New Bush signing statement to affect privacy and more

[dajoki]

AP
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15145197/

President asserts power to edit privacy reports
Bush defies Congress, says he has right to change Homeland Security bills

Updated: 6:01 p.m. ET Oct 5, 2006

WASHINGTON - President Bush, again defying Congress, says he has the power to edit the Homeland Security Department’s reports about whether it obeys privacy rules while handling background checks, ID cards and watchlists.

In the law Bush signed Wednesday, Congress stated no one but the privacy officer could alter, delay or prohibit the mandatory annual report on Homeland Security department activities that affect privacy, including complaints.

But Bush, in a signing statement attached to the agency’s 2007 spending bill, said he will interpret that section “in a manner consistent with the President’s constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch.”

<<snip>>

Bush, for example, said he’d disregard a requirement that the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency must have at least five years experience and “demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security.”

His rationale was that it “rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the office.”

[jimshoes]

1. Doesn't any of this guy' s antics

raise some goddamn red flags to the people in congress? How much longer till the houses are irrelevant? I'm getting a little worried here.

[dajoki]

3. I think we are there...

unless we can change things next month.

[MaineYooper]

2. un-fracking-believable.

Isn't that just the epitome of *-logic, or lack thereof:

Bush, for example, said he’d disregard a requirement that the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency must have at least five years experience and “demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security.”

His rationale was that it “rules out a large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the office.”

:wtf:

Most of the sentient world would say that those people "best qualified" would be those with experience and demonstrated ability. Yet this frackhead, with his gut feelings knows better. I guess he can look into their eyes and know that they can do the job... just like Brownie, Chertoff, Rummy, et al.

We are so screwed. :banghead: