Bush sneaks through host of laws to undermine Obama

[w1z4rd]

After spending eight years at the helm of one of the most ideologically driven administrations in American history, George Bush is ending his presidency in characteristically aggressive fashion, with a swath of controversial measures designed to reward supporters and enrage opponents.

By the time he vacates the White House, he will have issued a record number of so-called "midnight regulations" -- so called because of the stealthy way they appear on the rule books -- to undermine the administration of Barack Obama, many of which could take years to undo.

Dozens of new rules have already been introduced which critics say will diminish worker safety, pollute the environment, promote gun use and curtail abortion rights. Many rules promote the interests of large industries, such as coal mining or energy, which have energetically supported Bush during his two terms as president. More are expected this week.

Bush can pass the rules because of a loophole in US law allowing him to put last-minute regulations into the Code of Federal Regulations, rules that have the same force as law. He can carry out many of his political aims without needing to force new laws through Congress. Outgoing presidents often use the loophole in their last weeks in office, but Bush has done this far more than Bill Clinton or his father, George Bush sr. He is on track to issue more "midnight regulations" than any other previous president.

Many of these are radical and appear to pay off big business allies of the Republican party. One rule will make it easier for coal companies to dump debris from strip mining into valleys and streams. The process is part of an environmentally damaging technique known as "mountain-top removal mining". It involves literally removing the top of a mountain to excavate a coal seam and pouring the debris into a valley, which is then filled up with rock. The new rule will make that dumping easier.

Another midnight regulation will allow power companies to build coal-fired power stations nearer to national parks. Yet another regulation will allow coal-fired stations to increase their emissions without installing new anti-pollution equipment.

Final reckoning
Bush's midnight regulations will:
Make it easier for coal companies to dump waste from strip-mining into valleys and streams.
Ease the building of coal-fired power stations nearer to national parks.
Allow people to carry loaded and concealed weapons in national parks.
Open up millions of hectares to mining for oil shale.
Allow healthcare workers to opt out of giving treatment for religious or moral reasons, thus weakening abortion rights.
Hurt road safety by allowing truck drivers to stay at the wheel for 11 consecutive hours. -

Read more:http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-12-14-bush-sneaks-through-host-of-laws-to-undermine-obama

Pretty insane. Thats rotten.

 

[marine1]

Oy

 

[Surv0]

That cant be for real...
its just to crazy to believe any president can just do something like that

there must be a way to nullify or intervene or something..

 

[boramk]

Idiot

 

[daveza]

there must be a way to nullify or intervene or something..

There is - it's called ' Obamas first day at the office '.

 

[Phenom]

"Open up millions of hectares to mining for oil shale."
FINALLY FFS!!! (usually dead land anyway, i have googled this before)

"Make it easier for coal companies to dump waste from strip-mining into valleys and streams.
Ease the building of coal-fired power stations nearer to national parks.
Allow people to carry loaded and concealed weapons in national parks.
Allow healthcare workers to opt out of giving treatment for religious or moral reasons, thus weakening abortion rights. - Nincompoop! What happened to 'Separation of religion and state'?
Hurt road safety by allowing truck drivers to stay at the wheel for 11 consecutive hours. - " Damit Bush!

 

[bwana]

Idiot

He's been the poster child for idiocracy for the past 8 years - why would anyone expect that to change now?

 

[Hosehead]

Most Presidents rush through a raft of legislation before leaving office and most of it to benefit their supporters.
It's called Pork. They also issue pardons to those convicted of crimes as well.

 

[krycor]

So do people still doubt who is really benefiting from the policies? not that i think much will change.

 

[Captain Slog]

There is - it's called ' Obamas first day at the office '.

I think that there are going to be a lot of disappointed people when Obama has been around for a while and nothing has changed.

 

[Captain Slog]

Oy

Bush is the man?

 

[aedro]

Bush is the man?

Whose your man now Marine? Eight long years for you to realise you backed a lameduck. Have you seen the shoe incident with Bush in Iraq, people the world over can't wait for him to disappear, hope he doesn't forget his "White Pyjamas".

 

[brixton tower]

The shoes being hurled at Bush would probably go down as one of the more popular videos this year. Was actually cool seeing Bush duck for the first one and narrowly avoid being hit the second time.

 

[marine1]

Bush took the fight to the terrorists so I still support the war on terror.

 

[brixton tower]

Bush took the fight to the terrorists so I still support his war on terror.

No, he was only greeted as a liberator Come to think of it, if Iraq was as safe as they now claim, why didn't he take a stroll through one of Baghdad's Sunday markets.

 

[marine1]

Well I dont think anyone believes it is safe there including Bush as Syria keeps sending in suicide bombers.

 

[Hosehead]

Well I dont think anyone believes it is safe there including Bush as Syria keeps sending in suicide bombers.

Ohh. Syria now?. Bad bad Syria. Naughty Syria. Evil Syria.
*hits Syria with a stick*

 

[JK8]

The shoes being hurled at Bush would probably go down as one of the more popular videos this year. Was actually cool seeing Bush duck for the first one and narrowly avoid being hit the second time.

Link link link?

 

[marine1]

Ohh. Syria now?. Bad bad Syria. Naughty Syria. Evil Syria.
*hits Syria with a stick*

Or a Nuke, that would be much better

 

[brixton tower]

Link link link?

Its all over youtube/