Fourthly. The President can only adjourn the national legislature in the single case of disagreement about the time of adjournment. The British monarch may prorogue or even dissolve the Parliament.

“Article 1 Sec. 4
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.”

It’s quite clear that it would have to be the Senate, not Bush, who could block the House from adjourning. The Senate has agreed to remain in Session, and the House has not protested. Ergo there is no “disagreement”.

“Article 2 Section 3

[The President] shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.”

Bush could insist that the House come back into Session to deal with his veto of the Defense Bill. But he can’t mandate that they deliberate faster or come to an agreement, or compel the attendance of any members. That’s the Right of the House. But compelling a special session is within his powers…that ENABLES the review of legislation or review of special events like disasters or war.

Furthermore it’s the Senate that confirms Presidential appointments. The Senate ARE in Session. The House and Senate were not in dispute about their times of adjournment. One didn’t object to the activities of the other. Thus Bush cannot “adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper”. The power of adjournment occurs only when there is a breach of amity between the two divisions of the Legislative branch, and where one may actually be blocking activity of the other by adjourning to prevent hearing legislation passed by the other body. The President can then direct and END to the period of adjournment. This is simply another way of stating his power to call Congress into Session.

The Federalist Papers stated that the President didn’t have the power of a King particularly in suspending Parliament at his whim.

But Bush actually vetoing a Bill that gave him everything he wanted because of this is absurd.

Recall his screeching about how if the $70 billion supplemental wasn’t passed – and it was incorporated into this thing- that the troops in Iraq were at great risk because of Congress’ dawdling and “playing politics”. Then he got Gates up threatening to put tens of thousands of DOD personnel on furlough during the Christmas Holidays!

Well is it beinf pointed out that because of his veto HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS…unless…unless…all that was simply bullsh*t “playing politics”.

Now he is going to immunize the Iraqi government and their US accounts IF US Veterans actually win their suits against the Iraqi government! Oh, and aren’t there individuals (contractors and soldiers) that have been arrested and mistreated by the CURRENT Iraqi government? How does this immunization affect them?

During the heat the pools cannot be drained as it cracks the plaster & concrete foundation. You do not drain your pool during the summer unless you are having your pool refinished.

Public safety primes property owners’ rights. I’d press my gov’t hard. Notice to the owner and if it’s not resolved, resolve it however is most expedient (and won’t require coming back). Foreclosed properties do have owners. And those pools aren’t going to last long without attention anyway. Seriously, maybe they ought to be filled with concrete or something. I imagine it won’t be long before a lot of communities are looking at their neglected/abandoned property regs. The owners’ solution is to put reliable caretaker tenants in the properties – at the right price they can be found.

Sharif don’t like it.

Oh mar, now he’s gonna have to shock the cash bar.