Feingold and Ryan to join McCain in push to give Obama line-item veto power [McCain-Feingold-Ryan]

The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wis. ^ | 2009-03-03 | Mark Pitsch

[rabscuttle385]

Two Wisconsin lawmakers from opposing parties are joining former GOP presidential nominee John McCain in pushing to give President Barack Obama line-item veto power.

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Middleton, and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, are teaming up with the Arizona senator for what they say is a strategy to hold the line on federal spending and prevent wasteful earmarks.

They plan to introduce the bill tomorrow.

[rabscuttle385]

[Seruzawa]

John Who?

[rabscuttle385]

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[Carling]

Great idea! Now Obama can red-line any portion of a bill that would benefit a state that didn't vote for him.

[stylin_geek]

Great, let’s give President Obama a fig leaf to cover his blatant hypocrisy when it comes to earmarks.

Democrats will lard up every bill with even more pork just to give President Obama something to veto.

This is stupidity at its finest.

[Deb]

I thought the Supremes already ruled under Clinton that the LIV was unconstitutional.

Does Senator McCain understand that only Republican items will be vetoed?

[sweet_diane]

Wasn’t Reagan or one of the Bushes denied line item veto?

[bolobaby]

Red-line every Republican amendment regardless of state is more likely.

‘Cause we’ve all seen how fair he’s been with Republican ideas so far.

[rabscuttle385]

[txnativegop]

I don’t understand how Republicans could be so ignorant.

[Reagan Man]

Just when you think we have a real fiscal conservative in the House, Paul Ryan lets us down.

Just WTF is with these bozos?

Don't give Obama jack-squat!

[JLS]

It is a great idea if it can be constitutionally done. A line item veto can stop these monster bills that are too big to veto. How Obama would use it is irrelevant to whether it is a good idea or not. BTW, it is dims who usually come begging for a taxpayer hand out, not republicans.

[sickoflibs]

Yep, so he can line item out those tax cuts. Remember last year McCain was going to save us from Pelosi?

[JenB987]

Can John McCain be any more vile?

[AuntB]

“Does Senator McCain understand that only Republican items will be vetoed? “

Maybe that’s why he likes the idea!

[rabscuttle385]

Can John McCain be any more vile?

You ain't seen nothin' yet!

[Carling]

I disagree with it being a good idea as it puts even more power in the hands of the executive branch.

[DoughtyOne]

Why is it that most of the things on McCain’s short list always seem to aid the left some way or another.

[4rcane]

a line item veto operates under the premise that congress can’t be trust, so that the responsbility should be placed soley on executive. The buck stops at the top, so congress can plea innocent

A better legistration is , no bill can be voted on thats more than one page

[AuntB]

“Why is it that most of the things on McCain’s short list always seem to aid the left some way or another.”

It can’t be by accident, Doughty, no one is that stupid. Not even McCain.

[DouglasKC]

Ummm...hey McCain. What makes you think that a radical leftist President, a radical leftist Senate and a radical leftist congress are going to do anything but veto Republican line items if given that power? And what makes you think that if this passes they won’t repeal it once they lose control?

[Logical me]

McNut, go back to your room and shut the door. Stupid.

[Just A Nobody]

Can John McCain be any more vile?

NO! No he cannot.
Where the hell was he for the last 8 years when PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH was asking for the line item veto???

Oh, that's right...he was across the isle sucking up! POYJohn!

[arealconservativeforachange]

McCain to Conservatives: Here’s the knife in the back you were expecting.

I didn’t vote for this tool.

[TADSLOS]

Freakin' dumb. Make Obama OWN Porkulus. This stupid stunt gives him wiggle room, political retribution and deniability down the road. Of course, "bi-partisanship" is McCain's favorite song to dance to. What a friggin' tool he is.

[Dawgreg]

Exactly!

[arealconservativeforachange]

Because he’s a Democrat.

[Frantzie]

Juan McCain doing what he usually does. How could Ryan be so stupid?

[JenB987]

Had I known that McCain would lose the election, I would have written in Donald freakin’ Duck. My biggest regret in the past year was supporting and voting for this scum bag.

And I blame the heads at the GOP for giving us such a POS option for president.

