RNC 2008: McCain Speech

[Lancer]

But! A pres can let us know the name and the pork and we can vote the person out.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The thing is, we'd need a Constitutional amendment.

But so far, the only one calling for a line-item veto has been SlowwHand.

You realize these go together, right?

[Lancer]

SlowwHand and Constitutional amendments?

[Imran Siddiqui]

No, Slowwhand not really caring what the Constitution says .

[PLATO]

Line Item Veto Amendment.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by PLATO
Line Item Veto Amendment.

In your wildest dreams.

[Dinner]

A Line Item Veto Amendment would be a horrible thing as it would upset the balance of power between the Legislature and the Executive.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Oerdin
A Line Item Veto Amendment would be a horrible thing as it would upset the balance of power between the Legislature and the Executive.

This has been my attitude for the longest time. But most, if not all, states have it, and they function just fine.

Plus, at most, the line-item veto leads to inaction. The time to worry is when one branch of government can act without a check from the others (e.g. the President's power to pardon).

[Dinner]

Speaking of which any bets about when Bush will start handing out the pardons? It will be after the election of course but will he wait for the last week like Clinton did or will he start sooner. My guess is it will be sooner as he has a lot more pardons to hand out.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


This has been my attitude for the longest time. But most, if not all, states have it, and they function just fine.

Plus, at most, the line-item veto leads to inaction. The time to worry is when one branch of government can act without a check from the others (e.g. the President's power to pardon).

A Line Item Veto power reduces the influence of the Congress over the president by giving the president a power over them. Besides your states example doesn't work, because the state government is checked by the federal.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Speaking of which any bets about when Bush will start handing out the pardons? It will be after the election of course but will he wait for the last week like Clinton did or will he start sooner. My guess is it will be sooner as he has a lot more pardons to hand out.

I'm wondering if he'll hand out blanket pardons to himself and others in his administration -- which is tantamount to an admission of guilt -- or whether he'll play things dangerously.

[Dinner]

The pardons are coming. Just wait.

[Victor Galis]

Originally posted by Lancer
But! A pres can let us know the name and the pork and we can vote the person out.

Yeah, but the people who would vote the guy out are the same people that benefit from that pork. There's a bit of a conflict of interests

[Elok]

Originally posted by Oerdin
A Line Item Veto Amendment would be a horrible thing as it would upset the balance of power between the Legislature and the Executive.

I don't even pretend to understand the power dynamics involved or how seriously it would affect them, but I don't see how a LIV could be too badly abused, assuming the system were set up properly. Either the veto is overridden and the bill passes as is or they bite the bullet, cut the stuff the President objects to and it passes with revisions. All it does is allow an extra compromising mechanism in the system. It only reduces congressional power insofar as they can no longer pull the old "Ha ha, we stuffed the budget with bull**** pork but if you veto it we'll blame you for putting the government in a stall" trick. Well, not as effectively, anyway.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Though I can definitely see the abuse. Say there are protections put into a bill... for example, wiretapping. The President just just strike those protections out and pass a far more powerful bill.