McCain shows his 'foreign expertise' in Jordan

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I'm sorry, but that's naive. The lobbyists and the party heavy weights with the most access to the president and his staff (or even just a future president with a personal agenda he wants to enact) could potentially abuse the living crap out of this power. Deals would be cut so quietly and so far behind so many thick, soundproof doors the public and the media would have no idea what's going on (until it's too late potentially and then what's the recourse?).

The recourse would be to take line item veto power away. The bottom line is that we need to drastically reduce government spending and the line item veto is a great way to do that. The only other ways to eliminate pork would be to elect honest politicians or become politically conscious as a nation, neither of those will ever happen though.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

The only other ways to eliminate pork would be to elect honest politicians or become politically conscious as a nation, neither of those will ever happen though.

Lobby reform? Campaign finance reform? There are other places to look besides the executive branch to change how legislation is crafted, funded and passed in this country. And how much damage could be done before the line item could be taken back away? And how much pressure would be put on the members of the president's party in the Congress (by the party, by the president, by the special interests) to NOT to take it away? That would be a very hard bell to un-ring.