The pres saying: 'Well, it's my job to tell you what that power is' (NYT)

[kpete]

For President, Final Say on a Bill Sometimes Comes After the Signing

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: January 16, 2006
Washington

President Bush shook Senator John McCain's hand over a torture ban, but when Mr. Bush signed the bill into law, he also issued a statement asserting the administration's ability to interpret the law as it saw fit.
Shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, the White House sent out an e-mail message with an innocuous "Statement by the President" in the subject line. As might be expected of a seemingly routine announcement released in the dead time before New Year's weekend, almost no one paid attention.

But last week, Washington opened its eyes. Mr. Bush's quiet little statement not only set off fireworks at the Supreme Court nomination hearings of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr., but also ignited a new debate about the Bush administration's drive to expand the powers of the president.

..........

"The whole history of American government is one of trying to figure out what executive power actually is, so here is the president saying, 'Well, it's my job to tell you what that power is,' " said Andrew Rudalevige, an associate professor of political science at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and the author of "The New Imperial Presidency: Renewing Presidential Power After Watergate.

Scholars say that many of Mr. Bush's most significant signing statements have been attached to national security and intelligence legislation and that he frequently uses them to assert that the administration regards requirements to turn over information as purely advisory.

...........

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/politics/16letter.html

[4dsc]

1. King George at work...

Christ, who needs congressmen and senator's with a dictator like this!!

[lonestarnot]

3. Who needs anybody with a dictator like this!

[ContraBass Black]

2. That's like the Line Item Veto they wouldn't give Clinton!

Does anyone see?

[robbedvoter]

4. The legislators legislate, the POTUS executes them" (and all of you)

It's what he said while running for emperor (debate?), but few heard. I did.

[dusmcj]

5. Boobya is outdated by a few hundred years.

Someone please let him know that the age of the divine right of kings is over, no one's interested in a sock puppet in expensive clothes trying to tell us what to do and basing his legitimacy in doing that on how good he looks. Adios, clown.