Following Bush Signing Statements, Federal Agencies Ignore 30 Percent Of Laws Passed Last Year
Following Bush Signing Statements, Federal Agencies Ignore 30 Percent Of Laws Passed Last Year
Federal agencies ignored 30 percent of the laws Bush objected to in signing statements last year, according to a report released today by the Government Accountability Office. In 2006, President Bush issued signing statements for 11 out of the 12 appropriations bills passed by Congress, claiming a right to bypass a total of 160 provisions in them.
In a sample set of 19 provisions, the GAO found that “10 provisions were executed as written, 6 were not, and 3 were not triggered and so there was no agency action to examine.”
The report, which was requested by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Byrd (D-WV), gives the first indication of the impact that President Bush’s signing statements have had on the enforcement of laws passed by Congress.
In a statement, Byrd said the report shows the Bush administration’s desire to grab as much power as possible:
The White House cannot pick and choose which laws it follows and which it ignores. When a president signs a bill into law, the president signs the entire bill. The Administration cannot be in the business of cherry picking the laws it likes and the laws it doesn’t. This GAO opinion underscores the fact that the Bush White House is constantly grabbing for more power, seeking to drive the people’s branch of government to the sidelines….We must continue to demand accountability and openness from this White House to counter this power grab.
Since taking office in 2001, President Bush has issued signing statements challenging over 1,100 laws, claiming that he has the right to bypass them if they interfere with his alleged presidential powers. Though signing statements have been utilized by most presidents, Bush has used them to object to more laws than all previous presidents combined.
Here are a few of the laws Bush has controversially issued signing statements about:
- In 2005, after Congress passed a law outlawing the torture of detainees, Bush issued a signing statement saying that he would “construe [the law] in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President . . . as Commander in Chief,” which experts say means Bush believes he can waive the restrictions.
- In 2006, Congress passed a law requiring minimum qualifications for future heads of the Federal Emergency Management Administration in response to FEMA’s poor handling of Hurricane Katrina. When Bush signed the law, he issued a statement saying he could ignore the new restrictions and appoint a FEMA chief based on whatever qualifications he wanted.
- In 2006, Bush signed a statement saying he would view a ban on “the transfer of nuclear technology to India if it violates international non proliferation guidelines” as “advisory.” Indian newspapers reported that the government of India took note of Bush’s statement, “raising the possibility it would not take the ban seriously.”
The GAO report makes a point of noting that although “the agencies did not execute the provisions as enacted,” it cannot necessarily be concluded that “agency noncompliance was the result of the President’s signing statements.” It does, however, provide creedence to claims that confusion created by differing congressional and presidential interpretations of laws could lead increased laxity in the proper enforcement of the law.
UPDATE: “We expect to continue to use statements where appropriate, on a bill-by-bill basis,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.
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98 Responses to “Following Bush Signing Statements, Federal Agencies Ignore 30 Percent Of Laws Passed Last Year”
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Holy sh#t! Can’t anyone do anything to stop this???
June 18th, 2007 at 10:57 pmHoly sh#t! Can’t anyone do anything to stop this???
Comment by JG
Very well said.
June 18th, 2007 at 10:58 pmArticle II, Sec 1, Clause 8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:–”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Article II, Sec 3: …he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
So, it sure sounds to me like a signing statement that says I won’t obey this part of the bill I’m signing into law violates the constitution. Would any Bush supporters out there care to explain how I’m mistaken? Thanking you in advance. I’ll read your answers tomorrow. Good night all.
June 18th, 2007 at 10:59 pmComment by Wayne A. Schneider — June 18, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
Not me on this one, I agree with you, his job is essentially enforcong the laws passed. He can either decide it goes or decide it doesn’t. He cannot reword it to suit his needs.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:03 pmHe cannot reword it to suit his needs.
Comment by Tundra
Unfortunately, it would appear that Brush thinks otherwise. And it’s spreading, like a communicable disease.
The fish always rots from the head down.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:07 pmThis is what happens when people like Rush get the rightwing nutjobs who HATED CLINTON SO MUCH, foaming at the mouth:
1. The Oklahoma City bombing. I actually had an ADULT student from IBM in Juneau, AK that shouted “good for them!!!” Amazingly enough, this despite that their GRANDDAUGHTER went to a daycare 3 blocks away…
2. Politicization of the government favored toward the rich and warmonger profiteers.
3. Exposing of COVERT CIA SPIES for revenge, one who specialized in WMD proliferation, so BushTraitors (TM) fvcked NATIONAL SECURITY.
etc…
Justice WILL be served when Bush and Cheney and their brownshirt ENABLERS burn for ETERNITY for their MURDEROUS WAR CRIMES.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:09 pmIgnoring laws. Jesus freaking Christ! Is THIS enough to start the impeachment process and convince those cro-magnon Republicans to wake up and confront reality?
