Think Progress

President Bush is planning ways to bypass Congress

in case Republicans lose control after the elections. “He told all of us, ‘Put on your track shoes. We’re going to run to the finish,’” White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said. “He’s been calling all his Cabinet secretaries and telling them, ‘You tell me administratively everything you can do between now and the end of the presidency. I want to see your to-do list and how you expect to do it.’”



50 Responses to “President Bush is planning ways to bypass Congress”

  1. Tim O says:

    Wow, he’s really on top of things! Six years in, and now he’s asking for their “to do” lists? Super F-ing Genius!


  2. Sharon Cox says:

    Time to put the basterd’s in jail……Blessings


  3. ForTruth says:

    This should be interesting. They are plannng ways to become even more dangerous.


  4. Tundra says:

    “He’s been calling all his Cabinet secretaries and telling them, ‘You tell me administratively everything you can do between now and the end of the presidency. I want to see your to-do list and how you expect to do it.’”

    Thank goodness he is doing something. Finding out what his people want to accomplish before he leaves office. I tell ya that’s the sign of a true leader. No sitting around and waiting his time out. I like it.


  5. Tundra says:

    OK, I tried. Didn’t sound convincing did it?


  6. RUCerious says:

    Is finish located in the Hague, or Paraguay?


  7. Pity+The+Fool says:

    He’s just asking for impeachment.


  8. SouthwestBob says:

    Ahhhh, must be time for the super secret Executive Orders limiting any laws or investigations by congress or any American Citizens time!


  9. Hippie with a stick says:

    Sounds like business as usual for the Tarnished House…..
    What is different from policy up to this point?

    “I want to see your to-do list and how you expect to do it, (cause I sure as hell ain’t got a clue)… Karl? Karl? Now where in tarnation did that little pile of doo-doo get off to? He’s usually right behind me…..”


  10. Zimzone says:

    I think our ‘to-do’ list includes:
    -Regaining the majority in at least one house of congress
    -Addressing global warming with the ‘rest of the world’
    -Cutting back tax cuts to the wealthy
    -Getting out of Iraq
    -Getting Bin Laden
    -Putting more Neosluts in jail
    -Overiding Bush Vetoes in ‘07 & ‘08
    -Regaining global confidence
    -Talking to N K & Iran
    -Hanging Limbaugh, O’Reilly & Hannity
    That should take care of 2 years, then the real work begins with a new president that puts personal citizenship above coporate


  11. Mark says:

    My
    My prediction all along was that if Republicans lost control of congress he would find a way to suspend congress. I actually thought that the various terror alerts at the capital have been test runs for moving congress to a “secure location for their own protection” Then I thought that perhaps the new terror laws would be used as a means to declare various members of congress enemy combatants and have them removed. But I never in my wildest dreams would have guessed that bush would be asking how to circumvent congress as much as possible by using the administrative/bureaucratic powers of his various cabinet officers. Ingenious! With as much as these people have skirted the law, reinterpreted the law, made new law or flat out ignored law, who would have ever guessed that they would try to use the law to get their jobs done. Ultimately it won’t happen. They will probably still go the criminal route. Like the godfather with their perpetual plans to make the family legit in 5 years, the law abiding plans will fail and they will fall into their old habits.


  12. Innocent+Bystander says:

    1st order of business for the new Democratic Congress – ban all paper shredders in the Executive Branch.


  13. Dumb_Fox says:

    Loving the image of a lame duck putting on track shoes.


  14. katy says:

    OK, I tried. Didn’t sound convincing did it?
    Comment by Tundra — October 30, 2006 @ 11:12 am

    thanks for that follow up…
    actually, it was a good try… sounded more like a jmh quote though…


  15. ScrewBush says:

    1. Declare martial law somewhere, given the okay by congress to do it. Where ever, it’s just fun to be all powerful.
    2. Annex Alaska… he didn’t know it was already a state, oops, and it’s just fun to be all powerful.
    3. Start populating domestic secret prisons with political enemies and sports writers who dis them Cowboys. Congress just gave him the okay, and it’s just fun to be all powerful.
    4. Start a new bombing campaign somewhere. Where ever, it’s just fun to be all powerful.
    5. Drive the dept up to over 10 trillion. He would be the first president to do it, and it’s just fun to be all powerful.


  16. wisedup says:

    Get real bush, we’re all figuring ways to ‘bypass’ YOU…and we can.
    what a way to run a country a ….dictatorship…..


  17. chimpeach says:

    Let’s see him try to get out of an impeachment.

    Not that there’s going to be one, of course. I’m just speaking in hypotheticals. (nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more)


  18. JesusChrist_GodOfWAR says:

    Any thoughts that these guys are nothing short of greedy self serving power hungry aristocratic dictatorial frat-boy-loving megalomaniacs?

