AM Feed - July 24: Panel Faults Bush's Use of Signing Statements
Hot Topics
- A panel organized by the American Bar Association is set to release a report today that is very critical of President Bush’s extensive practice of using “signing statements” to re-interpret pieces of legislation as he signs them into law. The panel, which includes leading legal scholars and lawyers, concluded that Bush’s actions amount to a serious threat to the Constitution’s system of checks and balances, and urged Congress to pass a law providing for judicial review of such signing statements. “The President’s constitutional duty is to enforce laws he has signed into being unless and until they are held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court or a subordinate tribunal. The Constitution is not what the President says it is,” the panel wrote. [link]
- Last year, President Bush tapped John Bolton to be the US ambassador to the United Nations. Given his contentious history, Bolton was a controversial choice, and Bush temporarily sidestepped the Congressional approval process by installing Bolton to the post as a recess appointment. Now Bolton is set to face confirmation hearings in the Senate – and none of the issues that first arose with his nomination have been resolved. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) said yesterday that it will be a “bruising fight” over Bolton, and that, “The problems still persist.” [link]
- An independent investigation for the House Intelligence Committee found that imprisoned former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham routinely used the secrecy of the legislative process to insert provisions to benefit cohorts that offered him bribes. The investigation found that Cunningham worked the system by relying on classified legislation, which is drafted in a secretive process for security reasons. Oversight is limited to some members of Congress and their aides. The investigation also found that Cunningham strong-armed aides into allowing the provisions he sought. [link]
Quote of the Day
“This guy [Randy Cunningham] bastardized the process the whole way through.” – House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI)
Morning Snark
- Cunningham certainly abused the legislative process, but how’s this for a philosophical question: If Congress passes corrupt legislation, but President Bush then issues a signing statement completely re-interpreting the law, does it make a sound?
Comment
- The sound of one hand clapping?
— Doyal Jul 24, 11:37 # - I’d like to hear the sound of one hand clasping handcuffs on our illustrious warmongering “leader”.
It’s too bad our legislators don’t have the nads to impeach and indict.
— MO Jul 24, 12:03 # - When the man at the top is a lying, cheating SOB what can you expect from the rest of them. Has anyone got the ba—to impeach? We know it should be done , He is subverting the Constitution on a regular basis.
— Rosalie Stern Jul 24, 13:40 # - The constitution is just an obsticle for the people that are truly running this country… the corporations and the warmongers. Seeling arms and weapons is making a lot of them very wealthy men.
We have no heros. There is no one that is willing to sacrifice to save the American people. And unfortunately the American people don’t undersatnd how they have contributed to this and continue to do so. The poor rednecks have been convinced that it will help them to give more money to rich people. They have been conditioned to believ it is ok to cheat and lie and steal as long as you do get caught.
We are lying in a pile of our own making and this “government” is a reflection of ourselves.
— MO Jul 25, 09:25 #
Do you have any ideas for the AM Feed? Any stories or issues that you'd like to see highlighted? We'd love to hear your feedback. Drop us a line at afv@americanfamilyvoices.org.