Trump has no respect for the rule of law, checks and balances, or the intended role of the executive branch. Trump at president will do anything possible to achieve his goals, no matter what he tramples along the way.

Biden isn't that type of president. He does respect checks and balances and the idea of a powerful, but constrained presidency. He's not going to go slam through a blatantly unconstitutional EO every time he doesn't get his "wall".

Much like before Trump, if you want change, you have to vote for more than the presidency, unless you're willing to trample everything about the three branches of government. And maybe you're also looking for an unleashed sort of populist presidency, but that's not going to fly with the majority of democratic voters who still want to return to some degree of governmental normalcy.

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Biden isn’t that type of president. He does respect checks and balances and the idea of a powerful, but constrained presidency

Cough cough

The Biden administration went around Congress on Friday for the approval of an emergency weapons sale to Israel that includes "projectiles and related equipment," per the Defense Department.

Why it matters: This is the second time in December that the administration has done so, and the move comes as Israel continues its war against Hamas and faces criticism for its military actions in Gaza.

https://www.axios.com/2023/12/30/blinken-biden-administration-emergency-israel-weapons-sale

You were saying?

[–] HandBreadedTools@lemmy.world -5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_Export_Control_Act

You would be absolutely correct if Biden gave weapons to Israel or if the narrative the White House pushes wasn't that Israel is defending itself.

I don't think that Israel is defending itself, I think that it's intentionally trying to commit genocide, but the law doesn't explain who gets to determine when a country is acting in self-defense. Claiming Biden circumvented Congress is inaccurate, as the President has had the sole authority to do this since the '70s. Biden, like the other commenter said, isn't that type of President. Trump would have actually circumvented Congress by straight up giving stuff to Israel, rather than merely authorizing a sale.

To be clear, I don't like that Biden did that either.

[–] ira@lemmy.ml 11 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

the law doesn't explain who gets to determine when a country is acting in self-defense

Literally the same exact reasoning Trump used to declare an "emergency" and divert funds to a border wall. Words are meaningless so I can do whatever I want!

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

gave

Yes...

It's sooo much different that they used some of the over billion of taxpayer dollars that we give them annually to "buy" them....

And reality isn't just whatever the current administration says it is...

The Act of Congress requires international governments receiving weapons from the United States to use the armaments for legitimate self-defense. Consideration is given as to whether the exports "would contribute to an arms race, aid in the development of weapons of mass destruction, support international terrorism, increase the possibility of outbreak or escalation of conflict, or prejudice the development of bilateral or multilateral arms control or nonproliferation agreements or other arrangements."[2]

For fucks sake, by your logic all of Trump's ridiculous claims he made as president were true because he said it was.

It's really getting old seeing Biden defenders act like trump supporters

[–] HandBreadedTools@lemmy.world -3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Selling and giving are absolutely different, regardless of where the money comes from. I see what you mean, in that it is effectively giving, but that's just now how the law works. It should, I think Biden shouldn't even be able to override Congress in this regard, but that's just how it is. Congress can change that at any time.

The situation in Gaza is gray for many people, it's not easy to claim it's objectively defense or offense without proving it in court. I'm not trying to debate the morality of this context, I'm saying that Biden did not circumvent Congress.

It's really getting old seeing Biden defenders act like trump supporters

Bruh come on, you know that's a bad faith ad hominem. Someone isn't acting like a trump supporter because they call out a blatantly false argument lmfao. If anything, it's the other way around, attacking a person by baselessly comparing them to the other political side.

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

For it to be an ad hominem it would have to be something irrelevant...

Excusing Biden for pulling a standard trump method, is a relevant comparison to what trump supports excuse from trump.

Words have meaning.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

If I pointed it out that it's also disappointing trump and Biden supporters both don't seem to understand that definitions matter, it wouldnt be an an ad hominim either. Because it's now relevant to the topic at hand.

If you're upset at the comparison, maybe Biden supporters should stop acting like trump supporters?

[–] MarcoPOLO@sh.itjust.works 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Biden's had no more regard for the intended role of the executive branch than Trump, he's just less openly antagonistic about it. Trump openly derides the system, while Biden just quietly whips it into line.

[–] alilbee@lemmy.world -2 points 9 months ago

I disagree. If Biden was anywhere near that level, we'd be seeing him use much more power to at the very least earn some political capital he needs going into a contentious election. Most of the time this gets brought out, it's for transferring arms to Israel. Regardless of your opinions on the transfer itself, which I also disagree with, it's at least arguable those transfers are legal. Someone else in this thread linked more info. If it's not that, I'm going to need to see some examples of overreach that come anywhere close to the Trump admin.

[–] nix@merv.news 7 points 9 months ago

But we’re constantly reading about Biden bypassing Congress to supply more weapons it Israel that are being used to kill children so maybe Biden could use these powers for something decent instead?

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 6 points 9 months ago

We already know exactly what voting for Biden accomplishes, Trump is more popular than ever and the world is now on the brink of WW3.