Examples of the President's Signing Statements

"Examples of the president's signing statements"


April 30, 2006

Since taking office in 2001, President Bush has issued signing statements on more than 750 new laws, declaring that he has the power to set aside the laws when they conflict with his legal interpretation of the Constitution. The federal government is instructed to follow the statements when it enforces the laws. Here are 10 examples and the dates Bush signed them:

March 9: Justice Department officials must give reports to Congress by certain dates on how the FBI is using the USA Patriot Act to search homes and secretly seize papers.

Bush's signing statement: The president can order Justice Department officials to withhold any information from Congress if he decides it could impair national security or executive branch operations."

The Big Picture- Thanks to the lack of situational clarity, the Legislative branch is rendered impotent. Impeachment is effectively removed from the list of possible actions. Note how Impeachment impaired Clinton's Executive Branch and how just the threat of it impaired Nixon's.

"Dec. 30, 2005: US interrogators cannot torture prisoners or otherwise subject them to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Bush's signing statement: The president, as commander in chief, can waive the torture ban if he decides that harsh interrogation techniques will assist in preventing terrorist attacks."

The Big Picture- It is now possible for Bush to purge political enemies just as despots have throughout history. i.e. All he has to do is decide that 6 million sent to a concentration camp might assist in preventing terrorist attacks. Hitler used the same exact reason for the Holocaust.

"Dec. 30: When requested, scientific information prepared by government researchers and scientists shall be transmitted [to Congress] uncensored and without delay."

Bush's signing statement: The president can tell researchers to withhold any information from Congress if he decides its disclosure could impair foreign relations, national security, or the workings of the executive branch."

The Big Picture- Congress no longer has the right to information gathered or discovered by any scientific group or individual who has received federal funding in any way. The 9-11 Commission might have been shown the impossibility of the Official Theory and proof of Bush's criminal involvement, and not have been allowed to give any of that information to Congress or the Public.
"Aug. 8: The Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its contractors may not fire or otherwise punish an employee whistle-blower who tells Congress about possible wrongdoing.

Bush's signing statement: The president or his appointees will determine whether employees of the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can give information to Congress."

The Big Picture- Informing anyone other than the guilty parties of any governmental wrongdoing is now a criminal act. Congress no longer has the authority to subpeona anyone and /or force them to testify under oath.

Dec. 23, 2004: Forbids US troops in Colombia from participating in any combat against rebels, except in cases of self-defense. Caps the number of US troops allowed in Colombia at 800.

Bush's signing statement: Only the president, as commander in chief, can place restrictions on the use of US armed forces, so the executive branch will construe the law ''as advisory in nature."

The Big Picture- Bush no longer needs Congress to declare war. As in Columbia, Bush can order troop deployment/ invasion of any Country. Constitutionally, the Legislative Branch was the only body authorized to approve or restrict military usage with it being the only body authorized to declare War.

"Dec. 17: The new national intelligence director shall recruit and train women and minorities to be spies, analysts, and translators in order to ensure diversity in the intelligence community.

Bush's signing statement: The executive branch shall construe the law in a manner consistent with a constitutional clause guaranteeing ''equal protection" for all. (In 2003, the Bush administration argued against race-conscious affirmative-action programs in a Supreme Court case. The court rejected Bush's view.)"

The Big Picture- The JudicialBranch has just been rendered redundant and impotent in the face of Executive Branch power to construe and define the Constitutionality of any Law it creates or ignores.

"Oct. 29: Defense Department personnel are prohibited from interfering with the ability of military lawyers to give independent legal advice to their commanders.

Bush's signing statement: All military attorneys are bound to follow legal conclusions reached by the administration's lawyers in the Justice Department and the Pentagon when giving advice to their commanders."

The Big Picture- There is no longer any allowable expressed independent opinion
in the US Armed Forces. No views contrary to the official policy may be entertained or suggested.

"Aug. 5: The military cannot add to its files any illegally gathered intelligence, including information obtained about Americans in violation of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches.

Bush's signing statement: Only the president, as commander in chief, can tell the military whether or not it can use any specific piece of intelligence."

The Big Picture- The full power of the US Military information and espionage services may now be used against the Citizen's of America with impunity.

"Nov. 6, 2003: US officials in Iraq cannot prevent an inspector general for the Coalition Provisional Authority from carrying out any investigation. The inspector general must tell Congress if officials refuse to cooperate with his inquiries.

Bush's signing statement: The inspector general ''shall refrain" from investigating anything involving sensitive plans, intelligence, national security, or anything already being investigated by the Pentagon. The inspector cannot tell Congress anything if the president decides that disclosing the information would impair foreign relations, national security, or executive branch operations."

The Big Picture- The US Military is no longer subject to inquiry or inquest for any action taken, no matter the level of atrocity if it could possibly bother anyone else to know about the atrocity.

"Nov. 5, 2002: Creates an Institute of Education Sciences whose director may conduct and publish research ''without the approval of the secretary [of education] or any other office of the department."

Bush's signing statement: The president has the power to control the actions of all executive branch officials, so ''the director of the Institute of Education Sciences shall [be] subject to the supervision and direction of the secretary of education."

The Big Picture- No opinions or views contradictory to the Official Policy may be entertained or suggested by anyone at any time.

The Big Big Picture- For God's sake!! If you can look at these 10 flagrant molestations of Constitutional Power and not see the jack boots coming down the street , then you are indeed beyond help. It is already too late and you have not even noticed it. Rise!