Twelve Critical Days

With regard to the Iraq War funding bill there are upcoming 11 or 12 critical days, a window where we can have an opportunity, perhaps, to force Bush's hand and prevent the bill from being vetoed, or at least make the veto as costly and difficult as possible. To understand my idea here, first look at the Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 7.

All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other Bills.

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

So my first point is that from the time the bill is delivered to Bush's desk, there are 11 or 12 days (depending on the day of the week when it arrives, how many Sundays get skipped before the ten days are up) for him to veto the bill, or it becomes law "in like manner as if he had signed it" providing we can keep the House and Senate in session for that time. I assume that keeping the Congress in session will not be a problem.

My next point is that we need to create media events and political pressure of all types to convey the messages that

1. if President Bush vetoes the bill, then he is defunding the troops in Iraq.
2. Please President Bush, do not defund the troops in Iraq.

By media events and political pressure I'm talking about

• letter writing campaigns to the press, to Congress and to the White House
• Speeches and rallies by Senators, Congressmen and women, Presidential Candidates
• Marches and rallies by citizens
• Whatever else we can think of
  

If we can do that we can make it as difficult as possible for him to veto the bill, certainly on the same day that such an event is going on.

My final point is that if we can keep this up for twelve days he will either have to veto the bill on the same day that these things are in the news, or it will become law.