Title is mine.
Bush, Obey spar over late federal budgetWASHINGTON - Tensions are running high between the Republican White House and the Democratic Congress over a stopgap spending bill lawmakers will have to pass because they have not finished the 2008 budget...
An exasperated Rep. David Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, chided President Bush for a speech Monday in which he urged Congress to pass the budget bill free of anything the president considers objectionable...
Obey, who will have a hand in writing the temporary spending bill, said Bush was publicly demanding something the Democratic Congress has already agreed to do...
“At a time when we should be looking for ways to resolve our differences it serves no one’s interest, least of all the country’s, for the president to try to manufacture a disagreement when there is none," Obey said...
In his remarks Monday, Bush also warned Democrats about plans to send him a final 2008 budget that spends $22 billion more than he requested. "Congress has the power of the purse, the authority to pass tax bills and set spending levels. The president has the authority to reject unwise or excessive taxes and spending.
Unless Congress has a two-third majority, it must come to an agreement with the president if it wants to get a bill enacted," Bush said.--/-/--
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070924/GPG0101/70924088/1206/GPGnewsSo basically 'fuck you, pay me - on time.' Or put more nicely, the Dem congress is just a punching bag for Bush. No one apparently has the courage to mention to Bush that he can't get a dime unless he comes to an agreement with the Congress.
On paper, it works both ways. But not with our current leadership.
From another article on the same topic:
'If they think that by waiting until just before they leave for the year to send me a bill that is way over budget and thicker than a phone book, if they think that's going to force me to sign it, it's not.'
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iuZ0n7iVCTnik8vRwCQLt-nUIqowThis guy is willing to go to the wall if necessary. Even if it means the government rtuns dry, he won't sign something that isn't exactly what he wants. He doesn't care what it takes, he isn't going to compromise with our side. We need a GW Bush.