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Not Worth The Paper It's On?Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 12:02 AMAttention is now being paid to the latest presidential perquisite: the signing statement. In theory, it's a notation by the president, affixed at the time of signing given legislation, which affirms the president's understanding or specific interpretation of the law. It's not a new technique. What is drawing questions is the manner in which President Bush is using it. After initially stating his opposition to the McCain Amendment to the defense appropriations bill - said amendment prohibiting the use of cruel, inhumane, and/or degrading treatment against terrorist suspects and enemy combatants - President Bush signed it. Everyone called it a win for Senator McCain. Except Mr. Bush, through his signing statement, did the functional equivalent of a child crossing his fingers. He asserted that he'd uphold the bill except when he chose not to. It's all part of the president's constitutional authority and special super-duper ultra-secret power granted in the Authorization of Force. Or maybe it's the punchline in that joke about things being easier in a dictatorship. The only problem is, the joke is on us.
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