Law Day. Lawless Dude.

“Law Day?” A decade ago the idea of having a day to commemorate the rule of law would have seemed pointless and quaint, like all those special “days” passed by lawmakers who want to throw a bone to some obscure constituent group. Not that all special days are frivolous – tomorrow is National Raspberry Popover Day!

But under Dubya, raspberry popovers get more respect than the rule of law. After all, raspberry popovers are delicious, while the law is just inconvenient. So it is yet another in this administration’s long list of jaw-dropping ironies that Bush could actually sign this Law Day proclamation:

The right of ordinary men and women to determine their own future, protected by the rule of law, lies at the heart of America's founding principles . . .The American legal system is central to protecting the rights and freedoms our Nation holds dear . . . We pay tribute to the men and women in America's legal community. Through hard work and dedication to the rule of law, members of the judiciary and the legal profession help secure the rights of individuals . . . the United States Constitution marked tremendous advances in the march of liberty . . . Today, we are reminded of that past and look toward a hopeful future as we work to secure the liberty that is the natural right of every man, woman, and child.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, in accordance with Public Law 87-20, as amended, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2008, as Law Day, U.S.A.

He signed it, and nothing exploded or burst into flames, providing conclusive proof that irony is non-combustible. But when (or if) he realizes that his theory of the “unitary executive” will hand unprecidented power over to a Democratic successor, his head will surely explode. And it’ll be at least eight years too late to do us any good.