First Bush veto to be overridden

Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 2:11 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Because we simply cannot get enough Washington-based stories about legislation with acronyms...

The president is almost assured of having one of his vetoes overridden for the first time in his presidency on Tuesday, when the House will vote to reverse his rejection this morning of a water resources bill.

You know and love FISA, and we can't say "S-CHIP" too many times. Now meet WRDA (pronounced "word-ah"), the Water Resources Development Act. It passed the House earlier this year by 381-40, and the Senate by 81-12. Both margins are well above the two-thirds necessary for an override, should the support hold next week. It probably will.

The bill has the distinct political attribute of spreading the wealth across political boundaries, as it includes water projects in localities throughout the nation. Ideological lines are obliterated when it comes to this kind of measure. "Everyone gets a taste," said one top GOP aide this morning.

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Comments

A fair piece of ledgislation with bi-partisan support? No wonder the monkey emperor wants to veto it - it smacks of sane government and can't be good for the extraction industries he so faithfully serves.

Maybe Chicken Dick can shotgun the bill?

Lee in CA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 2:19 PM)

Finally, someone is holding this mad dog responsible

Bee (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 2:33 PM)

Plain and simple, bush is just too stupid for words.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 2:37 PM)

What? Every Senator and Congressperson getting their names on a water tower? We need more monuments built to them by them with our money. Haven't heard much about this bill, or what Bush's problem might be with it.

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 2:38 PM)

Responsible for what Bee?

It's a flippin' feeding frenzy for pols. No good will come of this.

Bruce, NV (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:13 PM)

Let's hope this is the first of many more to come.

Stacy S. Medford OR (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:14 PM)

This bill authorizes critical river and harbor improvement projects. These projects include needed improvements in the New Orleans area. Why does GWB continue to dismiss the needs of the people of New Orleans?

mad in Madtown (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:21 PM)

Let's see if the moron has the guts to veto it. What a tool!

Amazed, Atlanta (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:24 PM)

The problem with the bill is that it is billions of dollars spent all over the country, some of it for projects of questionable utility.

It should tell you something that the biggest lobbying group for this is a group of construction compnies. Of course, first read didn't share that with you. Another government boondoggle, and the GOP showing they ain't so conservative after all.

Bruce, NV (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:48 PM)

FYI - this bill is about restoration of mutilated water resource lands. Seems like we can't decide to leave well enough alone - no we rip it up then put it back together. Part of the bill is to restore some of the Everglades that were sold to a developer. (swamp land in Florida) Bush's position is that it is too expensive.

Florida Fox (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:48 PM)

Maybe MSNBC could give a link to information about the bill? I know, it's more important that Bush might veto it than what it actually says but some people might be interested.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:50 PM)

I believe that almost EVERY WORD Bush said to manipulate us prior to taking office WAS A LIE, except for , "My job would be easier if I was dictator" The man is just not capable of telling the truth and needs mental health counseling NOW. He is the center of his universe like many untreated alkies.

Rocky Mountain Woman Salida, CO (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:52 PM)

Well, Bush just veto everything for the fun of it. Veto w/o thinking throught.

Koon, Lynnwood, WA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:53 PM)

and another thing- the Orwellian doublespeak Bush and crowd have used have just been pathetic. Do they think we are stupid? For example the "clean water" act dismantled many protections for our water. The Patriot act is a creepy orwellian name for the dismantling of the Bill of Rights.
Evil flourishes when good men do nothing, and it's about time we took the reins from Bush.

Rocky Mtn Woman Salida, CO (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:56 PM)

This is the beginning of the end of the Imperial Presidency. Not a moment too early

roberto Galoppi Miramar Florida (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 3:59 PM)

Don't know much about this bill, but it actually might be pork and thus worthy of a veto, unlike everything else the Great Moran has vetoed or is threatening to veto. Yet it will be overridden. Ain't irony great!

Ol' Lefty Westminster, Md (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 4:17 PM)

I think we should place a suicide watch on the white house this man simply cannot stand rejection.

Rufus Gibbons, DC (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 4:32 PM)

His primary objection was to $9 billion (total bill is now $23 billion) added during the negotiations. Earmarks anyone? He was fully aware that the veto was going to be overridden but did it to make a political point with parts of the conservative base.