June 18th, 2007 at 11:13 pmWhats the percentage of laws we’re permitted to ignore again?
June 18th, 2007 at 11:17 pmWhats the percentage of laws we’re permitted to ignore again?
Comment by BARTLEBEE
Uh, 0%. You’re not the Deciderer and you’re not the Hand of God. You have to obey all the laws.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:18 pmhttp://video.google.com/ videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
June 18th, 2007 at 11:23 pmOk gummitch.
:|
Its hard being a serf.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:24 pmCaption Contest:
“Nope, there’s no ‘Q’ in it - two more and I’ve got ye hung there Stretch, heh heh”
June 18th, 2007 at 11:26 pmHoly sh#t! Can’t anyone do anything to stop this???
Comment by JG — June 18, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
How’s this
Protests
June 18th, 2007 at 11:28 pm&
General Strike
&
If that fails the people may revolt though true Constitutionalists are pretty well bred out by 3rd world immigrants who think protests are against freedom!
Congress, Senate and the Judiciary should adjourn until King Bush’s reign is over. Impeachment is not on the table and Boy-King is free to do anything he wants. The country was hijacked in the 2000 elections.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:29 pmLike almost everything in this so called country it’s all BS.The Bush wh has shown that our country on the whole is just a mirage.There is no democracy, the supreme court showed us that in 2000 and look at our justice system,an attorney general who does not even respect the law of the land.The world’s best democracy please.How about the world’s biggest BS patch sounds more ike it folks.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:34 pmComment by freedomrings — June 18, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
Democrats won’t stop the funding, then the people could. Stop paying tax. Shut the government down.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:34 pmwhen you consider that these laws were passed by his toady congress (my understanding is that he’s stopped) this is even more incredible. He didn’t veto them…he just said he wouldn’t obey or enact them. I thought the imperial presidency of Nixon was the limit…I was wrong. When will his majesty change the uniforms of the White House guards. Those of you too young to remember Nixon tried to get the White House guards dressed in some outfit that looked like they were guarding Buckingham Palace. I’m sure those outfits are around somewhere.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:37 pmComment by TerrytheTurtle — June 18, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
Or we start a political movement called “No Incumbents” Throw the whole lot of them out and start with a new batch, that realizes we are watching them.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:38 pmCaption Contest;
“heh heh, er…. how do you spell Bush again?”
June 18th, 2007 at 11:39 pmBush is acting like a dictator, but what are the Democrats in Congress going to do about it?
June 18th, 2007 at 11:41 pmCaption Contest;
“…and I can draw horses and Dune Buggies too”
June 18th, 2007 at 11:42 pmHigh Treason. enough said.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:43 pmOr we start a political movement called “No Incumbents†Throw the whole lot of them out and start with a new batch, that realizes we are watching them.
Comment by Tundra — June 18, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
Unfortunately ‘power attracts the corruptible’ (I subscribe to Frank Herbert’s subtle alteration of the more popular saying)
June 18th, 2007 at 11:43 pmCaption contest;
“don’t worry boys, I signed it Alfred E Newman”
June 18th, 2007 at 11:44 pmUnfortunately ‘power attracts the corruptible’
Yeah, where else do people pay millions of dollars for a $200,000 a year job?
When your in you owe someone that money. Hmmmm looks like we’ll have to come up with something else.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:47 pmOr we start a political movement called “No Incumbents†Throw the whole lot of them out and start with a new batch, that realizes we are watching them.
Comment by Tundra
Ya know, Tundra, I’ve been advocating that for yrs. The real contest isn’t between the Repubs and the Dems, it’s between Those in Office and The Rest of Us. For my money, you can vote them all out and it’d be a great start!
June 18th, 2007 at 11:48 pmHoly sh#t! Can’t anyone do anything to stop this???
Comment by JG
As long as Pelosi is “Table Impaired”, not untill a new president is elected and takes office.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:49 pmOr untill the House Dems replace Pelosi with someone willing to do the right thing and fulfill their Oath of Office.
Republic, I agree with you for the most part but we can’t throw out Feingold with the rest of the bums!!
June 18th, 2007 at 11:50 pmGIVE ‘EM THE BIRD,
June 18th, 2007 at 11:52 pmVOTE FOR A THIRD!
