Bolten Speaks Softly And Carries A Small Stick
Bolten Speaks Softly And Carries A Small Stick
Josh Bolten’s record suggests he will not be a strong enough voice to stand up to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Karl Rove, or Donald Rumsfeld. Rove has said Bolten is “very soft-spoken but very clear thinking. … I love him in an entirely appropriate way.”
In 2004, Bolten set a funding cap of $256 billion for the transportation bill, and he threatened a veto if Congress went over the cap. When Congress moved forward with a transportation bill in 2005, Bolten raised the cap to $283.9 billion. But when Congress finally passed a $286.5 billion bill, Bolten could not convince Bush to follow through and veto the pork-laden bill.
BOLTEN’S FIRST VETO THREAT:
The Administration’s proposed authorization level of $256 billion over six years is consistent with the three principles listed above. We support a responsible six-year bill and support many of the provisions contained in this legislation. However, we oppose S. 1072 and the pending substitute because their spending levels are too high and they violate these principles discussed above. Accordingly, if legislation that violates these principles (such as this legislation, which authorizes $318 billion) were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. [Statement of Administration Policy, 2/11/04]
BOLTEN’S SECOND VETO THREAT:
Under the final version of the surface transportation bill, total obligation limitations for surface-transportation programs (combined with contract authority that is exempt from obligation limitations and general fund appropriations for public transportation) must not exceed $283.9 billion over the period 2004 through 2009. … Should the obligation or net authorization levels that would result from the final bill exceed these limits, the President’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. [Statment of Administration Policy, 4/26/05]
CONGRESS: Provided $286.4 billion in the transportation bill.
RESULT: No Veto
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“I love him in an entirely appropriate way” — The same way he loves the “president,” on his knees.
March 28th, 2006 at 2:39 pmdid anyone expect Bush to appoint someone with a backbone? cmon really did you?
fffffFFFFAAAAAACCCCKKKKKKkkkkk
March 28th, 2006 at 2:41 pmHis malibality makes him perfect.
March 28th, 2006 at 2:45 pmI love him in an entirely appropriate way.â€
What the HELL does that mean? Is he required to add that last part just to make sure President Dobson doesn’t fly into a fit of uncontrolable rage?
March 28th, 2006 at 2:46 pmI love him in an entirely appropriate way
No that is Rove trying to convince everyone he is straight.
March 28th, 2006 at 2:49 pm#1…
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who responded in a sophmoric fasion and chuckled at that line.
In all seriousness, this is just another example of Bush surrounding himself with either strong like-minded people, or weak yes-men.
Personally, I prefer to surround myself with people who have different opinions than mine and can critically argue both sides of the debate. It shows the ability to address a situation objectively and not have a pre-determined outcome already in mind.
March 28th, 2006 at 2:49 pmwhat is it with Bolton’s and Bolten’s? Michael, you’d better be prepared for a call from the White House…
March 28th, 2006 at 2:59 pm#5 — It’s too late for that. I think we all know who Mr. Gannon’s number 1 customer was in the Whitehouse.
March 28th, 2006 at 2:59 pm/off topic
#7…
“Everything was fine until that no-talent a$$clown started making hit records.”
/back on topic
March 28th, 2006 at 3:02 pmI hate him in an entirely appropriate way.
March 28th, 2006 at 3:07 pmLet’s see…what’s the over/under on Bush vetos between now and November? I’ll go with the under no matter what it is.
As much as we talk about a “rubber-stamp” Congress, this status was achieved by a pact with the White House on pork: “You give us all the pork we want, and we’ll give you all the red meat YOU want.”
Of course, the Republican Congress is now in a bit of hot water this election year, and we may see some increasing friction–but not to the point of a veto.
March 28th, 2006 at 3:10 pm#8 Ken Mehlman?
March 28th, 2006 at 3:10 pmJosh Bolten’s record suggests he will not be a strong enough voice to stand up to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Karl Rove, or Donald Rumsfeld.
Then things are proceeding as planned…
March 28th, 2006 at 3:11 pm#12 — Among others — so, so many others. This is why all the big anti-gay talk. Gotta deflect attention from themselves. Best defense is an offense . . . blah blah blah.
March 28th, 2006 at 3:34 pmRove has said Bolten is “very soft-spoken but very clear thinking. … I love him in an entirely appropriate way.†- – Considering Bolten’s record at the O.M.B. and this peculiar statement by Rove, I think we’ll soon see a sequel titled: Brokebank Mountain.
March 28th, 2006 at 3:35 pm“If this provision is not removed, the president’s senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill.” – White House budget director Joshua Bolten, on some senators’ insistence that Iraqi oil be used to reimburse the U.S. for the reconstruction funds included in the $87 billion requested by the president, Oct. 10, 2003
Yep, the same $87 billion Kerry was for and then voted against. Bolten and Bush were against it, too.
March 28th, 2006 at 3:48 pmI’m glad I’m not the only one who has a filthy mind.
March 28th, 2006 at 4:20 pmI’m working for my money today, I needed a laugh!
I love him in an entirely appropriate way.â€
Apparently there’s a chance not, since it’s on your mind.
In a Chicago study that looked at two groups of heterosexual men, the study determined that homophobic heterosexuals were…..
March 28th, 2006 at 4:28 pmRove says he loves Bolten, so what does that mean and imply? Is that why Karl is called “Turd Blossom” because he loves other guys > lol. The Bush Regime is filled with idiots and morons on prozac! Shame on all of them!
March 28th, 2006 at 7:30 pmI am upset and denigrated with another “Josh” being in the White House.
March 28th, 2006 at 9:11 pmI guess in Conservative speak that means hes a LOYAL Compassionate Neo-Con who will do Whatever his superiors want.
And thats never veto any PORK!!
the Public Has voted. Instead of the Red Pakiderm the Republican PORK Barrel Congress Party Symbol has Become..
The HOGG!
]B@B OINK OINK!!!
REPIGNICANS the NEO LIBERALS!
Oh but you can bet Bolten had Mr Bush make a Preznadential ‘Signing statement’ to correct that oversite [cough cough]
March 28th, 2006 at 10:32 pmGeorge got it wrong in replacing Andy Card. It is Cheney, Rove, Rumsfield and George himself who should be replaced.
March 28th, 2006 at 10:55 pmSo, Card is out and Bolten is drawn a little tighter into the circle. That’s sort of like taking blood from one arm, putting it in the other and calling it a transfusion.
March 29th, 2006 at 9:26 amThe mainstream print media bought into the White House spin about Bolten.
Not a big surprise. The White House press corps is often as “tired” and “insular” as the people it covers.
March 29th, 2006 at 10:42 amSh*t,
…MC Hammer had more budget savy than Josh Bootlicker…
…but this may yet be good news…
…if Bootlicker does for the criminal Bushite junta as WH Chief of Staff …
…what he’s done for the country’s budget as head(giver) at OMB…
…we Progressives can load up on the popcorn and set the TIVO…
…cause the impeachment games may be about to begin…in earnest…
March 30th, 2006 at 1:55 pm