[ari-freedom]

we already have a line item veto. It’s called the 10th amendment.

[Maceman]

I am constrained to point out that most of us here have supported giving the President the line item veto in the past.

Surely, in taking that position, we weren’t presuming that there would always be a Republican in the White House.

It sucks that Obama is president, but consistency requires that those who have supported the LIV in the past do so now.

[353FMG]

McCain is no Republican.

[LS]

FDR essentially did this in the New Deal. See Burt Folsom’s book, “New Deal or Raw Deal?”

[JLS]

I disagree with it being a good idea as it puts even more power in the hands of the executive branch.

Not really it restores to the executive the ability to veto acts of Congress. Congress could still itemize.

I don't really care how it is accomplished but the veto needs to be brought back. It could be accomplished several ways:

1. explicitly give the president a line item veto.

2. have the courts hold that each section of a bill is an "act of congress" in the meaning of the constitution.

3. adopt 4rcane's interesting suggestion that acts of congress or bills be limited to one page.

[demshateGod]

Why not? Considering everything that’ll come from congress will be from the rats.

[PzLdr]

Are these guys smoking crack?

[ChrisInAR]

Weren’t many of them in favor of giving President Bush the LIV when he was in office?

[Brookhaven]

“I am constrained to point out that most of us here have supported giving the President the line item veto in the past.”

Sometimes I think conservatives are no different than the left. Agreeing or disagreeing with an idea based upon who proposes it, instead of the merits of the idea.

The omnimubs or consolidated bill is responsible for most of the government evils of the last 100 years. Packaging the putrid with the good so the president has to accept the putrid to ge the good or veto the good to avoid the putrid.

That is never what the founder’s intended. The line-item veto simply restores the balance of power between the branches to what was originally intended.

The fact that it helps Obama now is not a reason to oppose it. In the long run it will help republicans and conservatives.

[Califreak]

I’m sure he is well aware of that.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Everyday my vote for Chuck Baldwin looks better and better....

[txnativegop]

McCain = His Weaselness LOL!!!!

[txnativegop]

yes, I believe so, but since the LIV is not constitutional, its a moot point.

[dblshot]

Why should only congress get lobby money for earmarks? The executive branch should get a piece of the action too.

[stevem]

I think Gingrich took a run at this a while back. A few justices who could still read said, “Change the Constitution.”

[ChrisInAR]

yes, I believe so, but since the LIV is not constitutional, its a moot point.

I opposed the LIV from Day 1 for that reason alone -- but speak about hypocrisy! I mean, now that Obama has the reins of power.....

I wouldn't consider it to be a moot point just yet, 'cuz the Constitution means nothing to the Obama Administration.

[ChrisInAR]

yes, I believe so, but since the LIV is not constitutional, its a moot point.

I opposed the LIV from Day 1 for that reason alone -- but speak about hypocrisy! I mean, now that Obama has the reins of power.....

I wouldn't consider it to be a moot point just yet, 'cuz the Constitution means nothing to the Obama Administration.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

They obviously didn't get the memo...

Court Strikes Down Line-Item Veto

[LearsFool]

I can’t speak for anyone else, but my concern is less about “consistency” than about what’s good for my country.

When “the rules” are used to destroy my country, “the rules” need to go.

[ChrisInAR]

Forgive me for my double post....I have no idea how that happened.

I disagree: the Constitution forbids the LIV, so it shouldn’t matter who is in the WH as to whether or not it should be used. The President should veto the ENTIRE bill & dare Congress to pass it again.

[LearsFool]

You may very well be right about the constitutionality question.

My argument was about “consistency” or “fairness” - which take a back seat to (A) what is right and good, and (B) the preservation of my country. No “equal time” from me. No “fairness doctrine”. No “freedom of religion” when that religion wants followers of my religion decapitated. No “freedom of choice” when that choice means babies are drawn and quartered.

Right and Good do not offer to Evil a podium to spew its message of destruction nor an audience to be destroyed.

If our present political battle were like that between Jefferson and Adams, I wouldn’t be making this argument. They both had the best interests of the nation at heart.

No, this battle is more akin to Churchill vs. Hitler - and I don’t imagine Churchill would’ve offered Hitler a “fair” debate with England as the audience.