I am surprised that the toady repugnant and lame 109th congress didn’t just pass a law abolishing itself so bush could just write the laws he wants and execute them…much easier that way…its the way Spain’s dictator Franco did it, a fine role model for this bushchaney junta….they might want to get advise from Henry Kissinger with his ample experience propping up dictators around the world…
June 18th, 2007 at 11:52 pmComment by Wayne — June 18, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
I’m thinking Nancy is less “Table Impaired,” and more “Table Phobic.”
What do you think?
Heh.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:52 pmRepublic, I agree with you for the most part but we can’t throw out Feingold with the rest of the bums!!
Comment by JPark
There’s always a keeper or two in the pond, JPark. As for the rest of ‘em, oh, how I wish we could put out to pasture, and the sooner the better.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:53 pmGIVE ‘EM THE BIRD,
VOTE FOR A THIRD!
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Don’t be a slob!
June 18th, 2007 at 11:55 pmRead Wayne’s…..er, blog!
I wish I could agree with you Wayne. No way am I going to do that though. Not until we have automatic runoffs, public funding and a parliamentary system. I hate it but until those three things happen I am going to vote for the lesser of two evils.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:55 pmOr we start a political movement called “No Incumbents†Throw the whole lot of them out and start with a new batch, that realizes we are watching them.
Comment by Tundra
Now THAT I can get behind.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:55 pmOr we start a political movement called “No Incumbents†Throw the whole lot of them out and start with a new batch, that realizes we are watching them.
Comment by Tundra
Exactly.
Every Dem that was in the 110th, that sat by with their thumbs up their collective a$$e$, while Bushco and the Rubberstampers raped this country needs to be booted. Not one fillibuster attempt by the few who did try was supported by these asshats.
And all the Republicans as well.
We need people that will do the “right thing”. Most of the ones in Washington Don’t.
June 18th, 2007 at 11:57 pmRepublic, I will do my part and vote for Feingold for Senate in ‘08 (or is it 2010?) and feel really good about it (along with Rep. Baldwin).
June 18th, 2007 at 11:58 pmI’m thinking Nancy is less “Table Impaired,†and more “Table Phobic.â€
What do you think?
Heh.
Comment by Zooey
Definately
From now it’s Nancy “Table Phobic” Pelosi =D
June 19th, 2007 at 12:00 amFrom now it’s Nancy “Table Phobic†Pelosi =D
Comment by Wayne
Woo hoo!! :D
June 19th, 2007 at 12:02 amAnd the score after 6, Zooey 1, Pelosi 0!
June 19th, 2007 at 12:04 amStopped over at GoDaddy to pick it up and…..
NOINCUMBENTS.COM is already taken
Darn, there goes that idea.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:04 amI will do my part and vote for Feingold for Senate in ‘08 (or is it 2010?) and feel really good about it (along with Rep. Baldwin).
Comment by JPark
Feingold was actually one of the few that actually tried todo something, with little support from his fellow Democrats.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:08 amI have alot of respect for Feingold.
NOINCUMBENTS.COM is already taken
Comment by Tundra
throwthebumsout.org is open =)
June 19th, 2007 at 12:12 amlisten dude…………
jimbo dude HAS TO keep taking chill pills dude
WITH ALL THE FRIGGIN CORRUPTION, FAST SMOOTH SHIFTY EYED
CORRUPTION GOING ON DUDE
AND WE THE PEOPLE GETTING FRIGGIN FAR SUPERIOR SERVICE AT
MCDONALDS
INSTEAD OF ALL THESE HOODLUMS STUFFING PORK IN LOBBYIST
WRITTEN LEGISTATION DUDE……….
LITERALLY IT’S THE FRIGGIN GREASE PITS SPILLED ALL OVER THE DUMP
DUDE… THAT’S THE KIND OF SERVICE WE THE PEOPLE GET
NICE…..30% FEDERAL AGENCY’S ARE CRIMINAL IN NATURE DUDE, FRGGIN
COMPLETELY IGNORING LAWS
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A COMPLETE CESSPOOL OF CORRUPTION DUDE
but jimbo dude is going to keep chillin dude, chillin man :)
June 19th, 2007 at 12:13 amI am one of the lucky ones, Wayne, half of my Senators are worth voting for.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:13 amI think it’s pretty clear that each time the boy king’s and the regent Cheney’s misdeeds come to light, the people and their representatives are reminded “we’re in wartime”.
Today there were 2 threats issued as reminders–a suspicious car outside of the White House that a police dog went into ‘alert’ position on, and ABC reporting that Al Qaida suicide bombers have entered the country. Funny how that happens whenever BushCo needs us to be distracted. The message seems clear to me, and that’s “Try to impeach me and I’ll make sure there is a terrorist act somewhere in America, and I’ll spin it that it’s all the impeachers’ fault.” That’s what’s keeping members of Congress from acting on all of the constitutional crises that Bush is provoking.
