If you tear down the law to get at the “devil” you are chasing, what will you do when he turns on you, and there are no more laws to protect you? ‒ Thomas More

• Barack Obama states that he has no power to enact DACA after Congress refused to do so. Then he enacts DACA. But his action is popular so people pretend not to notice.

• Joe Biden states that he has no power to enact a vaccine mandate. Then he enacts a vaccine mandate. An assistant praises his “work-around.” But what is being worked around is the Constitution.

Seen from the point of view of logic or legality, these are self-contradictions that decrease the authority of the president. But seen from the point of view of raw power, these self-contradictions increase the power of the president.

Obama and Biden were saying, in effect: “Yes, it’s true the Constitution doesn’t allow me to do that, but I’m doing it anyhow. Got it? I am suspending the Constitution temporarily. Keep tuned for further bulletins. I’ll tell you what I have in mind next.” These are the actions of a would-be tyrant. We used to know that.