Today, Bush went further than anyone thought possible. He has vetoed the Defense Authorization Bill. His right. But he has insisted that he cast a pocket veto because the Congress is not in session! To prevent a crisis, he did a CYA move to veto it for real, but he nonetheless claims that the Senate's pro forma sessions don't count, and that Congress is not in session. Congress is in session. Period.
To quote him:
"The adjournment of the Congress has prevented my return of H.R. 1585 within the meaning of Article I, section 7, clause 2 of the Constitution. Accordingly, my withholding of approval from the bill precludes its becoming law. The Pocket Veto Case, 279 U.S. 655 (1929). In addition to withholding my signature and thereby invoking my constitutional power to "pocket veto" bills during an adjournment of the Congress, I am also sending H.R. 1585 to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, along with this memorandum setting forth my objections, to avoid unnecessary litigation about the non-enactment of the bill that results from my withholding approval and to leave no doubt that the bill is being vetoed."
If he tries to make a recess appointment, it will be war. Reid will not tolerate that.
This is just the most outlandish of the claims of vast Executive power.
Bush belongs in jail.
4 comments:
What's more he clearly no longer supports the troops!
But seriously, Bush is the closest thing we've had to Charles I. I had thought he was George III but at least Mad King George III worked within the boundaries set by Parliament.
Fortunately for George W. Bush, we have ways to curtailing his abuses short of beheading him.
Wow. Congress has not adjourned. What is Bush smoking? Or is this another Cheney-ism? And to then actually veto the bill makes moot his entire point.
Hey, maybe we can send Bush to the "happiest place on Earth...Tijuana!!"
Beheading him a la Charles I might be more satisfying. Sic semper tyrannis and all that. Damn the founders and their sense of history! Well, by year's end there will be a replacement for Bush. Normally we just need a transition team. This year, maybe an exorcism.
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