They all rule by consent of the governed. As long as we keep letting our representatives and senators do nothing about it, BushCo will keep doing it. As will the next president, and the next, and so on.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:16 amI wish I could agree with you Wayne. No way am I going to do that though. Not until we have automatic runoffs, public funding and a parliamentary system. I hate it but until those three things happen I am going to vote for the lesser of two evils.
Comment by JPark — June 18, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
I understand, JPark. But the truth is that as long as we continue to vote for the lesser of two evils, we will never get all those changes you’d like to see first. So it’s kind of a Catch-22.
And it’s okay to vote for Feingold if he’s running on a line other than the Democrats. The point is to send a message and to try to make it so that no party has a clear majority.
For the record, I intend to go through with this myself. If John Hall is another party’s line (like the Green Party), then I’ll cast my vote there. If not, then I guess he’s SOL.
Okay, I mean it this time. Good night, all.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:17 amOH AND AS I STATED -
MOST SACRED HIGHEST CLASS HOUSE OF THE LAND
CORRUPT
UTMOST DEPT OF TRUTH/JUSTICE
CORRUPT
SENATE/CONGRESS/K STREET
CORRUPT
DEPT. DOA, DOB, DOC, DOD, DOE,……..
EPA, EPB, EPC, EPD……..
YOU SAID IT NOT I DUDE
30% OF THE 100% LAWS IGNORED DUDE
CORRUPT
AND GUESS WHO GAVE THE GO AHEAD…..
STANDING STRONG
SHIFTY EYED SMOOTH FAST TALKING HOODLUMS DUDE
FAR SUPERIOR A+ SERVICE FOR WE THE PEOPLE AT MCDONALDS
AND WE GET THE FRIGGIN GREASE DUMP FOR SERVICE, FROM ALL THIS
FRIGGIN CORRUPTION GOING DOWN DUDE
AND IT ALL FRIGGIN TOTALLY RIGGED DUDE RIGGED
June 19th, 2007 at 12:17 amI STAND STRONG DUDE
THE FRIGGIN GREASE SPILLED OVER THE FRIGGIN DUMP
THAT’S THE KIND OF SERVICE WE THE PEOPLE GET FROM
THESE FRIGGIN GOD APPOINTED ROCK SOLID ELDERS
FRIGGIN GREASE PITS ALL OVER THE DUMP DUDE
EVEN THE FRIGGIN DEPT OF ED (WISDOM) IS CORRUPTED TOO,
June 19th, 2007 at 12:20 amDEFENSE, ED, JUSTICE, WISDOM, ALL FRIGGIN CORRUPTED DUDE
Wayne, I don’t know what I will do. If the Green party has a good candidate MAYBE I will vote for him or her. They haven’t so far. They had that Occidental Oil owning hypocrite last time. Nader was just horribly unlikable and not all that upstanding.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:22 amI am one of the lucky ones, Wayne, half of my Senators are worth voting for.
That’s the problem everywhere. Everybody likes their own representative–it’s the other guy’s representative who sucks.
Right now it’s the Republicans who are the problem. Until enough of them, enough to make the crucial 60, cross over and vote with Dems, the boy king and his regent Cheney are safe to do as they please.
Perhaps we’re sending the wrong message. Let’s assume that Karl Rove keeps them loyal through blackmail. Why not tell Republicans, “Whatever it is that you’ve done that Karl Rove is holding over your head, we’ll forgive it as long as you vote BushCo out”?
June 19th, 2007 at 12:25 amWayne, I don’t know what I will do.
Comment by JPark — June 19, 2007 @ 12:22 am
Right now there’s plenty of time to consider your options. You don’t have to choose the candidate you want to vote for today. I intend to start doing research and while I’m at it, I’ll add Wisconsin’s to my list of candidates to check out.
Be brave, have courage, and I will help you through this. Who knows, maybe this could end up giving my blog a useful purpose.
Okay, when this cigarette goes out, I hit the sack. :)
June 19th, 2007 at 12:26 amThat’s it! We offer amnesty to all members of Congress! Both sides, Lieberman, too. We tell them it’s a ‘one time offer’–”Whatever you’ve done, we’re wiping the slate clean as long as you rid us of these vermin!”
June 19th, 2007 at 12:28 amJPark, Jess, I don’t want to hijack this thread with a topic far less important right now. If you’d like, you can visit my blog and talk about it there. I can join the discussion when I get home from work tomorrow night.
