From time to time in our history, occupants of the White House have been accused of working toward an "imperial presidency." No president has surpassed Barack Obama in that.
During the coming year, Obama expects to have "a larger playing field. If that includes Congress, so much the better," White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters a few days ago. But if lawmakers refuse to go along with Obama's initiatives, he will act on his own, Earnest added.
In fact, the president already plans to issue at least two or three executive directives each week, Earnest explained.
That really won't be anything new, of course. Obama has made it plain he believes he is in charge - completely and unequivocally.
He did that early in his administration, after the U.S. Senate rejected his "cap and trade" plan to wreck the coal industry. Not long after the Senate voted against the measure, in mid-2009, Obama said he would have the Environmental Protection Agency crack down on coal through executive orders. The EPA has done just that.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress should be furious about Obama's imperial presidency - and should block it.
