=rel&mc=en-aud&il=en&col=en-aud-public-ep&q=Congress&res=130961077&num=10&filter=1&expand=true&match=query,channel&dedupe=1&channel=42&e=150370

This podcast by Lee Hamilton is talking about how the President is expanding his power and that Congress has helped him expand that power. As well he talks about how lately Congress has been pushing back against the executive branch and is looking over more on the Bush Administration. Even though Congress is not doing enough. It is not over looking the budget and does not have administration officials on capital hill every day. He is suggesting that the executive branch should not be weakened but Congress should be strengthened.

I chose this because he is talking about what is going on today and is not suggesting anything bad. What he says is something to think about. We know how powerful the executive branch is becoming and to counter that Congress should be strengthened as well. To best serve the people Congress needs to be far more assertive and to live up to the expectation of the original framers. He gives good ideas on how to achieve this goal.

Audio: Executive and Judicial Branch

http://www.everyzing.com/viewMedia.jsp?index=2&start=0&sort=rel&mc=en-aud&il=en&col=en-aud-public-ep&q=executive+branch&res=126626349&num=10&filter=1&expand=true&match=query,channel&dedupe=1&channel=42&e=12479475

This audio source is explaining the executive branch. He explains what it is and what consists of the executive branch. The speaker talks about the roles such as Chief Diplomat, Chief Legislature, and and Chief of State. He talks about how the President is symbolic. He talks about the powers the president has. Checks and balances are being talked about. The cabinet is talked about as well and is explained. A cabinet is not part of the constitution. The Judicial branch is also being explained in the end.

I chose this because it is a good explanation of the executive branch how it is explained in the constitution. The speaker is very detailed and covers much within the executive branch. A researcher could use this because it is very detailed and is very explanatory. He explains everything about the branch and goes into examples of each.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Audio: Ali al-Marri case

http://www.democracynow.org/2007/2/2/the_case_of_ali_al_marri

In this audio be Democracy Now! Amy Goodman is interviewing one of al-Marri's attorneys. I put up a blog of this case and here is the attorney talking about it. He talks about how it was all started by him getting picked up by the FBI. He also talks about the military prison where he is now and for how long. He was held in a brig in South Carolina for almost a year and a half. He was asked what his charge was and the attorney said there was no charge. The term "enemy combatant" is explained. It is a very interesting interview.

I chose this because it is an audio explanation of a blog I put up. It is the attorney talking about the case in detail. Since this case is very interesting to me so an interview with al-Marri's attorney is of great importance. This interview is very revealing and shows what is going on in the case and what the Bush administration is doing.

Video:Scott Jennings And Executive Privilege

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3350822696342418983&q=executive+privilege&total=164&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

In this video Karl Rove's assistant, Scott Jennings, is being asked the same questions Sara Taylor was. She was asked if she met the President about any removals of attorneys. She said she did not attend any meetings. Scott Jennings did not answer the question. He also said that he did not meet with the President. He gives his view of executive privilege.

I put this up there because this is a battle going on between Congress and the executive branch. I wanted to put an actual video of a testimony on it to show what goes on and what type of questions are being asked and what kind of answers are in reply. The executive privilege is being used a lot and this testimony shows it

Video:No such thing as seperation of powers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wmhWbzqqWc&feature=related

In this video this guy is talking about how there is no such thing as separation of powers. He says there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that says separation of powers. He also says that something cannot be independent a branch that regulates it. Such as the judicial court shall operate under such regulations as congress shall make.

I chose this because it puts a different opinion on separation of powers. This person is talking about how there is no such thing as separation of powers. I think that the framers just made certain powers one branch had over another. This person just says one point and that's it. I like it because its something to put into perspective.

Video:Hamdan v Rumsfeld

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FovamMtK5nA

This video is about a professor teaching a class about the Hamdan v Rumsfeld case. The professor is saying that the executive branch is using that "The President shall be commander and chief of the army and navy." Thus, the executive branch can make military tribunals. Although, Congress believes they can make military tribunals because under the constitution "Congress shall have power...to define and punish...offences against the law of nations."

I chose this because it is a good explanation of the battle between Congress and the President. This video explains the case and the situation. It is a good video that shows the battles between two branches. This video is good quality and has an excellent explanation that can be helpful to any researcher.

Blog:Supreme Court

http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2006/02/separation_of_p.html

In this blog this person is talking about how in order for separation of powers to work each branch must actively watch over each other and stop and of the other branches from power grabbing. The blogger says that each branch, it seems, signed some sort of peace treaty where each branch can do whatever they want as long is it is allowed to do so itself. He gives good examples in the blog.

I like this blog because the blogger likes separation of powers and knows that it is necessary for the government to function. He writes about why none of the branches have been checked at all. It is a blog that shows how the government is dealing with separation of powers. Another reason why I chose this is because there are many comments that people have put which a researcher could read upon and learn more.