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Yes, my sources in the White House are good enough to know that President Bush IS aware of the firestorm of protest from staunch supporters over his decision to sign Shays-Meehan rather than veto it. What we have here is a political decision trumping a constitutional decision.
President Bush is gambling that Shays-Meehan will be struck down by the Supreme Court, and even more importantly, that it will be struck BEFORE the November election. If that happens, the issue is not only defanged for this election, it is reversed. Daschle & comapny will be placed on the defensive before the public. "Why did you push so hard to pass a bill that would have stolen the First Amendment rights of American citizens?"
I disagree with the decision that the Bush team made. However, I thoroughly understand it. I would never have gambled with the Constitution.
But if the Court strikes CFR before the election, and the Democrats suffer serious defeats in both the House and Senate, the Bush team's calculus will be vindicated. Furthermore, with the Senate then in Republican hands, there will be no more debacles like the political assassination of Judge Pickering, (Keep in mind that also means better Justices on the Supreme Court, when President Bush gets his opportunites to make appointments there.)
I'm sure my comment does not change your mind on this. I trust it makes you a touch more hopeful about future events involveing the courts.

Billybob

As a Federal employee I can assure you that there are issues behind the scene that Freepers can't possibly know that influence all types of decisions everyday. Even in my lowly position, I know my supervisors are making decisions based on facts unknown to me. They often seem idiotic until I find out the reasoning behind them. I think you're right about this . . . Bush may even have had some conversations with the SC justices already!

Some of the knee-jerk hysterics that some are spouting may seem idiotic a few months from now! All I can say is Washington takes more patience than most people can understand or comprehend. The art of politics is sometimes like a game of chess - the early moves may make no sense, but the goal is to win the game.

This has always been my opinion of Bush (after voting for him twice as governor) - he is a master chess player!

I disagree with the decision that the Bush team made. However, I thoroughly understand it. I would never have gambled with the Constitution.

It certainly takes the wind out of any support while one waits for this to fall out.

I think the issue is more why does the President go out of his way to support candidates and positions of the left of Tom Daschle? Regardless of what one might think of the war effort, where has the White House been on the domestic side. Can any one on here name one domestic issue aside from tax cuts the Administration has backed conservatives on? And yet here the President is willing to go along with the Rats and the RINOs on a measure OPPOSED by his own party's base. Why does the White House think conservatives are losers and it no longer wants the base to help it win in 2004? A lot of what the President's men are doing is exactly the opposed of what needs to be done to bring the most committed Republicans to the polls. Maybe if we all stay away, we'll send the message our principles AND votes can't be bought just because we need warm bodies in Congress --- I mean the kind who look and sound like Republicans but aren't when it comes time to stand up for the people who voted for them. And if you're wondering why so few Americans bother to vote its because they don't think the people in power care about them any way. As we've seen they certainly don't think upholding the Constitution is the highest priority for them.

Thank you so much for answering my questions and having respect for people's opinions on this website. You are the only person on this website that I trust regarding this issue. Keep us informed as much as possible!