AM Feed - June 5: Facing Trouble, Bush Panders
Hot Topics
- President Bush is in real political trouble, and the Republican-controlled Congress is facing dismal approval ratings as well: So they’ve teamed up in a naked attempt to pander to their shared base of social conservatives by pushing a gay marriage amendment to the Constitution that has little to no chance of actually becoming law. Bush devoted his weekly radio address to supporting the amendment, which the Senate will begin to debate today. After months of bad news on everything from immigration to Jack Abramoff, this is an obvious attempt to change the topic – much as the “issue” was used during the 2004 presidential election. [link]
- The American Bar Association (ABA) board of governors has voted unanimously in favor of opening an investigation into whether President Bush has violated his powers by flouting over 750 laws that have been passed since he took office. Bush has repeatedly used signing statements to alter the meanings of laws he signs as he sees appropriate well after Congress passes them. All told, he has challenged more laws than all other presidents combined. “In this instance, the president’s practice of attaching signing statements to laws squarely presents a constitutional issue about the separation of powers among the three branches,” said ABA President Michael Greco. [link]
- President Bush’s stewardship of the economy has yielded some disastrous results over the past six years, including record deficits, a tepid job market, and gains realized by only America’s upper crust. And now things appear to be cooling off again. Just 75,000 new jobs were added in May, which is 100,000 fewer than analysts predicted. In addition, factory orders fell off, and the housing market continued to slow down as well. Consumer confidence is down, and signs indicate that inflation may soon become a serious issue. [link]
Quote of the Day
“When you make serious mistakes, you step forward and you acknowledge them and you walk away. Presidents can’t and shouldn’t do that. Secretaries of defense can and should.” – Sen. Joseph Biden (R-DE), calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to step down during the investigation into the death of Iraqi civilians in Haditha.
Morning Snark
- No one needs more political help than Donald Rumsfeld these days. Will President Bush take the unusual step of allowing the defense secretary to start pushing for the gay marriage ban?
Comment
- Why on earth have the Democrats allowed these signing “exceptions ” to happen without letting the tax-paying electorate know. That is as unconstitutional as it is immoral. If we continue to allow this to go on we have no democracy.
— Rosalie Stern Jun 5, 12:26 # - President Clinton was impeached and he was a great President. Why can’t this clown be impeached?? He has free reign to do as he damn well pleases. Why cannot we remove him from office as Nixon was, another liar???
Please somebody do something to remove him from power. He has shown mind-blowing incompetance. He has taken America apart, piece by piece. He is trying to erase the middle class. OH YES AND WHAT ABOUT THE WAR CRIMES COMMITTED UNDER HIS WATCH??????
— KAREN HAGGERTY Jun 5, 12:52 # - It seems to me that when we allow immoral men to define morality the result is just what we ask for. The problem is that the 2000 election was stolen and the stamp of approval given by the Supreme Court. It may take a long time to right that wrong. We have to try. The November 2006 congressionsl election is our best hope. The present congress is not going to impeach him. They got their way.
— Rosalie Stern Jun 5, 15:33 # - KAREN – the republicans have made themselves the moral majority – the only thing they seem to find repugnant is sex. Where’s Monica Lewinsky when you need her?
— jen Jun 6, 07:23 # - I think the situation today, in part, is that those in power are allowing their FAUX masculinity to run wild. They are all chickenhawks who studiously avoided combat when their country called them to arms in a war they believed in – Vietnam. I’m a stauch feminist – I believe we need GENUINE strength to grapple with today’s hideous problems. We need the strength to open our eyes, to care, and the guts to fight injustice. Although some of the women in power today are as bad, or nearly as bad, as men in power, I think we need some of the values that we usually associate with femininity – endurance, nurturance, promotion of peace, and compassion. There’s just not enough compassion around today. The ethic in this country seems to be “every person for herself or himself.” That’s not the basis for a society – that’s a cockfight!
— John Jun 6, 10:35 # - Hi John, good to hear your voice again. I think you’re right about the feminist view. Unless you’re talking about the likes of Ann Coulter. She was on the Today show this morning – very scary woman, that.
— jen Jun 6, 10:59 # - Oh God, there’s something terribly wrong with that woman…
It’s gratifying to hear of her legal woes, though. She’s been busted for election fraud and has lawyered up!
— John Jun 6, 11:09 # - An advantage to Today’s temporary outdoor studio is real audience reactions. During her rant this morning, she prompted one loud outburst of boo’s. I think it was during her claim that liberals have rallys to celebrate the deaths of 1.5 million unborn children, but I can’t be sure, since she was typically Coulterish for the entire interview and every word was offensive and ignorant. I could never do Matt Lauer’s job because I wouldn’t be able to resist telling her to her face that she’s a despicable c—t.
— Reep Daggle Jun 6, 12:00 #
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