My sleepy West Texas newspaper reported on a surprising story. With his latest signing statement the Chief Unitary Executive, President George Bush one again gave the finger to Congressional intent and oversight.
President Bush, again defying Congress, says he has the power to edit the Homeland Security Department's reports about whether it obeys privacy rules while handling background checks, ID cards and watchlists.
In the law Bush signed Wednesday, Congress stated no one but the privacy officer could alter, delay or prohibit the mandatory annual report on Homeland Security department activities that affect privacy, including complaints.
But Bush, in a signing statement attached to the agency's 2007 spending bill, said he will interpret that section "in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch."
Not content to keep his finger holstered, President Bush removed his weapon and fired another round.
Bush's signing statement Wednesday challenges several other provisions in the Homeland Security spending bill.
Bush, for example, said he'd disregard a requirement that the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency must have at least five years experience and "demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security."
His rationale was that it "rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the office."
Does mean the best qualified people have less than 5 years experience? Or does it mean George wants to give the job to one of his rich donor friends as a political payback? Will it be filled by a Bush Pioneer, Ranger, or Super Ranger? Arabian Horses anyone? How about a Power Ranger?
World bleeder, domestic steamroller, pathological liar, root cause incapacitated, who thinks with the swipe of a pen he can change the laws? Democracy, no more. The question is whether America is now a monarchy or dictatorship? How he stays in office is beyond me?
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