Posted on 08/01/2008 5:13:51 PM PDT by Bubba_Leroy
On 27 occasions, presidents have called both houses into session to deal with a crisis. The most recent of these special sessions -- and the first one since 1856 -- met at the behest of President Harry S. Truman on this day in 1948.
With less than four months remaining before Election Day, Truman's approval rating stood at 36 percent. His GOP opponent, New York Gov. Thomas Dewey, looked like a sure winner.
So in search of a bold political gesture, the president turned to the provision in the Constitution that allows the president "on extraordinary occasions" to convene one or both houses of Congress. And Congress at that time was controlled by the GOP.
In accepting the Democratic presidential nomination at 1:45 a.m. in a stifling Philadelphia convention hall, Truman stunned delegates by calling on the Republican majority to live up to its party platform by passing laws that bolstered civil rights, extended Social Security and created a national health care program. "They can do this job in 15 days if they want to do it," he said.
Republicans reacted with scorn. Sen. Arthur Vandenberg (R-Mich.) said, "No good can come to the country from a special session of Congress which obviously stems solely from political motives." Nevertheless, some key GOP figures -- including Vandenberg -- favored action to widen the party's electoral appeal.
The gesture went only so far when Sen. Robert Taft (R-Ohio), chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, accused Truman of abusing his presidential prerogatives and blocked all votes.
That decision presented Truman with a campaign theme: He railed against the "do-nothing 80th Congress." Against all odds, Truman went on to win in November in a four-way race against Dewey, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and former Vice President Henry Wallace.
Call them back for special session to deal with energy. Make Pelosi and Reid miss their summer vacation. Do it!
Sure would mess up Pelosi’s Book Tour wouldn't it?
Call them back for special session to deal with energy. Make Pelosi and Reid miss their summer vacation. Do it!
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By all rights, as a responsible President and a patriot, he should. But I doubt he will. He has NEVER taken a strong, anti-leftist, anti-DemoRat stand in eight years. The nation needs the help, and so does McCain.
I ain’t holdin’ my breath.
Reid has been playing games for two years now, keeping the Senate in session for 30 seconds at a time to keep Bush from making recess appointments. Payback is a bitch.
hyperbole: hy·per·bo·le
1. obvious and intentional exaggeration.
McCain should immediately call for a special session, and the President should recall Congress in response...
Maybe Rush Limbaugh can step in and help...apparently he knows the man, and his Dad, and his brother.
**Sure would mess up Pelosi’s Book Tour wouldn’t it?**
And if THAT doesn’t, maybe FREEPERS should attend her Book Signings??
He won't. It wouldn't be prudent, and President Bush is trying to change the tone in Washington.
That would be an awesome move!!! The 'Rats and MSM would howl and rage over it, but the example of Harry Truman could be brought up endlessly. The Demagogues would be on the defensive and it would be hard for them to change the dynamic of the situation (they would have to actually DO something significant and dramatic on energy to really convince anyone except the cultists that they were serious).
as it appears, the only ones that will be attending those signings will be her family and work friends, which include the liberal media.
Some things never change, and politics is one of those things ... all is fair in politics, Artie ... it was in 1948 and it still is in 2008 ....
GO FER IT Johnny Mc, and tag team with Dubya while yer at it!
Interested in your reasoning.
and President Bush is trying to change the tone in Washington.
Good luck with that...
Good post. Bush really should give this a shot - after all, what does he have to lose?
Did you not see the invisible sarcasm tags? I was making a parody of things Bush 41 and Bush 43 have said.
Nothing. The 'new tone' was dead on arrival eight years ago, and he has been jobbed repeatedly by the fleabrains of Reid and Pelosi ever since. It's all well and good to sit back and say "let history decide" but in the meantime there's a future to be won.
LOL. When I am tired (as I am now) I do sometimes fail to see things invisible. Thanks.
History has judged Truman pretty well.
Give 'em hell, George!
Come on Pres Bush...Give ‘em He** and call them back into Special Session...But just before you do, please make your recess appointments if you can- we need Judges for the vacant positions, and DOJ and State needs positions filled....Go get ‘em George ! Show you have plenty of backbone...GRRR
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