Helen Thomas: Bush waves the veto pen and gets what he wants from Congress

[helderheid]

Helen Thomas
Article Last Updated: 12/20/2007 07:41:45 PM MST

WASHINGTON - President Bush is feeling newly empowered by threatening to veto legislation approved by the Democratic-controlled Congress.

The threats seem to be working with the lawmakers. They are rolling over very easily as they rush to get home for Christmas or to catch up on re-election campaigning.

When he had the backing of a Republican Congress, the president vetoed only one bill in his first six years in office; that bill would have expanded federal support for stem cell research.

But right now he is on a roll, getting what he wants by merely threatening Congress with his veto pen.

He was able to derail the Democrats' year-long attempt to set a timetable for a troop withdrawal from Iraq. Just before the holiday recess, the Senate approved an additional $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - with no strings attached - which the president will sign.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell boasted: "We have come to a very successful conclusion of this year's Congress."

The president, of course, is aided by the weak Democratic congressional leadership that has thrown in the towel without a fight, evoking disappointment among supporters who thought the last election that gave the Democrats a slight edge on Capitol Hill would make a difference.

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http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_7771900

[debbierlus]

1. Because they don't CARE....70 billion more for Iraq...THAT is insane

This democratic Congress has exposed the truth....a one party system. Only now the dems can't play good cop anymore because they refuse to stop this administration.

I am disgusted.

[helderheid]

2. As am I. COMPLETELY.

[hfojvt]

3. I like the McConnell quote

"Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell boasted: "We have come to a very successful conclusion of this year's Congress.""

Because, remember, Congress has a very low approval rating. Congress has been enacting mainly Republican legislation. Ergo, the public disapproves of Republican policies and hopefully will register this in the next election in spite of our Presidential candidate.

[acmavm]

4. And Nancy Pelosi should just fucking change sides now. Or now that I

think about it, she's much more effective as a mole in the Democratic camp.

[hfojvt]

5. McConnell is in the Senate

The House has passed a lot of good stuff that the Senate has not looked at. The basic fact is, that we have not been able to get enough bipartisan support to over-ride Bush vetoes.

[acmavm]

6. Oh shit, that's right. They're all so corrupt its hard to keep 'em straight.

Although I did shoot off from the keyboard without thinking. I know that Mitch the Chinless Wonder is in the Senate.