If he signs anything else it will not only be "read my lips" 24/7 on every news cast for the next 3 years, it is worse than that. Both are ally's and our enemies won't trust Bush at his word. Anything less than a veto can end up costing American lives.
Remember how he suppressed calls from social conservatives angry at Dubya's nomination of the Massachusetts governor who brought explicit gay sex ed to that state's middle schools to be our ambassador to Canuckistan?
No wonder so many social conservatives now openly refer to him as "Mush."
However that said, I have to add this. It was the DUTY of the House members to abide by the Constitution and those who helped pass this bill should take responsibility for their actions.
They voted to pass it. Now they look to GW to veto it. SAVE ME! SAVE ME!
Isn't that pretty cowardly??
One other point while I'm thinking about it. On Fox's Special Report with Brit Hume, Mort and Mariah thought this bill would help the Republicans in the short run.
I believe GW took the same "I'll sign it" stance with the stimulus package; 'lo and behold', the bad package never made it to his desk. I'm really getting tired of our congressional "leaders" hiding behind the 'skirts' of the president, and one way to stop them is to hold them responsible for their actions.
When GW goes before Congress and asks then to declare formal war against Iraq (he has no other choice), we will find out what our representatives are made of.
Definitely unAmerican!
I do have one question for everyone here claiming Bush should veto this bill since it is unconstitutional. So what? If it is as unconstitutional as everyone here claims, then there is no danger in signing it. When you call for a veto you only show how weak your belief in it's unconstitutionality really is.
Sign the bill, the minute it hits the desk. Then announce that you've instructed Ashcroft to immediately challenge it on constitutional grounds. That way Bush keeps his word, demonstrates how unconstitutional the bill is, and teaches those in Congress a lesson in not passing the buck.
Constitutionalists are apparently a fairly small fraction of the American electorate; neither Republicans nor Democrats think they're worth courting.
I predict no veto, just another mudrasslin' festival of mutual recriminations, accusations, and obfuscation.
Final score: Politicians..437...Constitution..0...:*(
Unfortunately, I think W has painted himself into a corner on this one. I think it was a major mistake for him to indicate early on that he would sign the bill. He should simply have said what he is saying now- he'll decide when it reaches his desk. I'm sure he expected a majority of Republicans in congress to show some backbone, but I think he has found out what the moderates are made of (he should have known this after Jacka$$ Jim Jeffords jumped).
Veto this bill Mister President!
Next will be a bill curtailing people of certain religions from voting! .... then another preventing conservatives from assembling!
IT MUST END HERE!
White House email: president@whitehouse.gov
White House fax: 202-456-2461
Whie House switchboard: 202-456-1414
My email to the President:
Dear Mr. President,
I believe that your veto of HR 2356, the so-called "campaign finance reform" bill currently in Congress, is imperative should this false and dangerous legislation make it to your desk. Its proponents have labeled it with a feel-good title, giving cover to its details, which blatantly violate our First Amendment right to free speech. Those same proponents went so far as to acknowledge the unconstitutional elements of the bill during the House debate, yet passed it in spite of this. They added elements which merely serve their own grandstanding and political self-interest, while robbing the common citizen of their most basic Constitutional rights. It is a dangerous lie, and one which must go no further.
Undoubtedly there are many arguments to be made for and against a veto. Some may caution you against the political fallout resulting from such action. They may advise you to sign it into law, letting the US Supreme Court reject it on its blatant unconstitutionality. However, it is not the place of a strong leader to take the moral low road, and let the responsibility of upholding the US Constitution to someone else. You have shone as a leader since the day you took office, and it is your duty as that leader to act decisively on this issue. Contrary to what some may say, you will gain much in the eyes of the nation with your veto. You will be doing so in order to uphold the oath you swore to protect the US Constitution. You will be doing so to protect the rights and voting voice of the everyday citizen. And you will be upholding your promise to support true campaign finance reform, which this most assuredly is not.
Before exercising your veto, it is vital that you use this opportunity to address the nation, explaining in simple terms the details of this bill. Show them how it does nothing to improve campaign financing, and in fact makes it worse. Show them how it denies them the right to free speech, while empowering large organizations. Let everyone see it for what it is, a package of lies and restrictions cleverly disguised as "campaign finance reform." Then, let everyone once again see you for the leader that you are, taking decisive action with a veto which is in our nation's best interest.
Polls have shown that campaign finance reform is a low-priority item in the public's mind. Proponents of the bill have used this fact to sneak it through Congress. However, it is this same fact which will insure that the slight bit of negativity which may result from your veto will be small and short-lived, if it happens at all. On the contrary, I believe that the strength you show by stopping this abomination will gain, not lose, public opinion. You will again demonstrate the leadership you have shown consistently since taking office.
The issue is really quite simple. This bill does nothing for true campaign finance reform, and violates the most basic constitutional principles upon which our nation was founded. It not only is your duty to veto this abomination, it is the legal and moral right thing to do. When and if the time comes, please do so decisively for all our sakes.
Question, if X41 would have listened to one man he would have had a second term and we wouldn't have had to endure stained blue dresses etc., for a free cup of coffee who was that person?
Vice President Dan Quayle. What was the advice? Do not go back on your promise of no new taxes and don't except the Sununu/Darmin deal with Sen Majority Leader George Mitchell. He didn't listen and the rest is history.
GWB please do not go back on your guidelines that were what you wanted in a CFR package to be when this was floated over a year ago. Ari Flischer spelled them out, maybe he should do so again. Stick to your guns, do the right thing, not for your career but because it is the right thing to do.