We have too much rule by decree by whoever currently holds the office of president and a pen.
—
WellbeforePresidentDonaldTrumpreturnedtooffice,hissupportersboastedthathewouldstartthesecondtermwithaflurryofexecutiveactions.Thenewpresidentexceededexpectationswithanavalancheofpardons,orders,andedictsonmattersgreatandsmall.Someshouldbewelcomedbyanybodyhopingformorerespectforlibertybygovernmentemployees.Othersextendstatepowerinwaysthatareworrisomeorevenillegitimate.Allcontinuethetroublingtrendoverthecourseofdecadesandadministrationsfrombothpartiesforthepresidenttoassumetheroleofanelectedmonarch.
FromanInterofficeMemoto‘ShockandAwe’“WhenPresidentTrumptakesofficenextMonday,thereisgoingtobeshockandawewithexecutiveorders,”Sen.JohnBarrasso(R–Wyo.)predictedlastweek.
ThepresidentsignedsomeofthoseordersashebanteredintheOvalOfficewithmembersofthepress,engaginginmoreinteractionthanwesawfromhispredecessorovermonths.Wide-rangingintheirscope,Trump’sorders“encompassedsweepingmove