on the Veto

Well it's been a while since I've blogged something political and as I read somewhere that a very few blogs actually talk politics, I feel the need to spew, and I will include some expertise.

A bit of a lesson on vetoes. From 1789 - 2000, there has been 2552 vetoes. Some presidents are veto heavy: Eisenhower, Truman, Cleveland. Some presidents are veto light: Washington, Fillmore (mostly presidents in the 19th century during which time Congress had much more control over who got to be president). Generally the reasons for vetoing are as follows: the president thinks the legislation is unconstitutional, the president thinks the legislation is inoperable (meaning he can't implement it), the president thinks the legislation is bad policy.

From 2000 - July 20, 2006 there has been 1.

President Bush decided to veto expanded stem cell research funding for no other reason than he thinks he's a prophet from God and as such has to protect us all from our Christian failings. Oh no, wait, I'm sure he vetoed it because it is unconstitutional (well no, the Supreme Court hasn't ruled on it and we do have stem cell research). No, it must be he vetoed it because it's inoperable (well no, states are implementing funding for stem cell research pretty easily). No, it must be because it is bad policy (well no, a vast majority of Americans want to see it funded and a majority of his party and the other party want to see it funded and generally bad policy doesn't garner near unanimity). So it must be he's a prophet. He surrounded himself with people who have bought children from left over embryos (rather than adopting the many children who need to be rescued from around the country) and all these happy white people smiled as he vetoed the legislation. Where were the people who are dying from diseases that could be cured? Where were the people who weren't able to save their children from diseases that could be cured? No, see they don't have a right to life, just embryos.

The Duchess cringes and says, thank God, only 2 more years!