George W. Bush Explains His Signing Statements, Among Other Things

George W. Bush Explains His Signing Statements, Among Other Things

George W. Bush Explains His Signing Statements, Among Other Things

Can you say “Decider”?

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They sent me a law against torture.
I signed it, although it was quaint.
I said, though, that I’m the decider
Of if something’s torture or ain’t.

I’ll do what I want when I want to,
Though Congress’s will may be foiled.
I’ve always done just what I want to.
You see, I’m a little bit spoiled.

The Congress wants mail left unopened,
Except through a court. They were blunt.
I signed that, but said in a statement
We’ll open whatever we want.

I’ll do what I want when I want to,
That’s deep down in my DNA.
I’ve always done just what I want to.
And Nanny Dick says it’s OK.

The citizens spoke in November.
They said that my war is a flop.
So what? I will order more troops there.
I’m boss, and I’m not going to stop.

I’ll do what I want when I want to,
It’s what I’ve done all my life long.
I’ve always done just what I want to.
It’s lucky I’ve never been wrong.

We cannot back down

We now confront a second Trump presidency.

There’s not a moment to lose. We must harness our fears, our grief, and yes, our anger, to resist the dangerous policies Donald Trump will unleash on our country. We rededicate ourselves to our role as journalists and writers of principle and conscience.

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Armed with a remarkable 160 years of bold, independent journalism, our mandate today remains the same as when abolitionists first founded The Nation—to uphold the principles of democracy and freedom, serve as a beacon through the darkest days of resistance, and to envision and struggle for a brighter future.

The day is dark, the forces arrayed are tenacious, but as the late Nation editorial board member Toni Morrison wrote “No! This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”

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Onwards,

Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

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