HELEN THOMAS: President is happy to govern by veto

[babylonsister]

President is happy to govern by veto

By HELEN THOMAS
HEARST NEWSPAPERS


WASHINGTON -- President Bush is feeling newly empowered by threatening to veto legislation approved by the Democratic-controlled Congress.

The threats seem to be working with the lawmakers. They are rolling over very easily as they rush to get home for Christmas or to catch up on re-election campaigning.

When he had the backing of a Republican Congress, the president vetoed only one bill in his first six years in office; that bill would have expanded federal support for stem cell research.

But right now he is on a roll, getting what he wants without a veto pen but merely making the threat.

He was able to derail the Democrats yearlong attempt to set a timetable for a troop withdrawal from Iraq. Just before the holiday recess, the Senate approved an additional $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- with no strings attached -- which the president will sign.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell boasted: "We have come to a very successful conclusion of this year's Congress."

The president, of course, is aided by the weak Democratic congressional leadership that has thrown in the towel without a fight, evoking disappointment among supporters who thought the last election that gave the Democrats a slight edge on Capitol Hill would make a difference.

It's true that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., don't have enough votes to overcome a veto. (The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to override a veto.)

But why not put the spotlight on the GOP's negative approach to the nation's big problems?

more...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/344387_thomas21.html

[bdamomma]

1. Helen gets it!!

she is no fool, damn these repigs blocking everything, that's it, no more republicans in office, scumbags!!!

[MiniMe]

2. Make him veto legislation so it is on him

Congress needs to pass the bills that they want to pass, and not worry about what the pResident will do. The fact that * will veto a bill is no reason to vote against it, or cloture on it.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. What's worse? Trying and being defeated (with onus on B*sh and his veto)...

or not trying at all?

I say the latter.

Maybe the American citizenry is apathetic because our "leaders" are apathetic.

[bdamomma]

7. we have to give our leaders a swift kick in the a$$!!

they are forgetting who they are working for.

[awoke_in_2003]

11. Obligatory Teddy Roosevelt quote:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

[FreeStateDemocrat]

4. Roadblock pukes, thanks Helen, the Democrats have to make the idiot actually veto constructive bills

Is the puke leadership smarter than the Democratic leadership or do we have too many corp whores selling us out? Fuck the 60 vote BS make the idiot veto the bills so the American public knows for sure who are the assholes. Although I'm sure the pukes would then spin it their way (tax and spend Dems, etc) with the help of the media with the Dem leadership being cluelessly pied again.

[JohnnyLib2]

5. Cheers to Helen Thomas.

She really does hold 'em to a high standard. Gutsy.

[lonestarnot]

6. Woohoo Helen!

:applause:

[Benhurst]

8. Helen comes through again -- as usual.

Recommended :bounce: #5

[SIMPLYB1980]

9. K&R! Helen Rocks!

[snappyturtle]

10. K&R Isn't it wonderful to hear a journalist write what we're thinking? nt

[DCKit]

12. Yeah, Helen gets it.

Something I wrote earlier today:

"I would suggest the one thing they could do is to present stripped out bills: no pork, no earmarks, no bundling, no bullshit. Let the Republicons continue to obstruct the nations business and the pResident to veto vital legislation. Spending would be cut dramatically and, unless they wanted even the most stupid of our brethren to catch on, both houses and the WH would snap into line and begin to compromise."

[Kansas Wyatt]

13. Finally!

Hey Congress, if the people do not see you fighting for them, with BushCo & Republicans, Inc. restraining you from accomplishing anything for them.... Then the people will think that you do not deserve to be there and are part of the problem.