FINALLY A VOTE EVEN THE MOST PATHETIC RUBBER STAMP REPUBLICAN CAN BREAK WITH THE HATED BUSH ON

Bush's job approval (24%) is the lowest of any occupant of the White House ever. Republican congressmen-- even many who have rubber stamped every one of his heinous policies for the past seven years-- who have to face voters next year are eager to show how independent of Bush they are. What better way than to vote to override one of his vetoes? 45, 44 and 43 Republicans, at different times, broke with him on health care for children. The attempt to override that one fell short but Bush's newest veto-- today-- of the bipartisan Water Resources Bill looks like it will gather enough Republicans to start the process of letting Bush know he's a constitutional president, not a dictator or a divine right monarch.

According to this afternoon's Congressional Quarterly there are enough Republican votes to override, when the House takes it up on November 6. "The Water Resources Development Act is popular among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. It would authorize funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects across the country.

Many Republicans who have backed up Bush and sustained the other four vetoes of his presidency are expected to split with him on this one.

Rep. John L. Mica of Florida, the top Republican on the House committee that drafted the measure, said, “While I have supported President Bush on many occasions, I must respectfully disagree with his veto of this important and long-overdue water resources development bill.”

Noting that Congress has not passed such legislation for seven years, Mica added, “These improvements are critical to the nation’s infrastructure and environment, and more delay will only ignore the problems and increase costs.”

If the House votes to override the veto, the Senate will vote next week as well, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. It, too, is expected to override the veto.

The Bill is so widely popular that even polar opposites, the most progressive (Barbara Boxer) and the most reactionary (James Inhofe) support the bill. Inhofe, the ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee says he will lead the fight to override the veto. Even David Diapers Vitter (R-LA), a lockstep rubber stamp if there ever was one, is against Bush on this.

The water bill authorizes more than 900 projects and programs, such as building new locks on the Mississippi River, restoring the Florida Everglades, upgrading boat ramps in Idaho and restoring oyster habitat in Long Island Sound. The bill authorizes the projects, but the funding must be provided through the appropriations process.

..."When we override this irresponsible veto, perhaps the president will finally recognize that Congress is an equal branch of government and reconsider his many other reckless veto threats," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.