Unitary Patriot

It seems that the compromises worked out by Congress in order to renew the Patriot Act weren't welcomed by President Bush so he excused himself from the requirements of the law in another of his "signing statements" which basically amount to a line-by-line item veto of any and every law ever written by Congress. After reading the signing statement myself, all I can think of is Bush telling Congress [go fuck yourself].
Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont responded:

''The president's signing statements are not the law, and Congress should not allow them to be the last word[...] The president's constitutional duty is to faithfully execute the laws as written by the Congress, not cherry-pick the laws he decides he wants to follow. It is our duty to ensure, by means of congressional oversight, that he does so."

Apparently the term "faithfully" means something quite different in the White House than it does to the rest of us.

''The signing statement makes clear that the president will faithfully execute the law in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Or rather with the White House interpretation of the Constitution. Before the Republican Party neutered the nation's courts, it was the responsibility of the courts to determine what was and what was not constitutional. Now that power is in the hands of the "unitary executive branch" and the only power remaining for Congress is the power of impeachment. How long will it be before the Republican Congress gives that power to the White House as well?