A Real Unifying Move

Both John McCain and Barack Obama are claiming to be presidents who will reach across the aisle, nonpartisan, more loyal to their country than their party, or even "mavericks." They also both claim that Washington is broken, that they will get rid of partisan gridlock and get the nation moving again. It sounds like they both have the same goal, to keep Congress from being stuck in a non-productive rut.

And what is one of the major factors that keeps Congress from getting anything done? The presidential veto. The president can block a bill, agreed upon by Congress, from becoming a law with a simple signature (or maybe he draws a big X through it. I'm not sure about the actual technique of the veto). Congress is theoretically able to override vetoes with a 2/3 majority vote in the House and Senate. This requires more debate, time that could be spent on other issues. OVerrides are very hard to accompish, and only 4% of all of the vetoes in history have been overridden (source). Vetoes may not be the only thing keeping Congress from getting anything done, but they are definitely a factor.

This whole practice of partisan vetoes started with Andrew Jackson (correct me if I'm wrong). Before him, the veto was only used if a bill was deemed unconstitutional by the president. But Jackson vetoed anything he didn't agree with, starting the practice that continues to this day. George W. Bush has made a total of 12 vetoes, including 2 bills that would re-authorize an existing children's healthcare program, 2 that would allow more stem cell research, and 1 that would ban waterboarding.

To me, Congress represents the people much more than the president, and that the president shouldn't block bills that Congress has decided upon unless they are unconstitutional. The partisan veto has been a non-issue for far too long and it deserves to be talked about in the mass media. How about one of these "mavericks" changes the course of history and promises not to use their veto power for partisan agendas? That would really set them apart as willing unify the country and get it moving again.