News
Congress?Something momentous is about to happen, and it could mean the end of the Bush administration’s dominance over Congress. The Legislative branch is finally set to rear back on its hind legs and take a swipe at Bush by handing him his first veto override.
I’m betting that once it gets started, Congress will keep right on ripping.
The issue at hand is innocuous enough. On Friday, Bush exercised his fifth presidential veto to refuse legislation passed overwhelmingly to address one of this country’s worst domestic problems: water issues.
Bush brushed aside significant objections from Capitol Hill, even from Republicans, in vetoing legislation that provides $23 billion for projects like repairing hurricane damage, restoring wetlands and preventing flooding in communities across the nation…
Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, pledged to work to override the veto. “We are facing a water infrastructure crisis and our national investment in water resources has not kept pace with our level of economic expansion,” Voinovich said.
You know Bush has blown it when even the Republicans are vowing to fight.
Bush never vetoed spending bills under the Republican Congress, despite budgetary increases then, too. Attempting to demonstrate fiscal toughness in the seventh year of his presidency, Bush risked being criticized for doing too little, too late and of waging a transparently partisan attack against the Democrats who now run Capitol Hill.
The president took the gamble, though without any public fanfare, as part of a broader effort to take on Democratic leaders frequently and more pointedly.
This is one bet Bush is going to lose. There are just too many good reasons to support the bill, and almost none to oppose it. The evidence of that is the bill’s easy passage — in the House the vote was 381-40, and in the Senate, 81-12.
One story labeled his strategy, “government by minority.”
But I think Bush miscalculated. He’s teasing the dog that’s always been tied to the tree one too many times. When the rope breaks and Congress gets a taste of blood — remembering what it feels like to be an equal participant in the governing process — who knows where it will stop?
Topics: News
Now if we could veto Bush and Cheney aka: The Chimp and Gunner
WASTE HIM!!!!
Do you think Congress is finally getting a spine. To think an override of a veto is historic is one for records. Bush the (Yale cheerleader) has been getting by with his regime to this point but the air is slowly deflating the big head syndrome.
Congress has needed to start saying no to Bush and his co conspirators for a long time before this. I eagerly will applaud any sign of a spine developing but I won’t be giving them much credit until they start making a habit of it. I am sorry to report that there have been few enough signs of such that I am not holding my breath this time around either.
We’ll see…
I can think of only two reasons Shrub would veto this bill, and neither of them are good: 1) He’s gone power-mad, or 2) If the hurricane damage repair projects were stemming from Katrina and he’s protecting someone.
Pure speculation of course, but if either or both scenarios are the case, then we gotta get this monkey’s gluteii maximi nailed to the wall.
Dream on! Part of the problem as to why we got into this mess is all the wishful thinking!!!
A “new spine in congress”? I’ll believe it when I see it. This is simply a case of a “no-brainer” bill in which even the repugs can’t come up with a reason to say no. The democrats and the rest of congress will go back to sleep again after this……. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if they didn’t? Ahhh, wishful thinking.
W does not realize that if Congress overrides him he will not be able to attach a signing statement on the law.
We need to make it perfectly clear that Bush is pounding a congress that is trying to get things done. Sure Democrats have a majority but its not absolute control. With Bush getting Veto happy it is important that the public be continually reminded that it takes a 2/3 vote to over-ride a veto. That majority Democrats do not have.
So when people say the are dissapointed in Congress remind them its the progress blocking Bush that is the problem.
Okay override. Awesome. But the Executive still has to enforce the law.
Bush still has to enforce the law.
Why would he? He’ll just let it die on the table or delay the money or it’ll mysteriously disappear to incompetent contractors.
Get real! This bill passed with such large majorities because it was also loaded with pork for a whole host of Dems and Repubs. If the veto is overridden, which is far from clear at this point, it means virtually nothing in terms of other possible congressional actions down the road. Absolutely nothing.
I can’t believe Shrub was stupid enough to veto a bill with such overwhelming support. On second thought, yes I can believe that.
I agree with Mark about explaining why congress is not getting things done, but don’t forget to point out that Mitch (looks like my grandmother) McConnell is the obstructionist in the Senate.
Cute looking dog, so why would you compare that dog to a brain dead chimp?
The dog has intellect, a conscience and a backbone.
And that’s three things King George doesn’t have.
[...] Thanks to Pejman, who followed the link in this post (I just missed it) we learn what Andrew thinks is something to celebrate. First Andrew: The constitution stirs. [...]
[...] colleague Trish at Pensito Review suggested earlier this week that this veto override could signal a change in the wind for Bush’s political fortunes: I’m [...]