Bush to Push Line-Item Veto (ARGHH!)

[Avalux]

My apologies if this has been posted already. If it hasn't - just look what the little weasel is up to now:

(CBS/AP) President Bush has formally announced he's sending legislation to Congress calling for reinstatement of the line item veto, reports CBS News correspondent Peter Maer.

The White House says the proposal would overcome constitutional questions by allowing an up or down Congressional votes on spending items singled out for the line veto.

The president, who has not vetoed any legislation during five years in office, asked Congress in his State of the Union address to give him line-item veto power.

Mr. Bush made the announcement during his remarks at the swearing-in ceremony for the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/06/politics/main1372906.shtml

[unblock]

1. his stupidity is beyond staggering

just as congress is starting to feel its oats, just as the presidential approval rating dips into the 30s, THAT'S when you press for the line-item veto????

[Avalux]

2. I think it's evident the WH is desperate -

They probably realize they may only have a few months before Congress goes to the Democrats and are going to try to do as much damage as possible before then.

[havocmom]

3. He doesn't read anything

He doesn't know his numbers are in the crapper and GOP legislatures know their only chance in Nov. is if they put distance between themselves and bushco.

He is blissfully and WILLFULLY ignorant. Life looks fine to him. Pass the Beam, will ya? heh heh heh

[unblock]

11. true, i should have used the plural.

shrub himself of course is ignorant because that's useful to them.

but rove, et al., they know what's going on. of course, they have their own problems to worry about.

[napi21]

9. I don't think it will matter. I read the rationale of why they think

their idea will be OK's by the SCOTUS when the one given to Clinton in 1998 was shot down, and it doesn't make any sense to me!

Saying line item veto would be OK's for Shrub because he would commit to sending it back to congress just doesn't make sense! He can do that now! The only diff. is that he has to send the entire bill back instead of a single line item.

[FrannyD]

19. DU this poll

Should Congress give Pres. Bush line-item veto authority?
http://www.capitalnews.org/

[louis-t]

20. 53% no, 47% yes

[Avalux]

21. I can't even believe it's that close.

What is WRONG with people?? x(

[bluestateguy]

4. I'm not worried

Presidents qwith 35% approval ratings don't get their bills through Congress, especially when it's been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

[gasperc]

5. A repulican congress that gives each other blow jobs

and he needs a line item veto? to line out Democratic earmarks no doubt!!!

[gasperc]

6. to line out Democratic earmarks no doubt!!!

just to emphasize

[Greeby]

7. This the same line-item veto

That Byrd and the late Daniel Patrick Moynahan went all the way to the SCOTUS to stop Clinton from having? :shrug:

[Johonny]

8. Isn't this settled law already

President Clinton got that wish in 1996, when the new reform-minded Republican majority in the House helped pass a line-item veto law.
Two years later, the Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional because it violated the principle that Congress, and not the executive branch, holds the power of the purse

[Avalux]

10. Doesn't matter to them - they think they can change the law.

This bunch of idiots either ignore the laws or pushes to have them changed. Won't surprise me one bit if they get their way.

[Sal Minella]

12. Makes me wonder if "Social Security" is one item on one line. /nt

[unblock]

13. well, actually, it's all about creating an election issue anyway

but i'm still amazed that they think this tired issue will resonate with voters. do they really think the lack of a line-item veto is to blame for a deficit that the banana republicans keep insisting doesn't matter?

[Horse with no Name]

14. He's doing this to help CONgress

Since it is election year.
They can promise the moon to their constituents and Bush can line item veto it. See, it's not their fault. The outgoing President vetoed it. He already has a high disapproval rating, it isn't going much lower--he is down to his base who would support him if he brunched on fresh newborns in the Rose Garden.
More sleight of hand from these murderous maniacal magicians.

[AndyA]

15. Between the Line-Item Veto and Signing Statements

Bush can pretty much alter the laws to do what he wants them to do, and to hell with anyone else, including Congress. Nice set up.

Bush = 1
American people = 0

[AndyTiedye]

24. And Impounding Already-Appropriated Funds

Bush** has started using this outlawed Nixonian tactic.

[rodeodance]

16. very scary indeed: This congress is now rewriting laws on NSA and port

issues to suit Bush!!! very worrysome!

[Avalux]

17. Don't forget about reviving the Espionage Act to shut up journalists

and then they'll bring back the Sedition Act and throw anyone in jail for speaking out against their 'war'.

[Loge23]

18. In preparation for 2006?

The idiot is probably acting on Rove's prediction of a change of scenery in Congress afetr the '06 elections.

[zulchzulu]

22. He just wants to be able to use his crayons

Chimpy would love drawing big fat lines over parts of a bill...he just got a new crayon set when in India that is like so cool...

[underpants]

23. So when Reagan was in office they wanted the Line Item Veto

as soon as Clinton gets in office and uses it THEY take it up to the Supreme Court

Now W is in office (and they have the voting machine fix going) and they want it back.

HEre's another idea-tell your party to stop passing all the pork