Bush Planning To Issue 20 'Highly Contentious' Rules In Final Weeks

New York Times:

The Labor Department is racing to complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job.

The rule, which has strong support from business groups, says that in assessing the risk from a particular substance, federal agencies should gather and analyze "industry-by-industry evidence" of employees' exposure to it during their working lives. The proposal would, in many cases, add a step to the lengthy process of developing standards to protect workers' health.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[harriettubman]

He pretends to be so arrogant but look at his aged face. He's aged 25 yrs in 8 yrs in office. He looks so bad he may need a facelift. Sticks and stones did break those bones and that reputation.

[HeIsTheOne]

He's not pretending to be arrogant. He's the king of arrogance, which has placed our nation in jeopardy because of his assumption of superiority. Dam him, ignorant spoiled brat.

[RealityBaseCamp]

He's arrignorant! Ignorrogant? Cain't git fooled again!

[radiojunkie]

bush looks like 30 hells warmed over in that picture

[abby4ever]

Be fair, all presidents look like that by the time they get out out of office. Some even look like that before they get in, e.g. Nixon.

[Bitsko]

lmfao!

[BabsfromKansas]

The alcoholics look even worse.

[dct1999]

Bill Clinton didn't age like that, neither did the idiotsavant Reagan.

[Grasshopper77]

LOL!

Sheesh! I do believe you have found your funny bone lately, Abby!

Cheerio and Pip Pip!

[TeeLolly]

One more reason impeachment proceedings should have at least been started ...

[Chavez08]

impeachment is waaayyy too good for this criminal.

[Agent420]

Maybe the International crowd will snag him for war crimes.

[lornejl]

He's got those beady eyes, I don't trust him.

[HeIsTheOne]

He's got that smooth contoured brain I don't trust. M.A.D.man at large. Irrational S.o.B.

Looking to loot and destroy and then settle in to his new digs in Houston.

Where is the accountability? Where is the humanity and reasonable behavior?

Yikes.

[myangeldog1]

LOL !

[epitomized]

Bush isn't worried about worker safety or worker's in general? No surprises here...

With the stroke of a pen, Obama can quickly undo Bush's damage.

Is it January 20th yet?

[ChiGuy]

Actually, the first regulation that they're talking about CANNOT be reversed with the simple stroke of a pen.
The process is MUCH more involved and the outcome could take years to reverse.

[ChiGuy]

Actually, the first regulation that they're talking about CANNOT be reversed with the simple s'troke of a pen.
The process is MUCH more involved and the outcome could take years to reverse.

[RnR]

Why not? Did Bush et. al., respect anything - even the constitution. All Obama has to do is claim executive privilege to override anything and do it. Then let Bush et. al., sue him.

[buddhistMonkey]

The Congressional Review Act of 1996 makes it possible for the incoming, Democratic­ally-contr­olled Congress to reverse any or all of Bush's regulations made in the last several months of his term. Congress has 60 days from Obama's swearing-in, and all that's required is a simple majority vote. The law does not allow for a filibuster in the Senate, either, so it should be a slam-dunk for Congress to package all of Bush's rogue regulations into one omnibus bill that handily reverses the bulk of the damage.

[kay]

Get ready for the conservative rewrite of Bush's Presidency :)

But the real reason that Obama and Clinton might enjoy success is something that goes barely mentioned in the media. Obama and Clinton are buying into a bottomed-out market vis-à-vis America’s position in the world. It is as if they will be buying stock after the market has crashed, and just at the point when a number of factors are already set in motion for a recovery. For President George W. Bush did not just damage America’s position in the world, he has also, over the past two years, quietly repositioned himself as a realist in foreign policy, and that, coupled with a bold new strategy in Iraq, known as the “surge,” has poised America for a diplomatic rebound, which the next administration will get the credit for carrying out.

Kaplan, now, I guess, a reformed neoconservative.

[HeIsTheOne]

It took me two reads to comprehend your concept. Now I'm pis.s.ed.

[epitomized]

I was getting ready to say how crazy you were until I re-read the first line. :) Yes, I do expect such. You've already written Palin's narrative for 2012.

[Bitsko]

I think it goes barely mentioned in the press because it makes no sense. But nothing Bush/Cheney ever did made sense either.

[IBOAT]

Yes, to comprehend G.W. Bush's madness, it will take 40 years to realize the after effects of the surge and his experiment with implementing pro western democracy in that region, Those are his own words. I wonder where he got the 40 year figure from?

[vippy]

The surge never worked and I want to know when did we win in Iraq? I must be crazy but I read where the US is paying off the Iraqis NOT to attack us. Call that a surge. And we are begging Iraq
to stay another 3 years - what a concept of a victory.

[matteodean]

yes so what happened to obama getting us out in 16 months??\

nnow he wants more troops in afgan i dont get it

[HeIsTheOne]

“The proposal would, in many cases, add a step to the lengthy process of developing standards to protect workers’ health.”

