March 23, 2006
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Veto
There has been much press dedicated to the fact that George W. Bush has not used his power to veto during his whole presidency. In fact, he has gone a longer time not using the veto than any president since Thomas Jefferson. An article in USA TODAY cited a few opinions why he has not used his veto. One opinion was that he would not “confront fellow Republicans.” Others point to the idea that maybe Congress is unwilling to stand up to him. Still others believe that it is the result of him working along with Congress in the right way.
Why do you think George W. Bush has not used his power to veto?
Comments (123)
He’d get overruled. By the way… FIRST!
he probably doesn’t know what ‘veto’ means
I am NOT a fan of George Bush. I can imagine why he does anything he does, so I cant even speculate as to why he would not use his powers to veto. Maybe he doesnt know what “veto” means. That wouldnt suprise me..:)
OMG! YOU ARE TOO FUNNY!
HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE HUNG! LOL…
He is in agreement with Congress…..I’m sure he would veto if he saw the need….
Because he has respect for each of the offices. When Congress works together to pass something, so long as it isn’t wildly inappropriate, he realizes that Congress represents the people in what they’ve passed (hopefully).
Political beliefs aside, I would love to believe that it’s because he has worked with Congress in the right way. I would think that if Congress were unwilling to stand up to him, he would be using his veto power within the next year, because he’s nearing the period of when he would be a lame duck. Also, he isn’t up for re-election so he really doesn’t have anything to lose. There is also the possibility that he is unwilling to stand up to Congress, rather than the other way around. My guess would be that there will be some commentary on that from President Bush shortly after his tenure in the White House ends.
I agree with Tallie_girl at the same time though. A bit of both.
Gee, he’s a Republican president, there’s a Republican majority in the House and Senate…he doesn’t need to veto anything. You might ask about line-item vetos, however.
I would think that either he does not need to veto anything, as in he agrees with the plans, or either Bush or Congress do not want to go against the other. Either way things are getting done.
I was going to say what airina05 said.
It’s like after they got rid of Julius Caesar… there is no need for veto.
i think he works closely with Congress to avoid the veto application.
He’s afraid to.
Probably because every time he hears the word “veto” it echos over and over in his empty head and he gets distracted.
“Veto…. veto… veto… VEEEEEEEEEto… veTO…. Now that’s a funny word. Uh oh. The press just asked me a question about the apocolypse. Better rattle off something. Remember: Terrorist… Freedom… Liberation… use all of these when stuck for an answer.”
HA! You don’t need to get out much… your comments is one of the best places to meet new people on Xanga. I’m waiting for politicians to start using your comments section for polling data.
Holy friggin’ Shitte Battymon…Dan has FINALLY asked somethang RELEVANT
The DELUSION that there was still a 2-party system was FINALLY PUT TO REST when the greatest Reaganomical president—BILL CLINTON—passed welfare “reform,” thusly ending the Great Society of LBJ
Of course all the limbaughnistas could cite the “war” on terrorism…but “Jew” Dealer FDR had over 100 vetos as he battled both a depression AND a world war
Now if you think of all the MOST FAMOUS recent world leaders who never had to veto—Mao, Stalin, Hitler, et. al.—then MAYBE you’ll have a little insight into what is going down now Dan
i wonder if George Orwell ever envisioned that his ravings against totalitinarianism would one day be applicable to his beloved UK and her former colony across the pond
aren’t the republicans still in power? why would he need to veto his own party’s stances? that is why he hasn’t used any. nothing but his parties view have been able to get through. am i right? i’m guessing.
RYC: You cracked me up with that one.
His relationship with congress has not yet warranted his use of the veto.
How was that for a benign reply?
L,r
Because the majority of Congress is his own party — by the time a bill actually reaches his desk, his advisors have had their hands in it from the beginning so it is to their liking. If it wasn’t – Congress wouldn’t have been able to pass it. Simple as that.
He was going to VETO if the Dubai sell didn’t go through Congress.
why? veto that and nothing else?
because Dubai makes him $ on the back side.
It’s not so much due to working close to congress. It’s due to the fact that the house of reps has been under republican control his entire presidency, and the senate under republican control all but his first 2 years. When you have your own type of people in there you’re not going to have reasons to veto them. If the congress were under democrat control I guarantee there would be vetos.