My apologies to everyone at TP. (Though you have to admit, if there weren’t so many D’s and R’s in Congress, Bush wouldn’t have gotten away with this so easily.)
June 19th, 2007 at 12:30 am(Though you have to admit, if there weren’t so many D’s and R’s in Congress, Bush wouldn’t have gotten away with this so easily.)
Here here!!
June 19th, 2007 at 12:33 am“That’s the problem everywhere. Everybody likes their own representative–it’s the other guy’s representative who sucks”
No Jess. Feingold is not a case of “everybody likes their own representative”. I have two Dem Senators. Feingold…I would vote for him every single time and so would just about every liberal or green. Kohl, I am willing to fight against because he is a corporatist.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:37 amYou’re welcome to join the conversation there, too, Tundra. I welcome all points of view. It’s how I maintain an open mind, and a sharp tongue. :)
June 19th, 2007 at 12:38 amKohl, I am willing to fight against because he is a corporatist.
Comment by JPark — June 19, 2007 @ 12:37 am
Yes, Kohl’s Department Stores. So naturally he is.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:39 amWayne, I am persuadable. I just don’t see anything but lesser of two evils being in our future. I mean, freaking Hillary is the frontrunner. Can we have anything other than Bush-Lite? But I see a huge danger in a guy like Freddy Kru…oops, Thompson being our president. The Dems are crapping on their base (me) and the one guy that is doing what the base wants (Edwards) is not even in 1st with progressives (somehow that cypher, Obama is). I really don’t know what I will do. If Edwards is the Dem candidate I will happily pull the D lever.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:41 amWhy isn’t this enough to impeach, Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA)>???
June 19th, 2007 at 12:41 amRepublic, I will do my part and vote for Feingold for Senate in ‘08 (or is it 2010?) and feel really good about it (along with Rep. Baldwin).
Comment by JPark
I’ve only skipped one small, local election in the last 2 decades. Whenever I get those little booklets in the mail before an election, I read them over 2 or 3 times before voting.
Didn’t someone failrly smart once say something about an “informed electorate’ being the best safeguard for democracy? the problem here is that it’s WORK to stay informed, and it has absolutely nothing to do w/ Britney Spears getting out of a limo sans panties.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:42 amHeh, but he owns the Bucks. As soon as he sells he is GONE.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:42 amalthough “the agencies did not execute the provisions as enacted,†it cannot necessarily be concluded that “agency noncompliance was the result of the President’s signing statements.â€
No it could also be the utter incompetence as indicated in the Iraq embassy story above…
June 19th, 2007 at 12:43 amInslee needs a swift kick in the a$$. What exactly did Pelosi promise him for submarining the will of the people?
June 19th, 2007 at 12:44 amWayne, I will definitely go to your blog and add it as a fave.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:44 amJPark ~ I honestly don’t know. Here’s his committee assignments
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Committee on Natural Resources
Nothing here warranting any special treatment… Especially since he’s on Oversight and Investigations, he should be spearheading this, but no, that would build a groundswell of support for Bush>>>???
June 19th, 2007 at 12:47 amRight now there’s plenty of time to consider your options. You don’t have to choose the candidate you want to vote for today. I intend to start doing research and while I’m at it, I’ll add Wisconsin’s to my list of candidates to check out.
Be brave, have courage, and I will help you through this. Who knows, maybe this could end up giving my blog a useful purpose.
Okay, when this cigarette goes out, I hit the sack. :)
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — June 19, 2007 @ 12:26 am
Sorry but there is no more time here. You want to wait till the election but back up the last 2 were rigged for sure. There is an infallible way to tell, Bush got reelected!
Marches, protests, general strikes, revolt and possibly civil war are all that is left. Don’t you see that? I like to pretend that the election will be real but the election is just a show.
We don’t have to feel bad about this we just have to take it beyond the blog. General strikes are a great way to start and we are talking about an 80% majority. Citizens must lobby their cops to get as many of them as possible to cross sides. We must get the families of the soldiers on the side of reason.
There need to be large scale general strikes that completely stop the nation for days if necessary. They might attempt martial law at that point? Regardless the nightmare must end one way or the other. We can hold ad hock elections ourselves and rip away the corporate plutocracy!
I’m 99% sure we are there Wayne not waiting for another fake election for another figurehead operated by the military and the corporations!
Hay hay ho ho King Bush has got to go!
June 19th, 2007 at 12:49 amWayne, I will definitely go to your blog and add it as a fave.
Comment by JPark — June 19, 2007 @ 12:44 am
You’re too kind. Thanks.
Now stay on topic, friends. I’ll be back tomorrow night.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:50 amWell go figure, the Bush Administration doesn’t like laws…I am so surprised.
