Breaking the law, breaking the law

Bush asserts authority to bypass defense act

January 30, 2008

WASHINGTON - President Bush this week declared that he has the power to bypass four laws, including a prohibition against using federal funds to establish permanent US military bases in Iraq, that Congress passed as part of a new defense bill.

Bush made the assertion in a signing statement that he issued late Monday after signing the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008.
[...]
Previous presidents occasionally used the [signing statements], but Bush has challenged more sections of bills than all his predecessors combined - among them, a ban on torture.

He's not just breaking the law, he's once again violating the Constitution:

Bush Plan for Iraq Would Be a First
No OK From Congress Seen; Constitutional Issues Raised

WASHINGTON - President Bush’s plan to forge a long-term agreement with the Iraqi government that could commit the US military to defending Iraq’s security would be the first time such a sweeping mutual defense compact has been enacted without congressional approval, according to legal specialists.

Article II, section 2 of the US Constitution states "He [the president] shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.

BTW, the headline is wrong, this wasn't a "plan to forge a long-term agreement with the Iraqi government." It wasn't agreed to by the Iraqi government and it wasn't agreed to by the US government. It was a plan agreed to by Bush and Bush's lapdog Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, against the wishes of their governments.




Cross posted at VidiotSpeak