Presidential

The LawDog, who is godlike in his own Texan way, had some musings recently on the powers, or lack thereof, of the President:

Article II of the Constitution of the United States defines, enables and empowers the Office of the President.
Section 1 of Article II defines how we elect a President, who may be elected, who gets to be President if the guy currently holding the office doesn't hold it anymore, what he gets paid, and what Oath of Office he must take.
Sections 2 and 3 of Article II are what should interest everyone this Election Day -- they state what powers the President shall have:

First paragraph:
"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."
Do you see anything in that paragraph regarding abortion? Energy requirements? Global climate change?

Second paragraph:
"He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."
Do you see anything in there about health care? Social security? Urban policy? Improving schools?

Third paragraph:
"The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session."
Do you see any mention in there of reforming immigration? Welfare? Caring for children? Parental leave?

Section 3, first paragraph:
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
How about investing in conservation efforts? Broadband to rural Americans? Carbon credit trading? Human dignity? Are any of those listed any-bloody-where in the duties of the President of the United States?

sigh

The President of the United States was never meant to be, nor intended to be, King of America.
The President of the United States was never meant to do anything other than what is listed in bold above.

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Rico says we should all reread the Constitution (yes, you, too) before we go vote, come November. It's only like the life of the Republic matters...