IGNORE THE TROLLS - Debate good, Trolls suck
June 19th, 2007 at 12:50 amRU, Feingold has made his mistakes (he was ok with Ashcroft) but he is the ONE Senator that voted against the Patriot Act (the first time) because he actually stayed up late and read the damned bill. He is a guy that called for the censure of Bush more than a year ago (it is not impeachment but it is far more than his collegues wanted). He is the guy that proposed the pullout bill this year. Paul Wellstone would be proud of him if he were still living.
June 19th, 2007 at 1:01 amIGNORE THE TROLLS - Debate good, Trolls suck
Comment by Buck Fush
I understand where you’re coming from, Buck, but there is something to be said for a good, spirited round of Whack-A-Trollâ„¢ after mucking around in reality all day…
June 19th, 2007 at 1:02 ambut he is the ONE Senator that voted against the Patriot Act (the first time)
In the House Paul voted against it :)
That’s 3 things hehe
June 19th, 2007 at 1:07 amLOL, Tundra. I have to say, that bigotted POS Paul is better than 98% of the rest of the GOP…and Lieberman and the Nelson boys on the Dem side. He needs to evolve until his knuckle aren’t scabbed before I would vote for him.
June 19th, 2007 at 1:10 amPaul Wellstone would be proud of him if he were still living.
Comment by JPark
Indeed, and here’s to Al Franken taking Norm Coleman down in ‘08!
June 19th, 2007 at 1:17 amGo Al!! I found his talk show dull and centrist but Norm is the sillyest Senator going.
June 19th, 2007 at 1:19 am“…after Congress passed a law outlawing the torture of detainees, Bush issued a signing statement saying that he would “construe [the law] in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President…”
I was informed by the president and the media that 9/11 was the day that changed everything.
Days that change everything are powerful days!
Those nineteen Islamist Terrorists were powerful people!
One day and nineteen people can change America!
June 19th, 2007 at 1:35 amMartin, 9/11 DID change everything. I was born!!! Just not in 1991 but still…
June 19th, 2007 at 1:53 amIf Congress can’t take down this little limp dick joke of a human they should all just go the f#ck home.
June 19th, 2007 at 1:55 amErr, 2001, I should say.
June 19th, 2007 at 1:59 ambuzzbomb, can we request that Bush and Cheney go home?
June 19th, 2007 at 1:59 amGo Al!! I found his talk show dull and centrist but Norm is the sillyest Senator going.
Comment by JPark
At least Al was informed and gives a shit. It’s a start in the right direction.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:04 amI agree Republic. He would be a great Senator. I love Al, I just didn’t love his show.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:36 amOne thing is a certainty: as soon as a Democrat is elected president, Congress will hold him/her accountable to see to it the laws are faithfully executed. Until then, Impeachment will remain off the table.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:55 amIf Congress can’t take down this little limp dick joke of a human they should all just go the f#ck home.
Comment by buzzbomb — June 19, 2007 @ 1:55 am
Since congress lacks the needed votes and will to impeach than the citizens must impeach the 110th Congress and the Dictator and hold paper ballot elections from our ranks. My point is that the ball is in our court and nothing is happening…
June 19th, 2007 at 7:16 amThat’s 3 things hehe
June 19th, 2007 at 7:42 amWhen Bush was first elected and before he was inagurated he was heard to remark that he didn’t understand why people kept throwing the Constitution in his face - “It was just a piece of paper”. He lost every debate. He came across like an idiot in every speech. He had no published papers outlining his own thoughts. Every word he utters comes from a team of speechwriters that run everything past focus groups. He was a failed businessman. He pushed into the corporate world by his father’s friends who then had to ask him to resign because he was worthless. The solution for this vagabon was to run him for a governorship and then on to the grand prize. We were warned about him but nobody listened. If the Democrats would have run anyone other than Al Gore then this wouldn’t have happened. America you voted and you chose as your American President…the man you thought could win the election and hopefully lead the nation. Given his ability to blow off Congress and the Constitution - We better hope that he even plans to leave office after his term. Personally, I see some “national emergency” in the works to thwart that. Those signing statements are a nightmare in themselves but if you want to read something really scary then read the Executive Orders that he has been issuing lately. Like dictatorial powers when he deems necessary, the elimination of posse commitatus and the suspension of habeas corpus. Be warned this guy is a serious danger and him and his cabal are out of control.
June 19th, 2007 at 8:36 amHail to our King George. There really has to be something we can do about this. It seems to me that if congress passes a law and then the President ignores the law, that is a crime. What is the use of passing laws if the President can ignore them at will? Please Democrats, stop playing nice and start flexing your muscles. Put impeachment on the table. Even if it doesn’t pass, it will at least give us a forum to spell out the crimes this administration has committed.
