Senator considers suit over Bush law challenge (Specter)

Boston Glob ^ | 6/28/06

[Huck]

I think Specter may be on the correct side of this one. A signing statement seems like a quasi-line-item veto. This is about the executive vs the legislative, and I think it's and appropriate debate. But yeah, "Specter is a douche" is much simpler and easier an argument.

[Just mythoughts]

Really which constitution, ours or the hidden Scottish one?

[new yorker 77]

Specter is the problem. Not Bush.

Reagan campaigned for RINO's.

The difference. GOP RINO's did not stab Reagan in the back like Specter is doing to Bush.

[Logical me]

The first thing the Republicans in the Senate is to remove Specter from the Judiciary Committee chairman post. This RINO is a real thorn in our side.

Then the Republicans in Pennsylvania should find another candidate and start the move to replace Specter the next election cycle. He is a RAT.

[gcruse]

``Signing statements are an appropriate means by which the president fulfills his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed."

Specter is a Clymer, we all agree, but the passive-aggressive childishness of signing something, then saying you won't enforce it is exactly the opposite of 'faithful execution.'

Bush 'enforcement' of immigration laws shows where this leads.

[Diogenesis]

Spectre: "I will bring down Bush AND the GOP with my latest "golden bullet" plan."

[Huck]

The Congress does in fact have the power to "make all laws." Seems to me "signing statements" are questionable.

[D-Chivas]

When is the cancer going to finish eating his brain?

[Suzy Quzy]

Snarlin Arlen is one DISLOYAL, UNGRATEFUL POS!!

[dighton]

In discussing Angus MacSpecter, the NO PROFANITY rule is torture.

[Pox]

Congress can pass laws all they want but that does not mean the laws they pass are constitutional.

[Huck]

allowing for them to be used to strike down parts of a bill.

That's the issue right there. The president does not have constitutional authority to strike down parts of a law. He can veto or sign. That's it.

[steve8714]

first veto?

[11th Commandment]

I am not sure this is constitutional, it sounds traditional. In fact, with regards to budget bills, congress forbids the executive branch from NOT spending money- this goes back to Nixon- the President would not spend all the budget dollars to balance the budget.

It sound like what Bush is doing is using this tradition in lieu of a line item veto. As soon as he hammers the line item veto out with congress, he will probably stop this practice.

[JerseyDvl]

I hate Arlen.

[Huck]

The president can sign a law or veto it. He can't alter it.

[SE Mom]

HOLY @#$% ping...has he completly lost his last reaming brain cell?

[Congressman Billybob]

Once again, Arlen Spector has demonstrated that he is dumb as a hoe handle when it comes to constitutional law.

Back during the Administration of Richard Nixon (Remember him? He was in all the papers.), the President refused to spend certain funds that had been authorized by Congress, because he disagreed with the purpose. He claimed Executive authority to do that.

Assorted folks filed suit, and in due course the Supreme Court ruled that Congress was right and the President was wrong, and the funds had to be spent as designated. But when you apply that thinking to "signing statements," the logic falls apart.

President Bush is not saying, as President Nixon did say, that he will not follow a law duly passed by Congress. President Bush is only expressing his opinion about the law.

And if it is possible to file suit to force a politician to stop expressing his opinion, most of the Senate Democrats and an occasional so-called Republican like Spector, deserve that treatment long before President Bush does.

P.S. Interested in a Freeper in Congress? Keep in touch with me.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "Tribal Loyalties and Public Lies"

[The South Texan]

I loved the way the chairman of AT&T the other day threw back stuff at Specter when he tried bullying to answer a question the way he wanted in answered. Specter really made an ass out of himself to the point I ALMOST felt sorry for him.

[SE Mom]

uuuhh...that would be "remaining"...lol