President Obama has long been criticized for playing fast and loose with our democratic traditions to get his way.
Thus he vowed to get Obamacare through Congress by any means necessary, including end-running congressional rules and procedures. He literally threatened the Supreme Court when it seemed Obamacare might be overturned on constitutional grounds. He arbitrarily refashioned Senate rules on recess appointments to federal positions. He simply ignored Congress on immigration policy. And in general he vowed to find an administrative way to accomplish his ends when Congress balked.
But he now seems poised to trump even his prior excesses.
Last week it was reported that the administration is urging a filibuster to thwart the adoption of any resolution disapproving the nuclear agreement with Iran. The president has always vowed to veto any such enactment and focus has therefore been on whether he would have the votes to avoid a veto override. Now, however, he may be seeking to sidestep Congress altogether. (This despite his having signed legislation providing for just such congressional review and polls showing that most Americans are opposed to the agreement.)
We can readily understand that it would be an embarrassment to the president were Congress to reject the deal he struck, even if that rejection would be vetoed and go nowhere.
But sometimes the workings of democracy do prove embarrassing for elected representatives, even presidents. But that’s not something autocrats or incipient dictators – even those of the community organizer stripe – wish to hear.