June 19th, 2007 at 8:38 amIf you want to make a difference and change this country back to what it was - then at least take a look at what RON PAUL is saying. He is the only one with a proven consistent record. He has dissented on a lot of the foolish things that this administration has been up to in league with the rubber stamp republican congress and guess what - he has been proven right in every case. Dr. Paul is not a lawyer who chooses his words so that he has an escape from their meanings. He is a doctor that delivers babies. He has made life and death choices up close and personal. He doesn’t kill people from the war room thousands of miles away to feel like a macho-man. He rightly pointed out to Rudy Guiliani how out of touch Guiliani was about the nation’s security. Rudy has made millions from have become an “expert” on security but he doesn’t even know why we were attacked. The CIA has reported publicly on this and he didn’t even read the 9/11 commission’s report despite being in the security business. Dr. Paul stood up to him and talked about the facts while Guiliani debated the emotion. Check out Ron Paul. If you know who Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are then you remember this country’s roots. Its time to go back to them and get back on the right path. Just check out the good doctor and let your brain and heart guide you.
June 19th, 2007 at 8:46 amHonestly JGalt would it not make more sense to end this thing now? I posted this:
Sorry but there is no more time here. You want to wait till the election but back up the last 2 were rigged for sure. There is an infallible way to tell, Bush got reelected!
Marches, protests, general strikes, revolt and possibly civil war are all that is left. Don’t you see that? I like to pretend that the election will be real but the election is just a show.
We don’t have to feel bad about this we just have to take it beyond the blog. General strikes are a great way to start and we are talking about an 80% majority. Citizens must lobby their cops to get as many of them as possible to cross sides. We must get the families of the soldiers on the side of reason.
There need to be large scale general strikes that completely stop the nation for days if necessary. They might attempt martial law at that point? Regardless the nightmare must end one way or the other. We can hold ad hock elections ourselves and rip away the corporate plutocracy!
I’m 99% sure we are there Wayne not waiting for another fake election for another figurehead operated by the military and the corporations!
Hay hay ho ho King Bush has got to go!
Are you sure that waiting another 1 1/2 years is a good idea for an election that is probably fixed like the last 2? The Founding Fathers would be proud that we stood up to tyranny no matter what the result.
June 19th, 2007 at 9:24 amScrewing America one signing statement at a time.
June 19th, 2007 at 9:51 amThis is why impeachment was invented.
THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE, NOR SHOULD THERE BE.
June 19th, 2007 at 10:39 amHere’s a reminder from the Founding Fathers, “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. ” “these ends” refers to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It was true then and reains true now.
June 19th, 2007 at 10:41 am“The Decider” should have been impeached for this abuse of power alone, not to mention the unbroken stream of lies, cover-ups and other high crimes in office.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:33 pmThis is why impeachment was invented.
THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE, NOR SHOULD THERE BE.
Comment by DM — June 19, 2007 @ 10:39 amem>
Congress is supposed to represent the will of the people. 300,000,000 people would have trouble with mob rules. So our representatives are elected to “represent our will.†I will not bore you here except to say that there were key issues like the concept of “No taxation without representation!â€
Congress persons for the most part are lawyers. One lawyer that comes to mind was Abe Lincoln. Abe was a “railroad lawyer†and during those years of westerly expansion the railroads needed more and more land. It became clear to them that getting Abe elected would be an ACE in their collective corporate pocket. Abe did many things to help the railroads after he did away with corporate restrictions.
Abe gave the corporation’s the same entitlements as an individual citizen. They could now lobby, vote, gain access to private lands, form larger corporations and become monopolies. That was only one thing that Abe did but there was more. Abe decided to unify the Union with a Federal System by force. He attacked the South’s use of slaves and made that the wedge issue. So after a brutal civil war the slaves were freed by the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
Read that amendment with care people since “lawyers†created it…
Section 1:
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2:
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
It was in this that a “CORPORATE PLUTOCRACY†was formed and allowed the states to retain slavery by chain gangs and work camps. What these lawyers in fact did was make a slave out of all people by the government. All they need to do is “PUNISH YOU.†The section gives congress additional powers of “ENFORCMENT†and that breaks away from the entire job of the “legislative branch†by allowing it to impose slavery as punishment through enforcement of any legislation.
With all of this combined the Congress became a possession of growing corporate powers through planted lawyers that they (the corporations) ran for important elections. Mainly at first this was for land grabs by the railroads but then developed to include insurance, banking Federal Reserve, IRS and everything else. In a way the corporations created a credit system for the growing base of slaves (us, we) so that we could house ourselves but our asses belonged to them from dawn to dusk.