    ITMFA!!!


  19. pgw says:

    he’ll just say that the house’s subpoena power limits the authority given to him under article 2


  20. Raoul Paste says:

    Sounds like Alberto Gonzales will be busy destroying our system of government.


  21. Raoul+Paste says:

    Sounds like Alberto Gonzales will be busy destroying our government.


  22. Dog_named_Boo says:

    Bush bypassed the Republican congress hundreds of signing statements ago…


  23. barfly says:

    [. . .]the President’s team has been planning for what one strategist describes as “a cataclysmic fight to the death” over the balance between Congress and the White House if confronted with congressional subpoenas it deems inappropriate. The strategist says the Bush team is “going to assert that power, and they’re going to fight it all the way to the Supreme Court on every issue, every time, no compromise, no discussion, no negotiation.”

    This is simply bluster on the part of Rove. There is no way St. McCain is going to support this tactic, as it will interfere with his presidential ambitions.

    If Bush becomes a lame duck, expect McCain to morph into a republican Leiberman, taking potshots at this kind of political scorched-earth policy.

    I think if Bush is going to use this tactic, the Dems should go all populist on his ass, and submit a blizzard of legislation designed to highlight both the inaction of the last congress, and how little of the legislation they did pass positively impacted average Americans.


  24. dlet says:

    In my opinion, if bushie starts to play with Executive Orders and continues his signing statement fiasco the plan for the neo-cons to make the presidential position a defacto emperor will create a backlash and reduce the newly aquired presidential powers back to a more Consitutionally comfortable place. That is if the Dems make the stand. One can hope.


  25. barfly says:

    I also believe a good political ploy would be to increase the days that Congress is in session, and really snow Bush under legislatively. Tthe congressional republicans can just lump it, after their disgusting behavior; any legislation they submit should be given the same treatment Democratic legislation received last term.


  26. Daryll says:

    Awesome, if the democratic party wins the House majority, we have to implement some type of method to prevent them from committing hegemonic acts to pass bills/legislation. Thank You, Mr. President.


  27. Dog_named_Boo says:

    Awesome, if the democratic party wins the House majority, we have to implement some type of method to prevent them from committing hegemonic acts to pass bills/legislation. Thank You, Mr. President.

    Comment by Daryll

    Who; Knock Knock

    Darryl; Who’s There

    Who; The midnite train

    Darryl; Me?

    Who; Yes. You.

    Darryl; But I am an Evangelical Christian!!!!

    Who; Who is your Lord?

    Daryll; Jesus!!

    Who; George says wrong answer. Put your hands behind your back.

    Daryll; No! NO! NOoOoOOOoO! This is a bad dream right?!

    Who; Sorry.


  28. osage says:

    Bush administration officials are going to spend so much time giving sworn testimony to the House Democratic majority committees, they won’t have time to do very much on their to-do-lists. This is Bush’s idea of “acting” like he’s going to win to the bitter losing end. The most destructive and intellectually dishonest president in history still thinks that “acting” like he knows what he’s doing is better than being effective. Bush is soon to be irrelevant………..and so are his blindly loyal and gullible faith-based enablers.


  29. S.D. says:

    It occurred to me that this administration doesn’t believe in oversight when It’s own party is in power.

    Why would any shenanigans they do to End Run Congress surprise anyone??


  30. SKdeA says:

    i get a very bad feeling about this one.


  31. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    Actually, this is probably more of Bush’s poor pronunciation of the English language. I’m guessing he did not ask for their “to do” lists, but rather their “too-da-loo” (spelling?) list.


  32. Bluedog49 says:

    I guess it would be too much to ask a man who ran as a “uniter” to work with the new Democratic congress. He’s just the worst ever, period.


  33. RUCerious says:

    Daryll, do you suppose God spoke to W and told him to keep power at all costs, even if it means suspending the Constitution unilateraly?
    Would Jesus suspend the Constitution?


  34. Jonathon says:

    Here is a clue for the incoming Democratic leadership: start planning legislation that will reign in the out of control Executive Branch. Reassert Congress’ role of oversight. Reassert Congress’ power to declare war – that is the legislative branch’s responsibility, not the executive’s – and Congress’ control of the pursestrings. No more blank checks for Dubya or any other president.

    If Democrats gain power in either House of Congress then we have a chance at reversing some of the most heinous legislation shoved through over the past 12 years of GOP mismanagement. We should start with doing any and everything we can to do away with the “rubber stamp” practices of the GOP and restore checks and balances. We must at the same time educate a reluctant American public about the role of Congress and why the separation of powers in the Constitution are important.