That and he probably doesn’t know what it means…kinda like his definition of sovereignty….”Tribal sovereignty means that it’s sovereign. You’re a—you’ve been given sovereignty, and you’re viewed as a sovereign entity. And, therefore, the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities.”
Why would he need to veto?
I think the occasion simply hasnt came yet.
I think he would veto if he felt the need, but at this point hasn’t needed to….. RYC: I have a pic of the lights up now…
he probably things “Veto” is a member of the mafia or a character on Sopranos….
thinks…
Jason’s got it down (Jam4thelamb)
*** Obviously he’s working WITH congress if he hasn’t vetoed anything…doh.****
I hope it’s the latter.
no. ….and it would be my wish for people to stop saying how ignorant Bush is. He is actually an intelligent man. He may not always make the right move, but that has more to do with his political saavy.
considering all of the rediculous things that have managed to slip through unnoticed, i’d say he probably doesn’t even know how to spell it.. or maybe he tried to say it and choked on a cracker.. who knows.. -sigh- idiots annoy me
actually.. that’s just me being a bitch.. honestly i’d say either he agrees with everything so far (which i doubt) or he’s not big on confrontation.. suprisingly i’d say he doesnt want to cause more of a controversy than he already has in his years as president.. i’d be scared as hell too if i made the mistakes he did..
i’m sure he would use it if he absolutely had to. *hopefully* i actually forgot he even had that power…hehe
I think it is because he did not see a need. if he thought he needed to he would.
He probably thought his vetos would be outvoted by Congress. That would have been a huge embarrassment. Or maybe he is just lacks any real convictions.
hmmm…. I’ve been out of US politics for too long to answer that one. But just wanted to say that I like the new look of your site. It’s been a while since I’ve been here (used to read it everday). Is the cafe in your top picture in Springfield???
it’s called R E S P E C T for what congress does… They make choices based on their consituents… and he respects the “peoples” choices. Unlike the lack of respect they give him…
I have got a grat answer. He has not used his power to veto because he hasn’t wanted to use it. Funny how simple things can be huh?
he hasn’t needed it. the house and senate are gop majority.
there has been nothing to veto…i think
Thanks for adding me as a friend
why would he need a veto?…
RYC: SLOW IN WHAT SENSE? TRAFFIC OR SPEED? TRAFFIC, YES…SPEED, NO.
I think George W. Bush doesn’t know what the term “veto” means.
Happy Thursday! =)
forgot about it
I think he would veto if the need arose…
~Caroline~
I’d say that Bush understands that veto is not something that is to be used lightly, or simply because he personally isn’t happy with something. I think he has a pretty good understanding of the U.S. Constitution, and doesn’t want to jeoperdize the power and responsibility of future presidents.
I don’t think he knows what vetoing is.
RYC: Schedule… It got the better of me I’m afraid…But I’d like to start coming back now.
hes afraid of making a huge mistake? no sarcasm intended on that one. lol
I DO BELIEVE THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU WROTE ME. SURPRISED THE HELL OUT OF ME.
Considering line-item vetos were ruled unconstitutional (they’re not), maybe he just agrees with the overall content of the bills that come before him?
Speaking of line-item vetos… I know you ask the questions around here Dan, but why does the Supreme Court sometimes interpret that something is legal even though it’s not in the Constitution (income tax) and sometimes interpret that something is illegal because it’s not in the Constitution (line-item vetos)? I mean, how many of us would rather have a line-item veto than an income tax?
Besides, the courts can’t play it both ways. Either the Constitution covers only what it explicitly says or it doesn’t. Simple as that.
To create a perception that he has not had any problems with congress. It is Congress where true democracy comes from, because they represent the people. As a result, he doesn’t want to see having problems w/ the american people. He’d rather strongarm the legislature.
He’s scared of Congress’ power and the other Republicans in the Senate and the House.
verdi
i don’t claim to be an expert on this subject but ill give it a shot. i haven’t seen the need for him to veto anything yet. whatever bill Congress has come up with during his presidency usually represents the majority of congress which is his party, the republicans. he wouldn’t want to go against his own party.
That’s interesting that Bush has NEVER vetoed anything…
1. Republican majority in the Congress. 2. If it’s passed by Congress, Bush’s veto would probably be overruled. 3. Bush has a very close association with Congress, almost too close, so that his power extends beyond the executive branch into the legislative branch.
He’s gonna start vetoing every bill that comes down the line soon enough…just you wait and see!
