Why Bush Has Trouble Just Saying No (Trying to make Repubs look tough)

[ProSense]

Why Bush Has Trouble Just Saying No

By Michael Grunwald
Sunday, February 26, 2006; Page B02

P resident Bush summoned reporters to the front of Air Force One last week to issue his 134th veto threat, warning Congress not to try to block the transfer of the management of six U.S. ports to an Arab-owned firm. But it's a good bet that his threat won't result in an actual veto. The first 133 didn't.

Bush is the first president to complete an entire term without exercising his veto power since John Quincy Adams, which seems counterintuitive. Bush is an Action Man; he believes the essence of political leadership is strong and decisive action that creates its own political reality. Bush is also an ardent believer in executive power; he takes an expansive view of his prerogatives as commander in chief and continues to push for more, including the line-item veto. So why hasn't he used the veto he already has?

Snip...

But this delicate choreography no longer seems to be working for a lame-duck president with sagging poll numbers. When Bush threatened to veto a provision banning torture, GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona refused to back off, and the president caved in the face of overwhelming opposition, agreeing to a face-saving "compromise" on McCain's terms. The port controversy looks like another breakdown in party discipline; mindful of this year's congressional elections, Republican leaders distanced themselves from Bush, and one back-bencher told the president "not just NO but HELL NO!"

"He can't rely on automatic support on this one," says Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). "It's not enough to say: Trust me. There's too much political baggage."

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/24/AR2006022402313.html

Who are they trying to kid? Bush just added a signing statement giving himself the power to circumvent the law. And McCain thanked him for clarifying that he is all supreme.

[TomInTib]

1. Great incisive article. nt

[AzDar]

2. George W. Bush aka "Mr. Danger".... must maintain tough facade

always to disguise his inadequacies as a man; a textbook case of Teeny Weeny Syndrome.