[jjoonathan]

Like the Judiciary is independent of the Executive and provides a check and balance to its power?

[AnimalMuppet]

Actually, yes. The judiciary does provide a check to executive power - just not as often as the press tells you it should.

[jjoonathan]

I didn't buy that in grade school civics and I buy it even less today.

No enforcement authority = no authority. It's really that simple. Strongly worded letters are pointless in a world where someone can hold them up, shout "Complete Exoneration!", and have their media apparatus repeat it until their followers believe it.