It is also apparent from the margin of the vote to override that he objected to both Democrat and Republican add-ons.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 4:36 PM)

You know, it's almost like Bush is bipartisan. He wakes up in the morning and says "I think I'm conservative today." then the next day he wakes up and says, "I think I'm Ted Kennedy today".
I haven't heard anything about this bill, so I'm very curious to know what his problem is with it. There's got to be something fishy with it, maybe they tacked something screwy onto the back of it like they did with the defense budget a while ago, or by with the port security act that he passed anyway. Fishy Fishy, and not just because water's involved.

Ryan, Coeur d'Alene, ID (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 4:37 PM)

I hope the people of the USA will hold Gorge W bush and the Republicans accountable for the arrogance towards them. This has been the most outrageous display of stubborn politics i have seen in my lifetime.

Toronto (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 4:54 PM)

So, if his veto is overridden will he disappear in a puff of vapor along with his magical powers?

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:07 PM)

From MSNBC:

"The water project legislation originally approved by the Senate would have cost $14 billion and the House version would have totaled $15 billion. Bush and a few Republicans complained that the final version was larded with unneeded pet projects pushed by individual lawmakers - sending the overall cost of the bill much higher.

"Only in Washington could the House take a $14 billion bill into a conference with the Senate's $15 billion bill and emerge with a compromise that costs taxpayers over $23 billion," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:12 PM)

Dave and Bruce - the rabid right accuses the left of secretly hoping for losses in Iraq. I'm not saying you do, but I've seen it plenty, here. It's despicable, especially when we were the tiny minority opposed from the beginning and don't want anyone killed over there.

But what you two have posted says exactly that you want the "Democratic" Congress (even though only just barely) to fail. I guess you'd both rather have a huge, partisan fight even when the best solution is aparently evident and easily agreed upon? Even with overwhelming bi-partisan support, you both trash it. Dave admits he has no idea why - just a company man to the end, I guess. You turn against your own if they work with the other party?

What ever happened to Still Crazy? He'd say:

"The cult of personality." - Living Color

Lee in CA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:23 PM)

How could anyone be against plans to maintain our waterways and protect our cities and our natural resources? I'm looking forward to Congress overriding this veto. It's about time Congress says "enough already" and stands up to this lunatic. If Mr. Bush is so concerned with fiscal responsibility, he'd be against the no-bid contracts for his ridiculous war. By the way, whatever happened to all the investigating done by Patrick Fitzgerald? I thought for sure heads were going to roll, but I guess that's not the case. The Administration must have gotten to him. Only one more year of this corrupt administration...the worst EVER.

George, Denver CO (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:24 PM)

Doesn't this bill force the midwestern states to give up water we can't afford to give up? Our water resources have already been reduced & many states are looking to us to feed their water demands. Many outer area states would like to have huge pipelines built from the midwest into their state to feed their demand for water. I'm not a huge fan of Bush. I'm against many of his decisions. I'm in complete supported of cleaning polluted water resources for all states. Still, I'm against unnecessary pet projects. The water resources of all states need to be protected;not abused.

L. Nelson, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:29 PM)

Lee, I'd be pleased with a more measured bill without billions of extra lard in it. Doesn't it seem to interesting to you that the first override of the man's presidency comes with all these earmarks?

I'd like to see a less contentious political environment, one whre we could discuss stuff like this without all the rancor. For example, one of the posters here talks about "all the vetos". He never vetoed a bill the first six years (one of the reasons, perhaps, that the GOP lost both houses?). I have little more respect than most of you for GWB and his competence; the difference is that I still have respect for The Presidency. It's one of the reasons that I've been trying to point out the flaws when people who obviously know no better call it "the worst presidency ever", when they probably mean "the worst of my life". It also fries my ass when they talk about a "dictatorship"; in a dictatorship, we'd have, e.g., "comprehensive immigration reform". Gonzo would still be Ag, etc.

George, when you call this Presidency the worst, I think you are very wrong; there are at least 2 and arguably 4 just in the last 100 years that were worse, in terms of corruption, in terms of incompetence or in terms of usurpation of rights.

