When they created our system of government, the Founders gave us a Chief Executive – the President of the United States.  The Founders were very specific.  The Constitution did not make the President a king, but rather, a magistrate.  A magistrate is an administrator who carries out the laws enacted by the Congress.  In Federalist No. 69, Alexander Hamilton explained that the President would be more like a State Governor than a king.  You see, the Founders knew that monarchy inevitably leads to tyranny.  When he was asked at the Constitutional Convention, “What sort of government have you given us?,” Benjamin Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”  In 2016, the issue remains in doubt, because in 2016, we have a Chief Executive who has nothing but scorn for the Founders, and who regards the United States Constitution as little more than an annoying obstacle.

Il Duce Obama prefers to rule by decree.  Sure, he would be content if Congress simply did his bidding without question, but, “If Congress won’t act, I will.”  He’ll just order what he wants.  He’s done that throughout his seven year tenure.  It’s unconstitutional?  Don’t bother me with something so trivial as the supreme law of the land.  The feckless Congress has made it abundantly clear that it will do nothing to stop Obama’s overreach.  Now that Obama is in his last year, stand by for his most outrageous executive orders yet.  Here are some predictions.

Last year, Obama renamed Mt. McKinley.  McKinley was a Republican, after all.  So now it’s Denali.  This year he’ll take care of Mt. St. Helens.  That mountain is named for Lord St. Helens, a British explorer, a European colonial oppressor.  The mountain constantly spews out noxious gases, so Obama will rename it Mt. Sharpton, after Reverend Al.  Perfect.  We’ve got some airports named for Republican Presidents.  He’ll certainly have to change that.  So this year, Houston’s George Bush International will be renamed La Raza International, and Washington’s Reagan National will become Saul Alinsky Internationale.  What about Dulles?  It was named for John Foster Dulles, an anti-Communist who installed the Shah of Iran in power, had a brother who ran the CIA, and a son who was a Catholic Cardinal.  Can’t have that.  Obama will rename Dulles Imam Khomeini International.  Hands across the sea, don’t you know.

In 2016 Obama will order that the railroad tunnel planned for the Hudson River will be moved to the area south of McAllen, Texas, where it will cross under the Rio Bravo and connect Texas with Mexico.  The tunnel will have a Visitor Center which will hand out voter registration cards and vouchers for free college tuition to anyone coming North.  It will be a one-way tunnel.  Guess which way.  But Obama’s not done yet.  He wants to leave his mark on Washington, D.C., so he will order Constitution Avenue renamed, “Executive Order Avenue”, and Independence Avenue will be renamed “Servitude Street”.  At the National Archives, Obama will order the Declaration of Independence on exhibit there replaced by a first edition of Dreams From My Father.  Obama will ring out 2016 and his presidency by renaming Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier “The Tomb of the Known Socialist.”  He’s not ready for it yet, but pays to plan ahead.

So Happy New Year, and let’s hope that when 2016 comes to an end, we’ll be looking forward to the inauguration of a Republican President who will be a magistrate, rather than a potentate.