The Congressional Override

Much hay is being made out of the fact that Congress finally overrode one of President Bush's rare vetos. The media is furiously trying to figure out what all this means.

I'd suggest with a simple examination of the money. Follow the money.

The bill that was overridden was larded up with more pork than a hoghouse. If you put enough pork into any legislation, Congress members will vote for it because they're getting something out of it.

That's the strategy that Democrats tried when they pulled one of their troop withdrawal/defeat and retreat measures. It failed because GOPers didn't go along.

This time, there were enough Republicans siding with Democrats on the measure to pass it despite the Presidential veto.

The lesson to be learned is that if the President vetoes an appropriations bill, if it is sufficiently larded with bipartisan pork, chances are that it will be overridden. If it isn't, the veto will stand.