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Redacting the Constitution: Why Signing Statements Matter
Over the course of the past year, it has been discovered that President Bush, during his five years in office, has cancelled all or part of 750 laws of Congress, quietly and with the stroke of a pen. These so-called "signing statements" have been used to invalidate laws passed by Congress to do everything from require government reporting on the uses of the Patriot Act's invasive provisions to banning torture and establishing a special investigator for corruption in Iraq.
The Senate Judiciary Committee headed by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is finally holding hearings into this issue, but don't expect much from a that can't even get worked up over the White House's failure to send over key people to testify.
Tony Snow, the president's smarmy flak, says all those "signing statements" are simply a way for Bush to "express reservations about the constitutionality" of those laws.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), one of the president's yes-men in Congress, says, "The president is entitled to express his opinion. It's the courts that determine what the law is. I don't know why the issue of presidents issuing signing statements is controversial at all."
Well John, here's the reason: The Constitution.
Remember that hoary document? It's the one you and the rest of your mealy-mouthed, high-living, coiffed and chauffeured colleagues in Congress swore to uphold when you took office and started collecting your salaries as representatives of the People.
Read More
http://counterpunch.com/lindorff06282006.html
Tony Snow, the president's smarmy flak, says all those "signing statements" are simply a way for Bush to "express reservations about the constitutionality" of those laws.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), one of the president's yes-men in Congress, says, "The president is entitled to express his opinion. It's the courts that determine what the law is. I don't know why the issue of presidents issuing signing statements is controversial at all."
Well John, here's the reason: The Constitution.
Remember that hoary document? It's the one you and the rest of your mealy-mouthed, high-living, coiffed and chauffeured colleagues in Congress swore to uphold when you took office and started collecting your salaries as representatives of the People.
Read More
http://counterpunch.com/lindorff06282006.html
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