Bruce, NV (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:35 PM)

Presidential Veto exercised by:

Bill Clinton 37
George H.W. Bush 44
Ronald Reagan 78
Jimmy Carter 31
Gerald Ford 66
Richard Nixon 43
Lyndon Johnson 30
John Kennedy 21
Eisenhower 181
Truman 250
Roosevelt 635
Hoover 37
Coolidge 50

George W. Bush 5

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:44 PM)

No Lee I'd like to see any of these fools from both parties that have spent our money to put their names on buildings, bridges, airports or anything else to leave. I'm pissed at the so called conservatives for their spending when they were in power, I'm pissed at Bush for letting it happen. If you were serving in congress would you be so arrogant to have your name put on something while you were serving? Seems thing like that should be left up to the people you serve after you're gone. I'd still like to see that National PBS station for political debate, and cut this worthless filter out from between us, and our elected officials.

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 5:45 PM)

I'm not in favor of any bill that has 'pork' attached to it....especially one that increases almost 2X. However, I know that some will truly benefit from this who really need the help (what little I know and understand about it anyways). Besides, I'll get some enjoyment knowing that this President was 'over-ridden'.BTW- a bill w/o 'pork'...hmmm?????

Eugene , Albuquerque, NM (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 6:08 PM)

Before making off hand comments about our leaders, perhaps looking into the actual politics of the situation would be in order? This bill in its current state adds billions of tax dollars to rehabilitating privately owned beach front property. The bill in its original form was meant to provide money to pay for upkeep and rebuilding of things like the New Orleans levies. The reason Bush vetoed it is the same reason he vetoed CHIP.. The politicians have added billions of tax dollars to unrelated programs and attached them to these high profile bills. If they get passed through then the politicians have taken care of their financial backers, if they get vetoed then they can claim Bush is against the welfare of the country, its a win-win for the dems, and would be a win-win for the republicans if a dem was in the white house. Politics at its finest.. the only difference is Bush is taking a hard stance against it.

Dave, Billings, Montana (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 6:12 PM)

Dave, Billings, Montana (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 6:13 PM)

Apparently, hundreds of billions spent/wasted in Iraq, some on no-bid contracts to rebuild infrastructure blasted apart by our bombs is OK, but strengthening our own infrastructure is "fiscally irresponsible," the latter characterized as such most likely because it will not enrich Georgie's fan base. GWB has spent seven years mortgaging our economy to the Chinese and now, with the Republicans out of power, is pretending to care about fiscal restraint? Give us all a break; nobody's that dumb but you, George.

Chris, Irvine CA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 6:16 PM)

Well, Bruce, just MAYBE they decided a few more billion was worth the money, and even if it's EARMARKED - some sort of filthy term, I guess - AT LEAST IT'S BEING SPENT IN THIS COUNTRY.

What "fries my ass," as you so elegantly put it in your very admirable effort to discuss things with "less rancor," is someone putting words in my mouth. I meant "worst president, ever."

In terms of usurption of power
Foreign policy blunders
Neglect of the homeland
and outright crimes against the Constitution

It is BI-PARTISAN. It is a PIDLING amount to what Nero is spending to commit war crimes in my name. It's money spent to presumably help Americans. What ELSE do you want?

Lee in CA (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 6:26 PM)

L nelson Chi-town Anybody that wants the money to give away to big oil or to pour into the Iraquagmire.

Rufus Gibbons, DC (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 7:20 PM)

George Bush hates your children and every living thing on Earth.If you don't cow-tow to this Evil Monkey,it's hit the door jack!'Fiscal Responsibility',this from a Dictator that has destroyed the Constitution!If Ceney don't love ya,forget about it.Let's Impeach this Axis of Evil(George,W.,Bush),and try to restore Intedrity in America! Face it,he hates Democrats and would sell us to Bin Laden in a heartbeat.He has thrown American values away(see Reagan.Roosevelt)and sold America down the river for the Republican Party.I have voted for Republicans before (Dr.Burgess),but this is an Evil Tyrant.Wake Up!

doc/lewisville tx (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 8:44 PM)

IF ONE THINKS THE VETOS BUSH MADE ON THE ABOVE SUBJECT IS WRONG IT SHOWS IGNORNCE AS THERE IS TO MUCH PORK IN IT. WOULD COST TAXPAYERS TOO MUCH>

Robert Buehrle (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 10:38 PM)

The Defeato Veto will have Beltway Pundits paraphrasing William S. Burroughs, describing Dubya as "...now the Weakest Baboon of them All!".

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 12:20 AM)

Can't they send a bill to George W. Bush to impeach him. If he vetoes it and they override it,then he's out.

