Posted on 12/23/2020 1:01:14 PM PST by gattaca
Edited on 12/23/2020 1:11:06 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
The president had threatened to veto the defense spending bill if it failed to repeal special legal liability exemptions for Big Tech.
Updated: December 23, 2020 - 3:54pm Article Dig In President Trump on Wednesday followed through on his threat to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, calling it a "gift" to China and Russia that also lacks the reforms he sought to rescind legal liability shields for technology companies provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
However, both the House and Senate adopted the spending legislation with large majorities and could likely obtain the two-thirds majority votes needed to override the president's veto.
"Unfortunately, the Act fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military's history, and contradicts efforts by my administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions," Trump said in his veto statement. "The Act fails even to make any meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, despite bipartisan calls for repealing that provision. Section 230 facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online, which is a serious threat to our national security and election integrity. It must be repealed."
Read the full Trump statement below:
"I am returning, without my approval, H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (the "Act"). My Administration recognizes the importance of the Act to our national security. Unfortunately, the Act fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military's history, and contradicts efforts by my Administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions. It is a 'gift' to China and Russia.
No one has worked harder, or approved more money for the military, than I have -- over $2 trillion. During my 4 years, with the support of many others, we have almost entirely rebuilt the United States military, which was totally depleted when I took office. Your failure to terminate the very dangerous national security risk of Section 230 will make our intelligence virtually impossible to conduct without everyone knowing what we are doing at every step.
The Act fails even to make any meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, despite bipartisan calls for repealing that provision. Section 230 facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online, which is a serious threat to our national security and election integrity. It must be repealed.
Additionally, the Act includes language that would require the renaming of certain military installations. Over the course of United States history, these locations have taken on significance to the American story and those who have helped write it that far transcends their namesakes. My Administration respects the legacy of the millions of American servicemen and women who have served with honor at these military bases, and who, from these locations, have fought, bled, and died for their country. From these facilities, we have won two World Wars. I have been clear in my opposition to politically motivated attempts like this to wash away history and to dishonor the immense progress our country has fought for in realizing our founding principles.
The Act also restricts the President's ability to preserve our Nation's security by arbitrarily limiting the amount of military construction funds that can be used to respond to a national emergency. In a time when adversaries have the means to directly attack the homeland, the President must be able to safeguard the American people without having to wait for congressional authorization. The Act also contains an amendment that would slow down the rollout of nationwide 5G, especially in rural areas.
Numerous provisions of the Act directly contradict my Administration's foreign policy, particularly my efforts to bring our troops home. I oppose endless wars, as does the American public. Over bipartisan objections, however, this Act purports to restrict the President's ability to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea. Not only is this bad policy, but it is unconstitutional. Article II of the Constitution makes the President the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and vests in him the executive power. Therefore, the decision regarding how many troops to deploy and where, including in Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea, rests with him. The Congress may not arrogate this authority to itself directly or indirectly as purported spending restrictions.
For all of these reasons, I cannot support this bill. My Administration has taken strong actions to help keep our Nation safe and support our service members. I will not approve this bill, which would put the interests of the Washington, D.C. establishment over those of the American people. It is my duty to return H.R. 6395 to the House of Representatives without my approval."
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My opinion is that Perdue and Loeffler are road kill unless they fight hard and loudly for Trump.
All of the MAGA voters are going to stay home unless they get a real strong indication that these two are fighting to stop the steal. Add to that the fact that the Democrats are doubling down on absentee ballot stuffing - and nobody is doing a god damn thing about it - and these Republicans are getting creamed unless they do two things (really one thing):
Fight for Trump. Fighting for Trump does two things:
1) It means getting the state legislature to “stop the steal” of Nov 3, which brings out the MAGA voters on Jan 5th,
2) It also means blocking Democrat cheating that they are doing right now.
If these two senators just continue taking Karl Rove’s advice as they are doing right now, they are finished.
But sadly, it appears that is just what they are doing.
Don't be a dick.
Millions of us will be registering as ‘Independent’ IF Slow Joe and the Ho are sworn in.
Make sure your Congress Critters know this! Cram it down their gullets!
absolutely LOVE this photo!!!!...
Yes...I like both actually...
Almost Christmas!
I would say, put the suggestion to an open vote on FR without any narrative or arguments pro and con, for about 24 hours, and just see what kind of response in return.
Section 230 reforms will make our domestic enemies very unhappy.
Seems to be very few fighting this incredible lawlessness and corruption in Washington...and Trump is out in front, no doubt.
Why do I have this foreboding feeling that the Western culture is about to collapse into chaos
Better Pinochet than Allende.
I'm about 95% there.
Dear Mr. President,
keep kicking these commies in the nuts until you can’t kick any more.
You’re LATE.
I re-registered “Non-Partisan” so long ago I don’t recall what the last straw was.
I think it was sometime back in the Clinton era when the GOP was feeling sorry about the Contract With America & decided to play punching bag & let the Dems win a few rounds.
I know it was before Paul Ryan got rolled by Joe Biden in the VP debate.
Haven’t been GOP for many years, now.
Hell these bastards can do anything they want with impunity.
No, it’s called doing your duty.
He’ll do what he can until January 20th.
Hey!! You mean I ain’t gonna get that wonderful, life changing, 1.3% military retirement pay raise??????????????? WOW!! How will I pay my bills if I don’t have that extra $11.15 or so monthly raise!!! We are doomed. Really, what a crock the mob in congress are. They GIVE THEIR SELVES pay raises of thousands of dollars each year. With our social security raises, my military retirement raise, and my VA disability raise, we are going to get a whooping LESS THAN eighty dollars a month raise!!! All of those totaled, less than eighty dollars!!! Yup. We are told they cannot give us more, yet they get more by thousands than we do. WHAT OTHER JOB OTHER THAN THOSE IN THE US CONGRESS DO YOU GET TO DETERMINE AND APPROVE YOUR OWN PAY RAISE???? NONE!!!! THAT is who. Nobody gets that wonderful decision making authority. The EMPLOYEE, those elected to congress, get to tell the EMPLOYER, that would be we TAX PAYING citizens, what their raise is going to be and that THEY APPROVED THEIR OWN RAISES!!! Not us. Man, you just cannot make this liberal dog crap up!!! The employee tells the employer that we are giving ourselves thousands in pay raises, benefits, insurance, banking, travel benefits, paid vacations around the world on TAX PAYER’S dime. Yup, no wonder Deadbrain Biden has hung around 48 years for this gravy train. Hell, Ted Kennedy NEVER HAD A REAL JOB. He was on the government dime his ENTIRE WORTHLESS DRUNKEN FAT SLOB LIFE!!! All of them up there are. TIME FOR TIME LIMITS FOR FAT SLOB CONGRESS CRITTERS!!!
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