One of the key issues in this race to me is how the next president views executive power and the relationship of separation of powers and checks and balances in our constitutional order.
David Nafther, blogging at CQ Politic’s Beyond the Dome, notes a recent speech in which John McCain addresses some of these issues: On Executive Power, McCain Says He’s No Bush.
In regards to signing statements (for my views on which go here, here and here):
“I will exercise my veto if I believe legislation passed by Congress is not in the nation’s best interests, but I will not subvert the purpose of legislation I have signed by making statements that indicate I will enforce only the parts of it I like.”
This is consistent with what he has said before, and I hope that should be be elected that he will, in fact, adhere to this position (more likely, if anything, because the Congress will certainly be controlled by the Democrats under such a scenario).
In regards to legislative-executive relations, the following would be remarkable (and the kind of thing that I would be shocked, in truth, if it happened if he is elected):
“I will ask Congress to grant me the privilege of coming before both houses to take questions, and address criticism, much the same as the Prime Minister of Great Britain appears regularly before the House of Commons.”
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