Mt Mckinnali

[Sam]

Very different from the president asking Congress for a name change.


Wet noodles have more backbone than Boenher. He would have quickly folded under minimal pressure like he has repeatedly done before after making a mildly symbolic show of opposition


Generally because presidents don't just do what they want to do.

So Obama should have gone to Congress, gotten a blank stare, and then done nothing?

I remember how quickly Boehner folded on immigration reform and that's why the Senate bill sailed through and that was deemed critical by Republican leadership. The idea that Bohener folds easily doesn't pass the smell test. The man allowed the government shutdown, saying all along that it was a dumb idea.

[rogue06]

So Obama should have gone to Congress, gotten a blank stare, and then done nothing?

If Obama had a clue about governing rather than thinking that he rules he could have gone with the Alaskan Congressional delegation (both Senators and their Representative are Republican) to demonstrate bipartisan support which would have got a lot of press coverage since it is so rare these days. The measure would likely have garnered a good deal of support just because the politicians could show their constituents that they could indeed work together and not just vote along party lines. The fact that such a move is largely symbolic would make it even more attractive since there would be little if any negative consequences for doing so.

It might not have happened as fast as Obama wants (immediately after he snaps his fingers) but it would almost certainly have taken place in short order.

I remember how quickly Boehner folded on immigration reform and that's why the Senate bill sailed through and that was deemed critical by Republican leadership.

He did indeed fold under pressure. I can remember Reid ranting about it very well. Folding is what Boehner does best.

The idea that Bohener folds easily doesn't pass the smell test. The man allowed the government shutdown, saying all along that it was a dumb idea.

The only time he withstands folding is when others provide strong support and essentially keep him from folding like a cheap suit. In this case he wouldn't have it. And then you would watch him fold faster than Superman on laundry day (hat tip to Jerry Seinfeld for that one).

[Catholicity]

So Obama should have gone to Congress, gotten a blank stare, and then done nothing?

I remember how quickly Boehner folded on immigration reform and that's why the Senate bill sailed through and that was deemed critical by Republican leadership. The idea that Bohener folds easily doesn't pass the smell test. The man allowed the government shutdown, saying all along that it was a dumb idea.

No he should have done it Just for the integrity of being nice. Ever heard of it? Integrity first. Climate change Later.

[Sam]

No he should have done it Just for the integrity of being nice. Ever heard of it? Integrity first. Climate change Later.

For all we know, Obama decided to change the name a long time ago and only announced the change now because it had the benefit of highlight his trip. If you're asking a politician to completely forsake making announcements at the most opportune time, I fear that you'll never think highly of any local, state, or federal politician. Any road, implying that Obama lacks integrity for aligning this with the "agenda" of addressing climate change in Alaska is a ridiculous bar to set. My church has set up public events with the "agenda" of getting people interested in the next day's service and through the doors -- is that showing a lack of integrity?

[Teallaura]

Yeah, when did Congress give up its jurisdiction? The real issue is the power grab.

[Sam]

Yeah, when did Congress give up its jurisdiction? The real issue is the power grab.

Can't see a power grab; the 1917 law didn't actually officially change the name to "Mount McKinley" but rather officially named the park "Mount McKinley National Park":

Source: President Obama invokes 1947 law to rename Mount McKinley to Denali. Sabrina Eaton. Cleveland.com. 2015.08.31

But the Athabaskan people who lived in the region had always called it "Denali" which means "the tall one." Alaskan officials made that name official for state use in 1975. The same year, the state's governor, Jay Hammond, petitioned the federal government's Board on Geographic Names to recognize the change nationwide.


The board, which standardizes place names used by federal agencies, didn't act on Alaska's request "out of deference to Congress," because Ohio legislators introduced bills every year to keep the assassinated president's name on the mountain, said its executive secretary, Lou Yost.


To get around their objections, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell invoked a provision in the 1947 law that created the board, which lets the interior secretary authorize name changes "if the board does not act within a reasonable time."


"This name change recognizes the sacred status of Denali to many Alaska natives," said a press statement from Jewell, who made the change through an executive order issued with Obama's blessing on Aug. 28.

© Copyright Original Source

While the 1917 law references Denali as "Mount McKinley", it doesn't anywhere officially designate the name.

[Teallaura]

None of which authorizes executive action. The Secretary, not the President, has the power.

Puts it in the exec. I grant, but by doing an unnecessary end run around Congress. If it wasn't long enough last year then why is it now. other than gamesmanship? Misuses the statute.

[Jesse]

Teallaura, do you agree that all of these executive actions is a worrisome precedent? I don't like the idea of so much of this stuff going past Congress.

[JonathanL]

I think every mountain should be renamed Mt. Waytoohigh.

[rogue06]

I think every mountain should be renamed Mt. Waytoohigh.

Even Mount Wycheproof?

[Sam]

None of which authorizes executive action. The Secretary, not the President, has the power.

Puts it in the exec. I grant, but by doing an unnecessary end run around Congress. If it wasn't long enough last year then why is it now. other than gamesmanship? Misuses the statute.

How does it misuse the statute? If you agree that it's in the secretary's power and you agree that the President has executive authority through the secretary, there's zero misuse here. The only complaint is the "end-run" around Congress after 40 years of inaction?

[Jesse]

I think every mountain should be renamed Mt. Waytoohigh.

I don't know why we don't have a Mt. Awesome yet.

[Starlight]

This thread is the greatest.

The conservatives' irrational hatred of Obama is hilarious. They feel they have to object to everything Obama does. So when he does something that they agree with, they fall back on the idea that he did it in the wrong way. Stay classy guys. You can add this to your imaginary list of Obama's "illegal" executive orders...

[Catholicity]

This thread is the greatest.

The conservatives' irrational hatred of Obama is hilarious. They feel they have to object to everything Obama does. So when he does something that they agree with, they fall back on the idea that he did it in the wrong way. Stay classy guys. You can add this to your imaginary list of Obama's "illegal" executive orders...

My Thread. If you aren't going to add to the discussion then get out.

[Teallaura]

How does it misuse the statute? If you agree that it's in the secretary's power and you agree that the President has executive authority through the secretary, there's zero misuse here. The only complaint is the "end-run" around Congress after 40 years of inaction?

Then 41shouldn't Matter. The purpose wasn't to correct inaction but to h,ghlight a political proint which is not the statute's purpose.