Progressive Minds

After the Supreme Court coronated him as President, George W. Bush said "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, so long as I'm the dictator."

Well, it looks like Bushie's moving a lot closer to that dream of his.

According to the New York Times, Bush has signed an excecutive order which will give him more control over every government agency.  Bush wants every agency to have a regulatory office run by a political appointee to do his bidding for him.

From the New York Times:

President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.

Rep. Henry Waxman hit the nail on the head about what this executive order will accomplish: “The executive order allows the political staff at the White House to dictate decisions on health and safety issues, even if the government’s own impartial experts disagree. This is a terrible way to govern, but great news for special interests.”

Bush Raises His Sway at U.S. Agencies

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/18/nd.01.html (Bush's "if this were a dictatorship" comment)