For the first time in Obama's presidency, Congress has overridden his veto to allow a bill to become a law. Both the House and Senate had unanimously voted to pass the bill initially, allowing the families of 9/11 victims to sue any member of the Saudi Arabian government who is suspected of playing a role in the 9/11 attacks. A 1976 law previously protected foreign countries from American lawsuits, but this new legislation, called the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, amends this law. President Obama argued firmly against passing the bill, saying that it would undermine the relationship between American and Saudi governments and put US service members at risk for lawsuits against actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, when the veto was overridden, members of the Obama administration and the President himself classified it as "'the single most embarrassing thing the United States has done' in decades." Obama acknowledged the fact that denying the legislation would be no easy decision in light of the lasting resentment of the American people towards perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He expressed however, that the repercussions would overshadow any glimpses of justice. The House voted 348-77 in favor of overriding the veto and the Senate had a 97-1 vote.
Discussion:
How does Obama's upcoming exit from office influence Congress's treatment of his executive decisions?
If both Congress and the Obama administration feel so strongly about opposing viewpoints, who is in the wrong?
Should the veto be a final decision?
Seeing that Obama has such a short amount of time left in his presidency to make any influential decisions, I do believe that Congress is taking advantage of his fast approaching end. Looking at this statistically, Congress strongly favored this law as the numbers were 97-1 for Senate and 348-77 for House of Representative. It is logically and morally correct for those who instilled fear to thousands of people's lives to accept responsibility, and it is even more fair for families victim of these heinous attacks. However, one worry that I have is where will these cases take place? On foreign or American soil? I do side with Congress because this is about establishing justice for both America and its citizens. Our country has been greatly affected by this event, and it is time to open the eyes of other countries and convince to do something, anything. And no, veto should not be the final decision because that would unfair power to executive, the power to reject hundreds of affirmatives based on one decision by one person.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that Obama is leaving soon definitely makes Congress take him a little less seriously, especially on things that they feel so strongly about. I believe it is good that Congress can override a veto because if it is a dumb veto, it needs to be corrected.
ReplyDeleteConsidering Obama is about to leave his presidential office, I believe that Congress is more likely to ignore his executive power, and therefore, it makes sense why Congress would override his veto. I also think that it's okay for the legislative branch to be able to override a president's veto, because a president shouldn't be too powerful in a democracy.
ReplyDeleteConsidering Obama is about to leave his presidential office, I believe that Congress is more likely to ignore his executive power, and therefore, it makes sense why Congress would override his veto. I also think that it's okay for the legislative branch to be able to override a president's veto, because a president shouldn't be too powerful in a democracy.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Obama's presidency coming to an end definitely is impacting Congress' decision to overrule the veto. Congress is damaging our foreign policy reputation and I think that this will make American overall look worse to foreign in nations especially in the Middle East
ReplyDeleteDisagreeing with the president is all fine and good, but seriously? We're going to allow families to sue the Saudi Arabian government? I mean I get that congress wants to show solidarity with families and victims of 9/11 but this is not the right way to do it. I mentioned this on a different comment so I won't delve into it, but doing this allows other people to sue our government, and we have a lot to be sued for. I get it, 9/11 was a horrible, devastating tragedy. But something as meaningless as this bill will, at its best, not confer much more benefit than a haphazard "ok, maybe we were involved, maybe we weren't; sorry?" apology letter. And at it's worst, this could be detrimental and only cause a swarm of new, unsolvable problems.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone that the approaching end of Obama's term could be leading to him being taken less seriously. I feel like Obama was right that the action to let people sue Saudi Arabia will only end badly, since it opens up pathways to more conflict rather than looking for more peaceful solutions to create better relations.
ReplyDeleteBecause of Obama’s exit from office, Congress will try and prolong issues as much as they can. For example, it has been over 6 months since Justice Scalia has died and Congress still has not replaced any for his position even though President Obama has elected someone. Congress won’t feel threatened by Obama either because they know he won’t be able to do anything because he is leaving office soon. I don’t believe the President’s veto should be the final decision, and I do think it is fair for Congress to override his veto because this is what the checks and balances system is for and it is only fair to the citizens that the system is executed.
ReplyDeleteI think Obama's decision on not passing the bill was a well a good decision. This could add fuel to the fire that's already existent between Saudi and America. However, that is just my personal belief. There must be valid reasons on why the majority of Congress believe this bill should be passed. If Congress really believes in this bill, then they should be allowed to override his veto.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Congress is not taking Obama seriously because he is coming down to the end of his term, but that doesn't mean that should affect their decision. I think that Congress is starting to get cocky and making decisions that benefit them as republicans and the believe that Trump will win which means that their wishes and needs will be met.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Obama's argument that the consequences of putting tension on Saudi-US relations by allowing citizens to sue Saudi government officials will greatly overshadow any justice being made out of this. I also believe that the congress is trying to delay and prevent Obama from making major executive decisions as they intend on having the next president, preferably republican, making these decisions instead.
ReplyDeletei firmly agree with obama in this case. allowing american families (which throughout the course of this year have been proven again and again to be temperamental and almost incapable of making rational decisions) to sue the saudi arabian government is absurd. this opens the door for extreme international conflict with a nation we are already in rough waters with in trying to mend relations with.
ReplyDeleteSince Obama is coming to an end i believe that the congress will change completely. Not only because of the two candidates running right now but i believe it is because of how people see things differently and would want to change it.
ReplyDeleteI believe the veto should not be the final decision being the presidents decision should not be the only one to influence what laws be passed and denied.
ReplyDeleteI believe the veto should not be the final decision being the presidents decision should not be the only one to influence what laws be passed and denied.
ReplyDeleteAll right America went boom boom during 9/11 and I think the families deserve some sort of justice by suing the Saudi Arabia government. Obama is trying to preserve the peace through stagnation, but in the end in order to prevent another 7/11 the families must vent per se(tm).
ReplyDeleteKnowing that Obama is going to be leaving office soon, Congress will not be taking him as seriously. Also, the new candidates are going to cause change to congress drastically and because of Obama's leaving, I can see why Congress override his veto.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Obama's argument that the consequences of putting tension on Saudi-US relations by allowing citizens to sue Saudi government officials will greatly overshadow any justice being made out of this. I do side with Congress because this is about establishing justice for both America and its citizens. Our country has been greatly affected by this event, and it is time to open the eyes of other countries and convince to do something, anything.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with Obama's bill because 9/11 victims may not even know who are actually involved with the accident and is unfair to those who are innocent. However, I do think it is better to fill the drift between the Us and Saudi Arabia.
ReplyDeleteAmidst this issue, Obama sees a different clarity than the senate and the house does. There needs to be another way to help these families along, such as obvious aid from congress itself towards these families. Time heals everything, and in no way are these families ever going to be healed and fighting these terrorist groups to nonexistence is a worthwhile fight to this day, there should be no incentive for families to bring up new allegations on Saudi Arabia so long past. The government should take charge, spend the money and give aid to each family to save itself from future costs that will definitely arrive from foreign allegations in return from acts such as the invasion of Fallujah or operations in the middle east.
ReplyDeleteWell I see why the congress are overridden his veto because they know that he will be leaving soon and he wont be taken as seriously anymore.
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