Signing Statements
The left was nearly hysterical about President Bush’s “signing statements”, official notes made about the President’s intentions regarding certain provisions of the bills. Usually, they are used to point out where the Executive branch believes Congress has overstepped their authority and tried to dictate policy that should be left to the President to decide.
The The Future of Freedom Foundation has a typical statement:
His action vivifies that the rule of law now means little more than the enforcement of the secret thoughts of the commander in chief.
Search for “Bush signing statements” and nearly a half million Google results show many similar sentiments expressed by the left.
Will the left’s vitriol extend to the new administration?
President Obama has issued his first signing statement. And, not just a clarification, but also an assertion that Congress has overstepped its bounds in trying to dictate the use of American armed forces:
United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. Section 7050 in Division H prohibits the use of certain funds for the use of the Armed Forces in United Nations peacekeeping missions under the command or operational control of a foreign national unless my military advisers have recommended to me that such involvement is in the national interests of the United States. This provision raises constitutional concerns by constraining my choice of particular persons to perform specific command functions in military missions, by conditioning the exercise of my authority as Commander in Chief on the recommendations of subordinates within the military chain of command, and by constraining my diplomatic negotiating authority. Accordingly, I will apply this provision consistent with my constitutional authority and responsibilities.
Will the left be outraged at this latest example of executive privilege, or will they finally realize that the Executive is a co-equal branch of government, with specific duties and obligations it must protect in order to maintain our democratic system?
And will they apologize to George W. Bush?