WTF is going on here? I thought OSHA had all this type of protection in place legally and NO ONE could rescind. I am obviously wrong. The Shrub is asking for it during his retirement years. How dare he try to mess with status quo.

What a minute, that’s been his goal these last 8 years, hasn’t it?

[Bitsko]

Good point.

[aznurse]

Obama should have a press conference, tell anyone that will listen on what Bush is doing and why he opposess it and have all the blame put on Bush's shoulders.
EXPOSE BUSH
I was thinking of this as a battlecry, but maybe not.

[HeIsTheOne]

Expose Bush! I like it. Time for accountability. Can The Shrub pardon himself?
Hume, where are you when we need you?

[Bitsko]

Looks like Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution doesn't say he can't, unless there's an impeachment process going on:

Section 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

[simplify]

I always said he was mad, and this proves it.

[HawaiianPunch]

Nice ear hair.

He'd be a laughing stock if the world wasn't too busy crying. That sad drunk.

[spunky5408]

Jindal's GOP Obama??

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/29/AR2008112901777.html?hpid=topnews

I think they would just use him as a toke.n and not change their ideology.

[Bitsko]

He was on TV today during a college football game. I see a bright future for him doing infomercials or hosting the 700 Club after Robertson meets his maker down below.

[macbabe]

he's a good guy and the one to watch, thats' for sure.

[spunky5408]

I'll be watching him, for sure. Hopefully the RNC won't destro.y him.

[matteodean]

oh really macabe?? and please tell us why?? why is a good guy? do you know him or is that your fantasy

[matteodean]

why cuase he has some colour???

what is it going to be like football now??

all the presidents will be black or indian or chinese or japanese

or?? what a joke

[larazon]

Watch out for anyone that Rush raves about.

[spunky5408]

I know......­but stil.. he might make me think twice if he runs in 2012 depending, of course on how O does.

[CheshireCat2]

You folks that bit-ch about Gitmo have no clue how good these guys have it.

[spunky5408]

What's worng?

[larazon]

If it's so great why don't you take a little vacation there?

[CheshireCat2]

OK, I love Gitmo in the winter.

[kay]

Conservatives will all deny supporting torture in 20 years.

They'll lie to their grandkids about it.

[matteodean]

your kidding right?

[IBOAT]

How would you know? You have been there, done that? A civilized man that falls among these circumstances can feel the d evil bite his -- a s s when he has lost his freedom as a man.

[Bitsko]

Think about how good the innocent ones who were turned in for money had it before they got renditioned. What kind of country comes up with a word like renditioned anyway?

[levibatgirl]

"The Department of Labor (DOL) fosters and promotes the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements.

http://www.answers.com/topic/department-of-labor

Argh!!

[Ihaveadream]

And for eight years, Elaine Chao's staff - the plum job appointees, have been the well connected Republican hacks, sons and daughters of the well connected - mostly from Kentucky, where Elaines' creepy husband is Senator. Each has no experience for their positions and certainly never held any allegiance to American workers or the goals posted above, but have been collecting big paychecks, traveling at taxpayers expense and play acting in their "jobs". If you research their backgrounds you will see that most of their resumes include time at many of the right wing think tanks during the Clinton years, bankrolled by the companies who bankroll their agendas.

Note to Obama transition team - Please get rid of all of them and find out those who have buried themselves into career jobs. It shouldn't be hard to do.

[spunky5408]

Perhaps GWB should spend some time in Gitm.o before O closes it.

[CheshireCat2]

He just might like the tropical paradise. Brand new Koran, new prayer rug, Mus-lim chef. Mus-lim dietary laws, soccer ball, soccer practice daily... better than most Americans live. What else do you want?

It isn't even cold 9 months out of the year.

Oh and I forgot fresh laundered clothes twice weekly.

[Bitsko]

I don't know. Keeping them at Michael Jackson's house in Dubai might be a little too harsh.

[larazon]

You sure appear to know a lot about a place that's been shut off to the press, legal advocates, Amnesty International and the Red Cross.

They get the limited guided tour.

[myangeldog1]

I've read reports to the contrary Cat. It is sickening and they're dying and some are innocent.

[IBOAT]

Worrying about your family that you may never see again will along kill you. If you are a normal human being. Then you have the issue of your better half, or the call of that desire. The reason for being a man is lost.

[stella801]

Good idea! Let's include Cheny and Rummy while we're at it.

As Keith would say.....mm­mmmmmmbush­!

[matteodean]

yo spanky ....though­t you were changing your name

[BeasleysMom]

I can't bear to read the whole article. I cannot stand looking at that horrible man's face. He has done so many things that came close to ruining our America. How anyone could have any respect for him I will never know. I truly believe he has no heart, mind or soul. I thank the Higher Power every day that we are almost rid of him and his tyranny.

[MizLiz]

Count on that wretched man to do everything he can to mess up the country and pay off his supporters before he leaves. Words can't express how much I hate him for what he's done to all of us.