Comments on: Tell Us How the Signing Statements Were Used http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/ Fri, 15 Jul 2011 20:48:32 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: DrZen http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140715 DrZen Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:16:08 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140715 <p>It’s pretty scary for a nation built on the rule of law not to be sure what its laws actually are. Luckily, you aren’t one of those any more, if you ever were.</p> It’s pretty scary for a nation built on the rule of law not to be sure what its laws actually are. Luckily, you aren’t one of those any more, if you ever were.

]]> By: timbo http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140714 timbo Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:48:26 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140714 <p>Signing statements are not mentioned in the Constitution. End of subject. In fact, if I were an employee or agent of the government, I would NEVER want to COMPLETELY RELY on one as a legal cover for my actions. Why? Because it is only an interpretation of how a law should be conducted, not an absolute determination of how a law should be carried out, enforced, etc. That’s what we have the judiciary for…and the Congress…and, for that matter, and more practically, common sense, if not decency.</p> Signing statements are not mentioned in the Constitution. End of subject. In fact, if I were an employee or agent of the government, I would NEVER want to COMPLETELY RELY on one as a legal cover for my actions. Why? Because it is only an interpretation of how a law should be conducted, not an absolute determination of how a law should be carried out, enforced, etc. That’s what we have the judiciary for…and the Congress…and, for that matter, and more practically, common sense, if not decency.

]]> By: SpaceLobster http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140704 SpaceLobster Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:47:43 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140704 <p>It’s all part of the long process of <a href="http://tv1.com/playlists/249" rel="nofollow">restoring law</a>, that’s all. Don’t know why some people thought it would happen over night.</p> It’s all part of the long process of restoring law, that’s all. Don’t know why some people thought it would happen over night.

]]> By: Prairie Sunshine http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140692 Prairie Sunshine Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:41:20 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140692 <p>Bushie used signing statements because he was too cowardly to actually veto something. Worst, a-skeeredest president evah.</p> Bushie used signing statements because he was too cowardly to actually veto something. Worst, a-skeeredest president evah.

]]> By: BillE http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140690 BillE Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:30:40 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140690 <p>They were all published in the Federal Register. The trick is with the shear volume of them how to even find them all. Savage found around 800 at the time of an article he wrote in late 2006 ( I think ) </p> <p>First declaring them all inoperative is a good start to halt the dead enders an JThomason says. Those moles are just looking for ways to mess up things and blame it on BO. As Congressman Henry R-VA says they are just trying to cut his popularity at this point. They have nothing else.</p> They were all published in the Federal Register. The trick is with the shear volume of them how to even find them all. Savage found around 800 at the time of an article he wrote in late 2006 ( I think )

First declaring them all inoperative is a good start to halt the dead enders an JThomason says. Those moles are just looking for ways to mess up things and blame it on BO. As Congressman Henry R-VA says they are just trying to cut his popularity at this point. They have nothing else.

]]> By: JThomason http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140688 JThomason Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:17:31 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140688 <p>It seems to me if dead-enders are still operating effectively in the DOJ and other executive agencies, this approach to signing statement, for any other weaknesses it might have, is a way to undercut the underlying documentary basis for many of Bush’s dead-end policies. </p> <p>It may even invite some who are now uncertain as the appropriate strategic orientation to take the trouble to check to see whether policy has in fact changed by otherwise leaving them without any defined cover.</p> It seems to me if dead-enders are still operating effectively in the DOJ and other executive agencies, this approach to signing statement, for any other weaknesses it might have, is a way to undercut the underlying documentary basis for many of Bush’s dead-end policies.

It may even invite some who are now uncertain as the appropriate strategic orientation to take the trouble to check to see whether policy has in fact changed by otherwise leaving them without any defined cover.

]]> By: TheLurkingMod http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140685 TheLurkingMod Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:01:34 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140685 <p>Watertiger is upstairs at the Mothership!<br /><a href="http://firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/its-jets-vs-sharks-in-the-rnc/" rel="nofollow">It’s Jets vs. Sharks in the RNC!</a></p> Watertiger is upstairs at the Mothership!
It’s Jets vs. Sharks in the RNC!

]]> By: JEP07 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140684 JEP07 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:59:23 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140684 <p>By sorting them out, and identifying the more pointed statements, it might become apparent just how and when they were “used…” for mischief</p> By sorting them out, and identifying the more pointed statements, it might become apparent just how and when they were “used…” for mischief

]]> By: JEP07 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140682 JEP07 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:56:53 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140682 <p>“the nearly one thousand signing statements…”</p> <p>How many of those were potentially pernicious in nature? I realize even one of them, used to circumnavigate the co-equal powers foundation, represents a potential constitutional crisis, but with so many, how do we sort out the ceremonial crap from the legal circumcisions?</p> <p>Are they available to the public, or does it take a FOIA somersault to get them all on one page?</p> <p>Seems as if there should be a website that dissects every signing statement (old OR new) with assorted blogs and comment sections to help the process along. Or is there something “out there” already?</p> “the nearly one thousand signing statements…”

How many of those were potentially pernicious in nature? I realize even one of them, used to circumnavigate the co-equal powers foundation, represents a potential constitutional crisis, but with so many, how do we sort out the ceremonial crap from the legal circumcisions?

Are they available to the public, or does it take a FOIA somersault to get them all on one page?

Seems as if there should be a website that dissects every signing statement (old OR new) with assorted blogs and comment sections to help the process along. Or is there something “out there” already?

]]> By: Petrocelli http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140681 Petrocelli Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:54:32 +0000 http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/09/tell-us-how-they-were-used/#comment-140681 <p><strong>Siri ! Sadlyyes !</strong></p> <p>Did y’all catch Arianna on KO tonight ?</p> <p><strong>Arianna:</strong> “It all depends on who is in your F*ck Us Group !”</p> <p>I think she meant to say <em>Focus</em> … <strong>*g*</strong></p> Siri ! Sadlyyes !

Did y’all catch Arianna on KO tonight ?

Arianna: “It all depends on who is in your F*ck Us Group !”

I think she meant to say Focus … *g*

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