I’m for the “working together with congress” viewpoint. Afterall, the Republicans DO hold the majority in Congress, so in theory there really shouldn’t be that much disagreement, for they are both of the same party.
I think it’s because it hasn’t been necessary–at least in his opinion–because Congress has appeared to work together fairly well because the Republican Party is the majority in both the House & Senate
If people were always telling you that you were too stupid to make a decision for anything, would you be vetoing anything?
Why is it that people like calling him stupid, anyway? There are much better people to make fun of…
He doesn’t know what a “veto” is.
Because he hasn’t had to use it
because every one in office agrees with him.
He may not have vetoed anything, but he has threatened to veto several bills. Congress either then goes back to rework something that they know will pass or the entire thing falls apart and is never rewritten.
Seeing as the Republicans currently hold the majority in Congress, I see no reason why he should use it.
And to those people who say he isn’t smart enough to know what it is, let this be a reminder to you:
He has gone to Harvard. He has served in the Texas National Guard. He is a business man. He’s smarter than 3/4ths of the people who post on this board, myself included. Don’t go saying something about a person you know nothing about other than some stupid liberalistic crap that you hear about him on TV. The people who dis him pretend to be other people for a living, or just use a God-given talent to bring us enjoyment. They have no idea what they are talking about, and half of the stuff you see on the News is either not true, or has been altered to make Bush seem like the bad guy. When they talk about his polls, they make those up. I don’t remember being polled on my opinion. All of the people who support Bush I know have told me they’ve never been polled. So where exactly do those statistics come from I wonder? Funny they never mention that most of Iraq is currently under Iraqi control with only US backup. They are in control, they give our troops orders, but you’ll never see that on the news, will ya?
And let me define freedom of speech for all of those who have never taken AP US History or Government, or did and never paid attention. Freedom of speech is defined in the Constitution as speech that is not derrogitory or harmful to a person in any way. They do have the right to criticize, but not to spread false-hoods which is why celebs get so much money out of the tabloids. And when a state of war in declared, every utterance is censored. In that time you are not allowed to criticize or speak out against the President or government in any way. So thank your lucky stars Congress hasn’t declared a state of war, or you’d be in jail righ now.
Well, there’s my rant. Sorry if I seem a bit passionate, this is my dad’s boss you’re talking about.
because bush sucks
…because the 700 Club told him not to!!
Dream Job
If you could work one job as your dream job, what would you want as your dream job?
I would love to be the Speaker of the house for our country(rather then my state).I don’t want to do that for recognition, but because I went to KYA, Kentucky Youth Assosiation, which was basically where we went to Frankfurt and had bills to pass or veto that were written by the students.I had the opportunity to be on the leadership team and be the ‘Speaker of the House’ there.It was really fun, and I would loooooove to do that for a living.
Sorry, I just saw that and really wanted to comment on it, but I figured that since it was on a later post you wouldn’t end up reading the comment.
cuz hes an idiot
trying 2 make himself sound better maby. he got into the newspaper for it. so..yea…..
Because no one has explained it to him and he can’t find it in the dictionary…..
what thatguy_matt says also. that might be the problem. lol
(i agree tottly!!!!!)
Hahahhahah I liked what airina05 said. I think its because Congress does what he wants pretty much…he has a Republican majority and I don’t think they’re willing to go against him.
i’m not sure.. but i kind of feel like he’s not doing anything right.
I echo the question why would he need to… oh, and btw, Clinton, a Reagonite? you have GOT to be kidding… his welfare reform was ignorant, just like him…
Oh how terrible it is that the president agrees with congress.
I think this may help prove that people aren’t happy without some kind of drama going on.
I often wonder what some people would talk about if there were no President and no Hollywood…
Because the Skull and Bones people haven’t ordered him to use it yet, probably because the Illuminati has been behind most of the legislation anyhow.
I feel that if something came through that he didn’t like, he would veto it, but appearantly that situation hasn’t come up yet.
Why hate on the guy for actually getting along with his “co-workers.”
Well, he needs a reason to veto.
He has threatened to use the veto.
The Anti-torture thing, he threatened to veto the defense budget
because of that
but he didn’t
Because Congress would never pass something that Bush won’t like.
i think he would use the power to veto if he thought necessary.
i was just wondering…how many people have subscribed to you?
