Bush Wields Vetoes to Block Democrats

[Ghost in the Machine]

Bush Wields Vetoes to Block Democrats
Published: 9/24/07, 3:25 AM EDT
By CHARLES BABINGTON

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, who didn't veto a bill for nearly six years, is now embracing the power to constrain the Democratic-controlled Congress even as his popularity remains low.

The strategy has blocked Congress from forcing troop drawdowns in Iraq and given Bush substantial leverage on children's health policies, federal spending and other issues.

But some say it carries a political risk. By thwarting congressional efforts to wind down the war and redirect spending to popular domestic programs, Bush could help Democrats portray Republicans as out of step with voters in the 2008 elections.

"The president's stubbornness is like an anchor around the Republican Party," said Rep. Al Wynn, D-Md.

Democrats see such veto threats as a boon to their 2008 hopes.

http://home.bellsouth.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=7816&eeid=5426766&_sitecat=1504&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=3&ck=&ch=ne

[radfringe]

1. could help Democrats portray Republicans as out of step with voters

on the other hand, Dems aren't doing much to help themselves - true or not, the general perception is of Dems backing down, caving in, or otherwise whining because they don't have the votes so why try passing anything that will make a change?

instead of focusing on modifying/amending legislation that bush WON'T veto, or that repubs won't block - the dems should be focusing on doing what's right for the country. If the repubs block it - then issue statements saying "we tried to do they right thing for the good of the country, but the republicans are more concerned with doing what's good for themselves and that's very sad"

if something does pass congress and bush vetos it - issue a statement saying "we tried to do what's good for the country, but the president is more concerned with his own legacy, and the lack of votes to override a veto shows the republicans are more concerned about themselves than our nation."

[opihimoimoi]

2. Bush is the perverbial Albatross round the GOOPers Neck....

[RestoreGore]

3. Oh, so Democrats in Congress don't really care if children have healthcare now...

"Democrats see such veto threats as a boon to their 2008 hopes."


As long as they "win" in 2008? Sorry, that doesn't make them look very good either. Using Bush for their own political agenda is actually disloyal to their oath.

[Disturbed]

4. Dems plan on turning things around in'09.

Until then they are feeding more rope to the Repugs.

As I have noticed here, most Dems will still vote for Dems no matter what, so Dems in Congress aren't too worried about losing their supporters.

[RestoreGore]

Oh, I think some of them need to worry

And I don't think the excuse of "feeding some rope to "repugs" will sit well with those who will lose their children in the interim.

[RestoreGore]

5. dupe

[Greyhound]

8. To play the Devils' advocate, it's now really campaign time and the Democratic candidate

makes the accusation, the Republic candidate simply asks, "what did President Bush veto?". Oops, no answer, the Congress never made him actually use the veto, so it's a non-issue. Obstructionist? Oops, no evidence of that either.

Our candidates cannot make any of it an issue because nothing was actually done. If they are foolish enough to try to argue that " if we had, the Republics would have", they will be eviscerated.

This Congress' adamant refusal to confront the fascists is hurting the very people we are counting on to expand our majority.

[liberal N proud]

6. Just because bu$h has the votes to block the Democrats does not mean...

that they have to give him the cookie jar.
They control the agenda on both the House and Senate and not blocking funding for the war until there is set withdrawal is bull shit.
They could just not give bu$h or the republicans "anything" they want until there is a change of direction over Iraq.
It is that simple but they keep playing the republican game.

[Eagle_Eye]

7. Go ahead bush, label the republicans as "obstructionists"

It will help us gain even larger majorities in the House and Senate in 2009.

We will have the Executive Branch, the House, and the Senate for the next 12 to 16 years, and if bush wants to help us out, give him all the rope he needs.

We are in for a major 'fix what the republicans did' job in 2009. Children's health care is already on the list. When we have all the votes, we will fix it right.