Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy

TAKEOVER presents a comprehensive account of how and why we've gone so far off course and who we can look to in terms of responsibility.

Savage traces the origins of the "imperial presidency" from its limited beginnings to its full-blown incarnation under the Bush/Cheney Administration. Cheney clearly emerges as the kingpin, while Bush is the willing enabler. Together they've hollowed out the critical core elements of the system the Founders so carefully put in place to maintain a balance of power. To Cheney and his carefully selected cadre of like-minded "advisors" there is no balance, no checks on presidential power. What's particularly disturbing is that our system of government has been redone in secrecy, without our knowledge or consent.

I found Savage's detailing of signing statements and the intrigue involved with the conflict between the military and John Yoo concerning torture and Military Commissions Act extremely enlightening.

This book probes into dark corners and reveals troubling complexities that seem almost beyond our ability to rectify. It's clear that, if left unchallenged, the imperial presidency will change our government as we've known it. Impeachment is the first corrective step in preserving what I, for one, do not intend to relinquish.

I have read several books about the Bush-Cheney administration, but this one caused me more muttering, cursing and dangerous spikes of blood pressure than any other. Sometimes I could only get relief by feats of imagination in which I would seize David Addington, John Yoo or William Haynes by the lapels and water board them until they confessed their fascist bent. You've never heard of them? Me neither til I read Charlie Savage's book. They're lawyers who helped lead the assault on the Constitution, largely at the behest of Vice President Cheney. In short, this administration adopted the theory of the "unitary executive." Bush considers himself a "war president" and as commander in chief requires no Congressional approval to promulgate any activity vaguely related to anti-terrorism. Congress has been complicit in surrendering their power. Under the Patriot Act and Military Commissions Act the President has acquired awesome and unbridled authority.

Why is this not discussed in the mainstream media? Probably because these powers have slowly accumulated, unbeknownst to even many Congressmen. Also, Keith Olbermann hasn't become a missing person yet. I assume the powers remain largely unused, though there is no proof of that. Of course it is no consolation to the several hundred who are in jail without charges, tortured and lost to any recognition. Just be aware, it can now happen to any American. To this administration, you can never have too much power. Charlie Savage has written one of the scariest books of the year. In the next administration, I look forward to a bi-partisan effort to repudiate the Unitary Executive Theory and all the laws and directives it has spawned.

When I read my copy of the US Constitution, I must have missed the bit where it said that a small group of partisan lawyers in the White House could decide unilaterally what the Constitution means, and what powers the executive could claim, and how members of the executive staff could be immunized from the consequences of their actions. But Dick Cheney must have found that text, somewhere.

This is an excellent and important book that should be required reading for every voter. It left me frustrated, furious, and frightened.

The review by George F.Will sums up it well. If the Daddy figures running amoke in the Excutive branch, there is a reason. The other branches seem not to be performing the task, the task of buffing and compounding the word "limit." Charlie Savage is a wonderful historian and he covers a very relevant subject. I wish him success. Thanks.