The vote was 240-189 in the House, and 60-40 in the Senate.
The vote was inches away from two thirds in favor in both the House and the Senate, and I am sure that President Bush was well aware of which way the vote would go if he decided to veto.
60 is not inches away from 67.
Even if it recieved 66 it would still have been veto-proof.
I have followed Congress long enough that people do not change their votes when it comes to overriding a veto. IN fact, the vote to override never would have had even the most miniscule chance of making it onto the floor of either chamber.
Even if it wasn't veto proof, which it was, comfortably, he still shouldn't have signed it. He should have put all the onus on Congress.
The fact is, he was for it, he signed it, it's his responsibility.
Then you are saying the President has no power to influence the outcome of a bill in congress? He did manage to foist Bill Frist on us as majority leader, so I guess he is not all that powerless.
In case you have forgotten, the President has not exercised the Veto one time in his tenure. I am not sure but I don't think that has ever happened before.