    Want to see a Republican’s eyes bug out? Ask them just how much they would like a “unitary executive” if the White House were occupied by Hillary Clinton! Bottom line for most GOP’ers is that it’s great for the President to be all-powerful so long as THEIR party is in control, but once the scenario changes to where a Democrat is in power they change their story.


  35. Karim says:

    I hope that they impeach the President in a year from now.


  36. ANTI-NAZIS says:

    From BUSHCO’s list of crimes already committed I would not put ANYTHING past these f*cking war criminal NAZI’s .
    The entire world truly hates BU$HCO ,they do deserve prosecution and EXECUTION in public,but americans don’t have the morals or ethics to do the job that they should on these super criminals.


  37. BuckarooBanzai says:

    I don’t know what he’s worried about. With electronic voting fraud, I am not optimistic that the Repug’s will lose control of Congress at all. That is if there is not some “event” that makes Bush suspend the election period and declare martial law. I will only start suggesting any plans when it is confirmed that the Democrats have gained control of Congress.


  38. carollt says:

    I have not been a fan of impeachment, but I think it should be left on the table in light of this story and about a hundred more I have read in the last few days.

    We got rid of King George in the revolution and perhaps it is time to get rid of another George who thinks he is the king. The king of the worst president’s club is what Mr. Bush is.

    I am looking forward to some oversight from Congress.


  39. buzzbomb says:

    Smell that? I think the Reichstag, oh I mean Congress is on fire.


  40. Zooey says:

    In fact, when it comes to deploying its Executive power, which is dear to Bush’s understanding of the presidency, the President’s team has been planning for what one strategist describes as “a cataclysmic fight to the death” over the balance between Congress and the White House if confronted with congressional subpoenas it deems inappropriate. The strategist says the Bush team is “going to assert that power, and they’re going to fight it all the way to the Supreme Court on every issue, every time, no compromise, no discussion, no negotiation.”

    Now the reason for the “Strong Executive” is revealed. CYA time.


  41. BigCynic.com says:

    Bush has only two more years to rob the nation blind, so he’s going to make the best of it. After all, there are no upper limits on how much money you can deposit in a Swiss account.


  42. Marie says:

    If the Dems win any control in Congress, it will be a no-holds-barred situation with the Bush White House — Any and all dirty tricks will be used; any and all lies will be told; secrecy will be the guide.
    Come to think of it, it will be pretty much the same as the past six years – only with more urgency.


  43. Marie says:

    I have already seen and heard too much about Repugs and the election process – I will not plan on Dems winning anything until I see the results Wednesday morning.
    For example, this came from my local pollwatching Dem organization on early voting:
    They are turning away DEM voters who’s addresses they do not accept BUT they ARE allowing the R’s to vote “because they know them.” Also, they are “electioneering” at every opportunity, making comments when there are Dem voters.
    Judges check-in screen shows how they voted in the primary so they know who IS a Dem and who isn’t.


  44. Bluedog49 says:

    Marie, the cumulative difference between exit polls and results for our 2004 election has been estimated to be 11%. Our government demanded a re-vote in the Ukraine, largely because of a 5% difference between exit polls and results. I’m with you 100%. I’m not going to believe the Dems have taken back congress until it actually happens — and even then, I’ll celebrate warily for at least a couple of weeks until I’m sure they haven’t figured out a way to turn the results around or cancel the election altogether.


  45. Uncle_Ho says:

    “Running the government would be easier in a dictatorship, as long as I’m the dictator.”- George W. Bush

    “The Constitution is just a god damned piece of paper”-George W. Bush.

    The “decider” has decided to become the Fuehrer. Seig Heil.


  46. Marie says:

    Let’s all hope that the GOPTV is enough that they can’t steal this one.
    They own the machines; they have the biggest bag of dirty tricks; they have the routine down pat, having practiced well for the past three elections — we can only beat them with numbers that they can’t deny.


  47. Marie says:

    that should have read GOTV – get out the vote.


  48. Tollins says:

    Bypass Congress? That’s a nice way of spinning it. Clinton did the same thing when he was faced with a contrarian Congress.


  49. Otherworld » Happy Halloween-Samhain-All Saint’s Day! says:

    [...] President Bush is planning ways to bypass Congress in case the GOP loses control after the elections. “He told all of us, ‘Put on your track shoes. We’re going to run to the finish,’” White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said. “He’s been calling all his Cabinet secretaries and telling them, ‘You tell me administratively everything you can do between now and the end of the presidency. I want to see your to-do list and how you expect to do it.’” [...]


  50. Ass Round Ass Tight Ass says:

    Ass Round Ass Tight Ass

    I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view



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