The President basically stated that we as a country need to work together in order for us to have our own "Sputnik moment." We have to create new jobs in alternate energy, have huge budget cuts, and work together in order to get things done in this country. He also made the bold statement that he will veto any bill with earmarks in it.
The President is definitely exercising the veto power greatly. He had no problem stating outright that he will veto any bill with earmarks in it. He is done with it.
I think he is using this power the most effectively. I can't imagine using this power for any other better reason than this reason he is using right now.
He can achieve his objectives, the veto-ing of bills with earmarks, with his veto power. He has to pursue creating new jobs through bipartisanship and legislation. Things he can't do alone.
I believe his goals do require extra-constitutional activities. Getting Congress to work together better requires more than a speech, he needs to set up luncheons where both parties socialize twice a month opposed to each member of Congress being secluded within their own party.
And what power is that from the Morris text? Persuasion!
ReplyDeleteGuys, does "extra-constitutional" automatically imply "unconstitutional"? Or is "extra-constitutional" that murky realm in between constitutional and not?
ReplyDeleteI could get behind a bipartisan congressional happy hour type deal. It sounds vaguely familiar- is there a historical precedent for that?
i think you are right about the earmarks. hopefully he means absolutely no earmarks in a bill. and i do think it is better when the congress and president are from different parties as it promotes more debate and not just constantly signing off on legislation.
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