Tied Hands

I'm curious about something. I can understand, in a sick sorta way, why Bush would throw down the gauntlet on legislation threatening his adventure in Iraq. But why would he specifically also include Iran in such a discussion? Not "foreign policy" or commander-in-chief prerogatives, but specifically regarding Iran?

Gee, I wonder .......

Spencer Akerman, via Digby

It's official: President Bush will veto any and all measures put forth by Congressional Dems to halt the Iraq War, according to a little-noticed letter from the White House to Carl Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The letter also says that the White House will veto any measure that would tie its hands on Iran -- including on military action inside that country.

That Bush will veto any such measures was expected, and isn't surprising. Nonetheless, the letter makes it official that Congressional Dems face the daunting prospect of having to muster a veto-proof majority on any Iraq or Iran measures. ............

The Iran section of the letter is particularly interesting. It says the White House will veto any Congressional effort to either "direct or prohibit" any military, intelligence or diplomatic action regarding Iran. While the emphasis is clearly on possible restrictions to the president's ability to go after the Iranians, the most prominent amendment on Iran is Sen. Joe Lieberman's (ID-CT) successful effort to get the Senate to "confront" Iran for alleged attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. It'll be interesting to see if that effort, which passed the Senate yesterday on a 97-0 vote, spurs Bush's veto pen.

Added: KargoX reminds us that Bush has promised to not just "veto" legislative interference in his wars, but to "defy" legislation limiting his wars. Now tell me, would that really surprise anyone? Suppose Congress, with Republican cooperation, overrides a Presidential veto and the President just ignores the whole thing, acting as commander-in-chief under some Abu Gonzales originated Mickey Mouse Law School bullshit. Then what?