I will say I voted for George Bush and am glad I did. I don’t think that anything Bush has done or will do would be near as bad as Kerry. Now, with that being said, Bush has been given everything he wants…War, Patriot Act, the list could on and on and on. Also, I can’t beleive I’m saying this about politicians, but could it be b/c they are being unselfish individuals and looking to the best interests of the republican party, looking to keep harmony and unity, not just between Congress and President, but for future upcoming elections? i’m not saying that is what’s going, just a thought that came to me as I was writing this.
another reason he hasn’t use his veto power is because he doesn’t know what the heck is going on!!!
He calls Islam a peaceful religion.
Yet as we can see…in Afganistan the Clerics are demanding that a man who converted to Christianity be killed!
Because he is using his power where he should not. Have a great one!
I’m not a Bush fan at all….As someone else said, he probably doenst know what ‘veto’ means.
::Anjel
Not knowing much about politics, my best guess is that, since congress is mostly republican, he simply hasn’t had a need to. They’ve probably been passing things he’d agree with anyway. If a democratic majority were trying to pass a bunch of luiberal legislation I bet he’d have used his veto power a lot more.
V’d toes? Why would he use those (duh)?
Because he doesnt need to, he does not crack under pressure like Cliton, he lied right to our face!
I can see him saying “What’s a V-toe?”
Along with being a member of the majority party in congress, GWB has carefully positioned himself so that he will not offend the majority of his party at any given time – he will offend some of them, of course, but not the majority. were he to actually use his veto power, he would certainly anger the few persons left (35%) in this country who still think he doesn’t suck.
obviously i am not one of that 35%.
He knew that one day he would go down in history as one of the longest-lasting non-vetoers besides Jefferson and that an article in USA Today would appear and cause controversy as to why.
he hasnt felt the need
Because George W. Bush don’t read.
He probably doesn’t know about it.
Haha. Ok, I don’t honestly believe he’s that stupid.
No idea, bills approving choice, gay rights, or equality for women haven’t passed yet?
Not that they would with Republican control.
If he used a veto people would have something to say about it, if he doesn’t use the veto they have something to say… Just because both congress and the senate have Republican majority doesn’t mean that *he* runs them… all three legislature have been ran by the Democrats before and there were still conflict and disagreements… Just maybe he hasn’t vetoed because they are all working together for a change. Maybe?
because he doesn’t care about domestic policy, as well as the national debt.
I have to ask, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING??? B/c you come up w/ the most random friggin’ topics and questions and stuff that are all over the place!!! It’s kinda cool. Anyways, about to display my ignorance here. Seriously??? Our Honorable President, aka the Texan Monkey (apologies to all you die hard Bush fans out there, but he looks like one!!! And sounds like one 1/2 the time too!!!) (OK, sounds more than looks) hasn’t vetoed anything @ all??? I thought he was gonna veto something on abortion rights. Or was that pass the Partial-Birth Abortion ban??? OK, I’m shutting up, I’m about waist-high in the Shit of Ignorance.
Pffft. He’s just too much of an idiot to understand what “veto” even means. In fact, the concept actually scares him. He’d have to make a decision… on his own. It’s blasphemy! Unthinkable! =P
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The pendulum has swung and conservatives rule the U.S. right now…..The Republicans are in charge of the House, Senate, the Superior court, so of course he doesn’t need to veto anything.
Um, chew on this:
House: Republican majority
Senate: Republican majority
Reason to veto: nada
any questions?
Becuz he wouldnt want to start anymore troubles, its bad enough people always blame him about being a bad president. Honestly, put any other person in his position and tell them that we have terrorism/hurricaines/debts/wars/etc and be able to run a country of millions of people. Him to veto some laws could really start some bad things ( depending on the situation . . .) But yeah. Thats what i think, lol.
| Forever Yours |
~ Jasmine ~
Republican Congress, Republican President… That’s definitely a bit of it. Though, something else is definitely at work to have only be matched by one president. Perhaps party politics are stronger than ever? There’s no man in the oval office, just a pawn of the political machine. …Fun!
Because he doesn’t know what “veto” means.
nitwit probably thinks vito is some Italian guy.
I wish I had stayed current with politics since he was elected, but sadly enough, I’ve just taken an interest last year. I can’t really form an opinion on why he hasn’t vetoed. My best guess is that he doesn’t want to go against the House and the Senate when both of them are under Republican control. Although his first two years was in Democratic Control because of one “independent democratic” voter, he still probably has not vetoed because during that time, Septembre 11th happened, so the government worked together. It brought the control together. Afterwards, it was just Republicans x 3. I wish he’d use his powers of vetoing though to keep the checks and balances on America working.
i think that bush has not used the power to veto because he agrees with everything that congress has been passing, so there has been no need.
