AP: Bush ignores laws he inks, vexing Congress

[ColonelTom]

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) thought he had a deal when
President Bush, faced with a veto-proof margin in Congress, agreed to sign a bill banning the torture of detainees. Not quite. While Bush signed the new law, he also quietly approved another document: a signing statement reserving his right to ignore the law. McCain was furious, and so were other lawmakers.

***

"It's a challenge to the plain language of the Constitution," the committee's chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa, said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm interested to hear from the administration just what research they've done to lead them to the conclusion that they can cherry-pick."

***

Rather than give Congress the opportunity to override a veto with a two-thirds majority in each house, he has issued hundreds of signing statements invoking his right to interpret the law on everything from whistleblower protections to how Congress oversees the USA Patriot Act.

"It means that the administration does not feel bound to enforce many new laws which Congress has passed," said David Golove, a law professor at New York University who specializes in executive power issues. "This raises profound rule of law concerns. Do we have a functioning code of federal laws?"

More here...

[msongs]

1. impeachable offense, no????

violating the constitution and the oath to defend same?????????????

no need for the supreme court, just read the effing document and act!!!!!!

sheesh what more do they want????????????


Msongs

listen to our song demos!
www.msongs.com/msongsdemos.htm

[ColonelTom]

3. But Specter's not sure what Congress can do.

From the article:

Specter isn't sure how much Congress can do check the practice. "We may figure out a way to tie it to the confirmation process or budgetary matters," he said.

Boy, if Congress only had the authority to hold the President accountable for high crimes and misdemeanors...

[LiberalVoice]

8. Specter is a douche bag POS

He realises what state the checks and balances are of our govt. He realizes that we pretty much live in a dictatorship now. And like his fellow Senators, Democrat and Republican, they are all cowards. Gutless, POS cowards.

[tom_paine]

19. Agreed on all counts.

1) Specter is weaker than a Chinese People's Republic Deputy.
2) Amerika is a nation run on Imperial Will and Imperial Fiat. All the rest is window dressing. If Emperor McCain wants to play Old America in 2008, it will be because he WANTS to, not because he has to.

Don't be fooled if/when it happens.

3) America is, especially at the top, a nation of cowards who deserve no freedom. And that is why we've lost it and will continue to do so.

[ozymandius]

17. Nixon would've loved this guy. n/t

[hootinholler]

29. Like them? Nixon fucking trained these guys.

Prescott Bush -> Nixon -> Poppy Bush, Rumsfeld -> Cheney.


-Hoot

[classysassy]

6. Those republican

let that clown get away with crimes that the average citizen would be jailed for.America wake up,we have let a bunch of thugs steal our country.

[Demeter]

18. Somebody Else to Do the Nasty

So they can get all the benefits, none of the risks, and blame somebody else regardless of the outcome. It's called outsourcing. Too bad Congress hasn't got any ability to use it.

[young_at_heart]

2. He's had more signing statements than anyone

If I remember correctly, so far 550.....where is the outrage?

[LiberalVoice]

4. To clarify...

More signing statements then all presidents combined.

[young_at_heart]

5. Thanks for the clarification about this

I wasn't sure, but I knew it was over the top.....and I still say, where IS the outrage?

[LiberalVoice]

9. The outrage is reserved for us...

Those who know and care.

[Up2Late]

10. He's done this on over 750 so far, here's the original report...

<http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/04/30/bush_challenges_hundreds_of_laws/>

[Webster Green]

12. I heard it was 750...

...but, hey....who's counting. The war-chimp is above any laws.

[UpInArms]

7. Impeach Now!

These fools think that discussing the crimes of the criminal will reform him???

Sheesh! Get over it and impeach him and his entire mal-administration.

:banghead:

[IndianaGreen]

26. There is nothing vexing about this, impeach Bush!

The Constitution does not give a President the option of enforcing only those laws he likes. Bush has abused his office, and he must be impeached!

[Tellurian]

11. The number 750 is an indication of 750 COVERUPS...

Bush is trying to keep his A** covered.

He is in fear of prosecution for HC&M..

I bet Gonzales is sorry he took the AG job now!!

[tuvor]

13. It's good to be king, no, mr bush?

[tuvor]

14. Why hasn't this made it to the Greatest Page yet?

Kickin'.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

15. Also, he's considering applying the same thing to "old" laws

dictator
a person granted absolute emergency power; especially : one appointed by the senate of ancient Rome b : one holding complete autocratic control c : one ruling absolutely and often oppressively

[yorkiemommie1]

16. he did say once that things would be easier if he was a

dictator. pure evil.

[leftchick]

20. "Do we have a functioning code of federal laws?"

fuck no! It is about time someone noticed.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. Who created the signing law?

What guru in the White House dug that one up?

[CTLawGuy]

22. "If only there were...

something I could do to "separate" the president from his office, for committing high crimes and misdemeanors. It wouldn't be a legal remedy but merely a political one. It would require both houses of congress as well as the chief justice of the supreme court.

But as far as I know, no such process exists. Case dismissed...

I think you were talking about impeachment...that was it..

aw man, I already banged the gavel...."

-Apologies to Family Guy.

[Vidar]

23. 750 counts of treason. Impeach now!

[Straight Shooter]

24. bush to Congress: "I'm through with you!" (with dismissive wave of hand)

like mother, like son

[nellre]

25. Bush and the Law

Bush evidently believes laws are for other people... and do not apply to him.

This has been going on for the entire Bush presidency. Do you think broadcast media will pay attention?
How many Americans understand what is going on? How could they unless they really work at getting the news?

"WASHINGTON — A bill becomes the rule of the land when Congress passes it and the president signs it into law, right?

Not necessarily, according to the White House. A law is not binding when a president issues a separate statement saying he reserves the right to revise, interpret or disregard it on national security and constitutional grounds." more

"For the first five years of Bush's presidency, his legal claims attracted little attention in Congress or the media. Then, twice in recent months, Bush drew scrutiny after challenging new laws: a torture ban and a requirement that he give detailed reports to Congress about how he is using the Patriot Act." more

Only a lawyer could fully understand the signing statement below. Hardly conducive to transparent government.
Basically states (among other things) that "enemy combatants" detained on foreign soil have no due process rights.
President's Statement on Signing of H.R. 2863

"The first president to issue a signing statement was James Monroe.Until the 1980s, with some exceptions, signing statements were generally triumphal, rhetorical, or political proclamations and went mostly unannounced. Until Ronald Reagan became President, only 75 statements had been issued. Reagan and his successors George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton made 247 signing statements between them. As of 2006, George W. Bush, the current President, has issued over 750 signing statements. more


>My blog

[gratuitous]

27. Vexed?! Congress is fucking vexed?!

Holy smokes, and of course the most prominent quote is given to the Towering Jello Mold, Arlen Specter. Tough talk on Monday gives way to "negotiation" on Tuesday, and by Wednesday everything's back to normal. Thanks again, Senator Noodle.

[Supersedeas]

28. and the focus of the Network pundits (Coulter, Murtha, & divided Dems)

[young_at_heart]

30. "Feel bound"? For the Bushies, that is an oxymoron!

The more we learn, the more we know they make their own rules because they can!