The pressure from the mainstream media on this subject has been intense. The Enron scandal has been used as an excuse to get this through. A large number of the voting public are justifiably concerned by what appears to be buying an candidate by corporate interests, unions, and overseas powers - remember Clinton and the Chinese money?
If Bush thinks the Supreme Court will overturn this thing anyway, why should he be the public bad guy?
Remember the average voter in the street - the one who turns elections with his/her ballot is really politically naive. Their actions are impacted by media propaganda and their analysis of political events is extremely superficial.
Perhaps Democracy is not a very good form of governance after all. Or, at least a Democracy which gives as much weight to an uniformed vote as to a informed one.
Because we will always remember how he signed a law that would be unconstitutional and how cavalier he is about giving away our free speech. This also goes for McCain, and all the others that voted against our free speech.
He may be trying to defuse a possible plan to use a veto as proof that Bush does not want campaign reform - look how he got into office - with the Supreme Court. But, this goes against the trust we have placed in him and in his word. It will take a long time to rebuild that trust when torn down.
My firm belief in Bush and his goals has been shaken by this action - I am disappointed.
Yes, it was illegal -- was anything done?