No veto?
The answer, in my opinion, is quite simple.
He’s far too busy profiting off of war, like his father.
War is for money, it’s common sense, and a known fact. People for oil and money is the way to go in the Bush family.
“Just as long as I get to ride horseys and play with chikens at my ranch, I’m happy.
I know I’m a tyrant…I know I did the newer version of Operation Northwoods…
But I simply fealt the need to be a money hungry bastard.”
I’m sure he could care less about Poverty and the World Wide Problem with H.I.V. and A.I.D.S…
And if he does care…
Why is he dropping bombs on those children…
Why hasn’t he been doing much with Africa?
Can he even name over 10 countries in Africa?
He can go to India…
He can FINALLY recognize that because of him three years ago, thousands have died.
No Child Left Behind…
As optimistic as I am…
It is merely impossible
to get some of the things
he wants to happen, to
actually happen………..
Thank you for bringing up some a great topic.
United we stood…
Divided we fall.
Maybe, instead of making fun of him, I’ll give an actual reason.
I don’t like him myself, but that doesn’t mean I am going to give uneducated slurs towards the guy.
Anyway, the reason that he hasn’t vetoed would be because he has had no need to. Republicans hold the majority in Congress. Which could get dangerous. There needs to be a balance in the Force.
Simple. He thinks “veto” is the name of his Italian-American secret service man.
He’s an idiot!
He’s a PEACE MAKER.
(((((( GRANDMA HUGS ))))))
Lori
Idiotic moron probably thinks it’s one of his Italian mobster friends at the ports he tried to give away to his oil buddies.
Seriously, why would he reject ANYTHING that Congress does? Him and his administration basically own the whole darn thing anyway and only cater to him and his PNAC friends. Demos are acting scared shitless, spineless, anemic. The elephants on the other hand were all having a Caligula-esque orgy party with him every Tuesday, conversing about lucrative big business deals while sodomizing leather-clad midgets. O_O
But maybe things will change now that his polls are down and all his lackeys are jumping ship, only concerned for their own careers. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all turned against him by next year and start putting forth issues against his “ideals” as a desperate smokescreen.
I honestly wouldn’t know because I don’t know everything that goes on b/w congress and bush….but all I know is, I hope it’s for the better
I think because he wants ppl to suffer….he’s no good….
For the most part, the Republicans are all profiting from his decisions so why would he veto them? He only came close with the Dubai Ports thing. He didn’t realize that his bed partners the Saudi Arabians were not sleeping with the other Republicans. Politics is some racket boy. All on the working mans’ hard earned tax dollars.
I think it’s a combination of things. First of all, I do think Congress is partially afraid to stand up to him. Otherwise, we would not be in Iraq. Congress has the power to take us out of Iraq. Instead of using that, we just hear them TALK about how we need to get out. Not everyone in Congress thinks we need to leave but Congress is suppose to represent the people and to be frank, it is very likely that the majority of the ppl want the US to pull out. Whether or not this is the right thing to do is a different story. So I think that is partially a reason. Second I don’t think Bush really needs to veto anything he has seen. I think he tries to work what issues he does have out with Congress before it would come to a veto and the items Congress does not agree with Bush doesn’t really come up and if a borderline issue does, Bush let’s it slide.
Did that make sense?
It’s always amazing to me to see just how stupid the american public can be. It doesn’t matter what the president (George W or others)does. If “you” are not the same political party as him then you will always have something to say that is negative and something to judge. If you are not the same race, religion, social status or anything else as the president then you have an opinion about how the “other” candidate could have done it better. Our minds are so saturated with the thoughts of the media and what the media wants to tell us that nobody really has a clear view of anything that the president is dealing with in Washington. We are not the soldiers that are in the trenches and yet we allow a few reporters, that think they know all, tell us what they want us to hear and we accept it. There are things going on all across the world that we the public will never hear about. All I have to say is, WE are not the president. Who really CARES why he hasn’t vetoed anything. Other than a very few, most Americans can’t even tell us what even 50% of the bills are that have gone to the President during his tenure. In summary, being a free country WE THE PEOPLE have elected him. Deal with it.
because when someone says “veto” he thinks of viva la bam (vito).