A corporate plutocracy tends to resemble a feudal system but make no mistake the guy at the top represents the corporations from Abe Lincoln till today. The military in the USA is not allowed to maintain standing armies for good reason. They are a drain on the economy during peace and become the plutocratic enforcers from the moment they exist. The Constitutional provision was that local citizens were to maintain (drill and practice) local militias of the local citizens who were expected to be armed as a declarative in the 2nd Amendment.
After the British it was determined that no matter what as free people “tyranny†was the worst possible thing. It was worse than murder, slavery, butchery, rape, arson, contempt, etc. They warned us all over and over again about the dangers of “tyranny.†Here we are today and 88% of the citizenry want to change out the Executive Branch. Congress does not hear us or yield to us but instead deceives us and defends the corporate plutocracy. The lawyers have created a business of the government since they are the politicians and they were put there by the corporations who made them.
That is the chain of command and that is why congress does not hear us. They don’t take us seriously since we trusted the fox in the hen house. Lawyers are by their very nature the slickest of blood suckers! All you need to do on any issue is look at the flow of money and as it goes WE pay it and THEY collect it!
So there is an alternative here and frankly the alternative must be taken and that is to abolish the current government. Time is short since the Dictator seems to like “nuking things!†We had better get a religion and fast since many of us feel the hairs on the back of our necks standing in alert to the growing danger to the world that this “Corporate Plutocracy†represents. I would imagine that protests will be put down. I’m sure there is a reason Bush wants to give illegal aliens amnesty as they would not in fact “Strike†during general strikes. While the citizens were out striking, protesting and marching the corporations would use those “guest workers†that don’t care about “Civil Rights†or the “Constitution.â€
So, protesting, marches and general strikes should be done but ultimately the most the government will do is give us the illusion that they will be responsive. We are likely to be lulled into a false sense of security like has happened so many times before. At some point we will have to embrace one of those old adages, “Give me liberty or give me death!†When, fellow citizens, shall we make a general strike on the tyrants to wound them in their money coffers that used to belong to US?
When will we descend down on DC in PEACE to give the Tyrants notice that their social experiment and notions of a New World Order are “OUT OF ORDER?†Can we honestly afford to wait another 1 ½ years while “NEW†more sinister 9-11’s are being planned in hopes that any popular uprising can be quieted once and for all? Can we honestly afford to wait another 1 ½ years to see another fixed election done on machines that post results for whomever is planned on winning by the blood suckers?
When will we dance?
June 19th, 2007 at 12:59 pm“…presidential interpretations of laws…”
I’m pretty sure the constitution does not grant the President Authority to either interprete or create laws.
Legislative - Create
Judicial - Interprete
Executive - Enact/Veto
I honestly believe that the original idea for the presidents role in our government was to act as the principle DIPLOMAT for the United States not as a Commander in Chief. And while the ability to wage war can be coonsidered a diplomatic tool the CiC powers have become increasingly abusive ever since Nixon decided the president could fully commit US forces to Police Actions anywhere he wanted.
Sometimes I wish we’d leave the world alone and let every country do a little growing up on their own. It’s like watching a 15yr old telling a 9yr old they know whats best for them; It even sounds like it.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:57 pmOh #92 its actually Life, Liberty, and the right to own property.
No promise of Happiness. No surprize right.
Remember that unconditional seizure by the Government/Monarchy and their agents was a big thing back then.
Our government calls it eminent domain and must compensate at a fair market price any property seized from US citizens.
June 19th, 2007 at 3:04 pmImpeach. Please.
June 19th, 2007 at 3:22 pmIt’s great that the Democrats are staging all these oversight committees, and incessantly pointing out all the unconstitutional and outright criminal, actions of this President, but where are the consequences? Could you imagine a District Attorney, standing and whining to the media, “Look, he sold another bag of heroin! Look, he assaulted another person…” and not bringing this person before a court? The Democrats are just solidifying their image as whinny, ineffectual cowards. Everyone here obviously keeps up with the Scandal Du Jour, please write your Congressmen, Senators and Speaker of the House, Pelosi, and ask why nothing is being done with all the information that has been brought to public light: Lies that led up to the war, Lying to Congress, Illegally by-passing govt. email accounts for govt. business, destruction of government records… and on, and on, and on. The only way there will be accountability for the Monster-in-Chief, is if we hold our representatives accountable for their complicity. Threaten their grip on office and the cash cow it represents and then see how quickly the tune in Washington changes.
June 20th, 2007 at 12:29 pm