Pwingy (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 12:21 AM)

Can't they send a bill to George W. Bush to impeach him. If he vetoes it and they override it,then he's out.

Pwingy, Allentown, PA (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 12:26 AM)

I guess the override will be a slam dunk? How appropriate!!!!

The Edge, Macon GA (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 12:49 AM)

mad in Madtown: Your take is revisionist. To date,over 184 billion dollars,the most in American history aimed towards a natural disaster,has gone to the victims/states affected, of hurricane KATRINA. Bush has signed all funding bills for this disaster and has never vetoed one.[www.senate.gov and www.house.gov for more information on these signed bills]. You will be reminded,thanks to the offices of the non-partisan organizations whose websites I will include at the conclusion of this post,that Democrats grabbed millions destined for New Orleans and its levee/water projects and steered them towards pork projects at home,three of the worst offenders,being Reid of Nevada,Byrd of West Virginia,and Mollahan of the same state who is under federal investigation for fraud and corruption.

Also see:

Taxpayers For Common Sense:www.taxpayers.net
The Center For Responsive Politics:www.opensecrets.org
PORKBUSTERS:www.porkbusters.com
ROLL CALL Magazine:www.rollcall.com

Lee Holmes (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 3:11 AM)

Me thinks there is something rotten in Denmark!
A game is being played, the king wants to fool the lowly subjects...oh no it cannot be, he is to stupid.
GW the very worst idiot that ever soiled the WH.
There never was or ever will be such an imbecile as shrub. Impeach the crime boss of America!

IMPEACH (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 7:23 AM)

IMPEACH (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 7:24 AM)

Yes, this is a symbol to his base that he fiscally responsible but it is oh so much more. Mr. Bush sees the hammer of relevance over his head, and the legacy issue sneaking up behind. More symbols to prove himself right about his importance. We will see more wiggling around to create a perception of unilateral power that has been his only historic addition to our country.

John S. Alexander, Edinboro, PA (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 8:33 AM)

omg........its a good thing for GWB to have people like Bruce still around! He needs someone to say his failed policies are good. GWB is responsible for more American deaths than died on 911, and that number increases daily in Iraq and Afganistan. I would also say that all senators that voted to give him war authority fall in that category. Now the war drum beats for Iran? Are these people sane? Time to do some fact finding Bruce, and quit defending the worst president in history. His failed policies will have a negative effect for years to come. It will be a big job for the new president to clean up this mess. Taxes will have to go up to pay for the billions and billions that have been wasted. Support our troops by bringing them home and out of harms way.

Tom Wisconsin (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 9:50 AM)

Bruce, NV wrote, "The problem with the bill is that it is billions of dollars spent all over the country, some of it for projects of questionable utility.

It should tell you something that the biggest lobbying group for this is a group of construction compnies. Of course, first read didn't share that with you. Another government boondoggle, and the GOP showing they ain't so conservative after all."

Sure Bruce let's continue to ignore our infrastructure. What's the problem with a few fallen bridges and burst water pipes anyway? And, Bruce, what about the government contracts boondoggle in Iraq? I heard something about billions of dollars unaccounted for. I guess as far as you're concerned Boy Blunder's pork is OK, Congressional pork is not.

Peter, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 10:25 AM)

Bruce NV, What the sound of reason on this blog. I too do not agree totally with this admin. but have knowledge of others that were far worse. The one that always gets me is how horrible the economy is!? People say what they want to hear, facts very rarely have anything to do with the words.

lets think (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 11:25 AM)

So, let me get this straight. $23B to fix waterways and other water projects is "un-needed" spending according to our great overlord, but he has little issue having asked the Congress for around $1T for his war?

Anyone else find that truly laughable?

Mike K, Denver (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 2:17 PM)

Bruce, I hear you on the comparably worse presidencies. I mean, just the prosecution of Nixon alone was a bad TV movie in terms of stupid moves. The Saturday Night Massacre itself illuminated the idiocy that a President would be capable of... at least it set the bar low for GWB.

Steve, Minneapolis, MN (Sent Sunday, November 04, 2007 1:39 AM)

Dave - Not sure about the "names on water towers" complaint, but water is a HUGE issue and bound to get bigger. Now that we're all solidly behind waterboardering, we don't want to run out of water.

Lee in CA (Sent Sunday, November 04, 2007 5:10 PM)

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