"We're having a repeat of what Democrats bitterly complained about under President Bush," said Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.), who drafted legislation to nullify Mr. Bush's signing statements.
And if any of you care to go back and see what many people wrote about GWB's 'signing statements' you will discover that not only were people upset about GWB's use of 'signing statements' people were cognizant of the fact that GWB was setting a dangerous precedent for future Presidents to continue the practice.
It is not entirely unbelievable that Obama will use "signing statements" in the same way that GWB did. And that is not to say Obama is right in doing so....but he is using the President Powers that were carved out by his predecessors. I for one hope he uses these powers to do more good than harm...but that is the chance we take isnt it...?
If you don't like it, I say too too bad. If Arlene Specter has a problem with Obama using 'signing statements' like GWB did then he should have done something about it back when GWB was using 'signing statements' to circumvent or change practically every damn bill that congress sent to his desk! We can't have the President sit in office and, by virtue of a 'signing statement', decide what is constitutional and what isn't and then establish statute by what sermounts to an "editorial" of the law by the President. that is the fundamental challenge that these 'signing statements' make upon our very precious "Separation of Powers" in this country.
I think if you boil down this issue, you will see that many on the 'right' are simply angered that Obama, by virtue of a 'signing statement' nullified all of GWBs previous 'signing statements'....by requiring all of GWBs 'signing statements' to go before the AG office for review.
I don't think I have a problem with that particular 'signing statement.' If the end result is rolling back damage done by GWB, I don't have a problem with that at all.
Now since Specter and every other GOP fumdvck out there is complaining....sorry, but all I have to offer is some cheese for your whine. I will say that I agree with Specter. And he has consistently been on the right side of this argument even back when GWB was in office. Unfortunately back when his party was in the White House there was nothing fundamentally done by congress to keep these Presidential Powers in check...and now we find exactly what the consequences are of that inaction.
You want to talk about hope? I "Hope" that Obama doesn't make a fool out of himself by using his Presidential Powers to override our 3 branches of government ala GWB. I "hope" he does positive works with his Presidential Powers...
?There is no doubt that the practice of issuing such statements can be abused,? Obama?s directive said. ?Constitutional signing statements should not be use to suggest that the President will disregard statutory requirements on the basis of policy disagreements.?
Politico <--another article on the subject. It details some of the dangers of the utilization of these 'signing statements.'
