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Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 09:49 PM Jan 2012

Reality Check: Breaking Down Obama’s NDAA Signing Statement

The President issued a signing statement when he signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law. Conservatives are freaking out over the alleged hypocrisy of Obama’s usage of a signing statement and the less hysterical are still confused as to what it really means, if indeed, it means anything. So, let’s break it down.

A signing statement is something of a public pronouncement a president might make about a bill they are signing into law. They have been used to clarify their positions or elaborate dissent. In modern times, they are used to direct executive agencies to interpret the law according to the President’s interpretation of the Constitution.

As such, Attorney General Eric Holder explained that the signing statement clarifies how the Obama administration views the law and how they (executive agencies like the DoJ) will interpret it.

Obama used this signing statement to amend and clarify his administration’s interpretation of NDAA, a bill he is already on record as objecting to. Due to the administration’s objections and the ACLU’s objections, the language in the original was clarified and changed. However, all law is open to interpretation and can’t be taken alone – the NDAA in concert with the Patriot Act, for example, could be interpreted to mean something much differently than the Obama administration would want to agree to – thus, the signing statement.

SNIP

http://www.politicususa.com/en/reality-obama-ndaa-signing-statement

p.s. The article is about much more than just the NDAA 'signing statement', the article talks about signing statements in general.



12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Reality Check: Breaking Down Obama’s NDAA Signing Statement (Original Post) Tx4obama Jan 2012 OP
I give credit to the Pres for the signing statement. I am extremely dissapointed rhett o rick Jan 2012 #1
I never thought I'd see rationales for the Bush Doctrine being spouted on DU. ixion Jan 2012 #2
I got ignored by 3 people earlier for calling it what it is SixthSense Jan 2012 #4
presidential opinion is fascism? yodermon Jan 2012 #9
NDAA is fascism SixthSense Jan 2012 #10
I will add this: jaxx Jan 2012 #3
Good find sellitman Jan 2012 #5
The sections in the final bill ARE 1021 and 1022. Tx4obama Jan 2012 #6
Thanks, he used the wrong number himself. jaxx Jan 2012 #8
Here's a succinct analysis of the legal importance of a signing statement: MannyGoldstein Jan 2012 #7
Thanks. RC Jan 2012 #11
Famous last words from the Wiggle Room: GeorgeGist Jan 2012 #12
 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
1. I give credit to the Pres for the signing statement. I am extremely dissapointed
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 09:52 PM
Jan 2012

in the Democrats in Congress for allowing such a piece of shit bill to pass. They support the 1%. Fuk them.

yodermon

(6,143 posts)
9. presidential opinion is fascism?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 10:38 PM
Jan 2012

signing statements have no legal weight.
didn't under bush
don't under obama.
why people get all frothy over this i have no idea.

 

SixthSense

(829 posts)
10. NDAA is fascism
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 10:44 PM
Jan 2012

and the fact that signing statements have no legal weight means that this signing statement does nothing to restrain this unrestrained power in the hands of the next Republican president!

jaxx

(9,236 posts)
3. I will add this:
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 09:57 PM
Jan 2012

From Milt Shook:
Here is the final version of NDAA

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1540enr/pdf/BILLS-112hr1540enr.pdf

Now, find the section that creates "indefinite detention."

People are using the wrong bill, not the final one. Anyone who talks about NDAA, cites sections 1022 et seq are using the wrong version of the bill.

Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
6. The sections in the final bill ARE 1021 and 1022.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 10:12 PM
Jan 2012

Sections 1031/1032 were numbered that way in The Senate bill,
but in the final version those sections were renumbered to be 1021 and 1022.

Subtitle D—Counterterrorism
Starting on page number 265, is where Sections 1021 and 1022 are located.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1540enr/pdf/BILLS-112hr1540enr.pd


 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
7. Here's a succinct analysis of the legal importance of a signing statement:
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 10:13 PM
Jan 2012

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