President Bush today issued signing statement #164 of his administration. This was a rhetorical signing statement that came complete with all the trappings of the Rose Garden--a favorite spot for any president's media handlers because it not only highlights the majesty of the presidency, but it is also a beautiful spot for pictures. In fact, during a presidential election featuring an incumbent in the race. If the incumbent pulls well ahead of his challenger, he will often apply a press management technique that limits access to photo-ops at the White House Rose Garden. The strategy is referred to as the "Rose Garden" strategy.
It does not look like the president is going to get much to sign in the remaining days and months of his presidency. The Congress is set to adjourn in late September, and Senate Majority Leader Reid told "The Hill" newspaper today that he does not think that the president will get one more spending bill for his signature, which means that whatever comes his way will be continuing resolutions to fund existing programs at last fiscal year's limits.
The president could, of course, force the Congress to stay in D.C. in special session as Truman did back in 1948, but it doesn't seem likely that he will. The president seems as eager to leave the White House as the Democrats are to see him leave. He began talking about his presidency in the past tense some time ago. But even if he does see a number of bills (and there are important ones out there), it appears his taste for the "constitutional" type of signing statement has tempered ever since the Democrats took control of the Congress in January 2007. Since that time, President Bush has only challenged a little over 20 provisions of bills he has signed into law--dropping him down to what is the norm for previous presidents in any given year.
