The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    MrSmith1's picture

    Taking the REINS

    By MrSmith1 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 5:48am |

    Headline:  House of Reps. passes bill granting itself the power to veto anything they don't like and destroy the system of checks and balances established by the Constitution.

    Okay, the copy-editor just came in and said that's too long for a headline.  

    How about: House Louses Grouse; Pass Neat-o Veto.

    Or: When it REINS, it's Pours ... on the Constitution.

    I know this is just another meaningless piece of political nonsense from the increasingly ludicrous and ridiculous minds at the GOP, but WTF.

    The House wants to grant itself veto power?!  Really??!!

    Veto power over any and every thing they don't like?  Really?  

    Naturally, they claim it's to help cut regulations that impede businesses and keep them from improving the economy.  REALLY?!!

    So, if this bill was enacted, (thank God Democrats still control the Senate), a majority of Congressmen, bought and paid for by the Corporate oligarchy, could simply step in and, in effect, eliminate any and all duly passed laws and regulations.  

    "Gee, that's a good idea" he said, sarcastically.

    But why stop there?  Why doesn't Congress simply give itself the power to alter physical reality and create an economy that's in great shape with full employment and with a chicken in every pot and a lollipop in every orifice?

    Just sayin' ... I'm tired of half-measures.  Hey, GOP, if you're gonna destroy the system of checks and balances, go all the way; Pass a law giving the Speaker of the House the power to evaporate people through laser beams coming out of his eyes and point him at the Democratic side of the aisle. Then, every bill could be passed unanimously.  (P.S. This is just a joke. I'm not really advocating violence against anyone. I'm being sarcastic.)


    If Americans don't vote these GOP idiots out of office, we're a lot stupider than previously suspected.

    What ridiculously ludicrous power do you wish Congress could give itself?  (Please make sure your answer is in the form of a Constitution-killing statement.)

    Comments

    No law shall be passed

    Against the constitution

    Unless we're for it. 


    by Oxy Mora on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:08pm

    Brilliant, Oxy!

     

    Republican haiku:

    Government is bad

    We intend to veto it

    out of existence.  

     


    by MrSmith1 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:46pm

    Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this just relates to regulations issued by Department heads in the Federal Government.

    This does not alter your Constitutional argument, however.

    If Congress wishes to override a reg all it has to do is come up with a majority vote in each House and then get the prez to sign the bill into law.

    The humor in all of this is that Obama aint gonna sign on and the entire purpose of the House bill is to fix it so that the Prez does not have to sign on!

    This is all just one repub joke.


    by Richard Day on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 1:28pm

    The wording in the HuffPost article says: "The measure ... would require Congress to sign off on any new rule estimated to cost more than $100 million" ...  "The bill would effectively give either chamber a veto on a regulation because leaders could simply not put it on the calendar for a vote, and the rule would expire after 70 congressional working days."

    Even if it is just regulations issued by department heads of Federal agencies, it still seems like an end-run around legislation in order to further gut regulations and agencies meant to help people.

    I suppose it is nothing more than an attempt to say, "See? Obama is hampering the economic recovery by stifling free enterprise."  But it seems like a rather stupid way to go about it.

    Eh, but what do I know?

     

     

     


    by MrSmith1 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 2:02pm

    US Constitution. Article 1. Section 7. 2nd para.

    Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representative and the Senate, shall, before it becomes law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after careful Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objection, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law.

    Well it looks as it the Founding Fathers took the necessary precautions allowing a method by which the Legislative Branch could override a Presidential veto.

    The current GOP have become accustomed to bringing the wheels of government to a grinding halt with the use of a single member of their caucus placing a hold on proceedings they don't approve ... just a single nay. Not a simple majority of 51 or 2/3 of either House or Senate ... just a single no is all it takes. While they enjoy exercising their political muscle in this manner, seems they're envious if not down-right angry because, by the Constitution, the President is enumerated with that tool to cull their legislative efforts.

    What's more at stake is this piece of legislation would allow a simple majority controlling Congress to hallow out existing law without following the enumerated path as outlined by the Constitution. It is possible they could use the language of the bill to make subtle changes to the Constitution ... christian nation, school prayer, removing the wall of separation between church and state for example. It's nothing more than a slim majority running roughshod over those not of their political persuasion.

    However, they do forget one little detail. If all it takes is a slim majority, the Democrats could gain the upper-hand and reverse everything they accomplish. So legislation for the immediate now is suspect, unless there are plans yet to be unfolded that secures their political dominance.

    As a side note, this legislation should be proposed as a Constitutional Amendment not as a simple piece of legislation. In fact, if they were serious, they should be either stripping the President of his veto powers or changing the 2/3 majority in both House and Senate to a simple majority in either House or Senate. But they would need 38 states legislatures to go along with it, which they don't control ... yet.

    The real clincher will be the make-up of Congress after the 2012 election cycle. If the GOPer's succeed in capturing both House and Senate, the Constitution won't matter much.

    And MrSmith1, you stated

    ... If Americans don't vote these GOP idiots out of office, we're a lot stupider than previously suspected ...

    Just take one hard look at the GOP contenders working their base for the nomination ... the most promising is adept at tossing hand-grenades into the public arena and takes pride in the body counts attributed to him.

     

     


    by Beetlejuice on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 7:40am