Zing! As Twitchy reported, President Obama headed back to finish up his fancy pants Hawaiian vacation at an additional cost to taxpayers and without signing the oh-so-urgent fiscal cliff crapwich bill. Last night, use of the Autopen was authorized. Journalist Mark Knoller tweets out some background.
From Hawaii, Pres Obama authorizes use of ‘autopen’ to sign Fiscal Cliff bill into law.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 3, 2013
A copy of the bill was transmitted electronically to the Pres in Hawaii where he reviewed it & authorized use of the Autopen to sign it.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 3, 2013
It's the 3rd time Pres Obama has authorized use of the "autopen" signature device at the WH t sign a bill into law.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 3, 2013
A few members of Congress have questined constitutionality of the Autopen bill signing, but the issue never taken to court.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 3, 2013
Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution says that if a president approves a bill "he shall sign it." No provision is made for an Autopen.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 3, 2013
But the Justice Dept Office of Legal Counsel concludes in a 29-page analysis that the Pres can direct an Autopen be used to sign a bill.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 3, 2013
The analysis concluded "…the President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill he approves…"
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 3, 2013
Empty chair, empty pen, same difference!
maybe a risky bill to risk a constitutional challenge? but autopen sure cheaper than flying the bill to Hawaii: http://t.co/CNloej1g
— Rick Klein (@rickklein) January 3, 2013
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Know what would be even cheaper, Rick? Not flying back to Hawaii.
Twitter, of course, was prescient.
Obama had Biden negotiate for him and will probably auto-pen the thing. Are we just paying him to golf? http://t.co/ojaOs6pp #Worthless
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) January 2, 2013
Is Obama (or his #autopen) going to sign this thing tonight?
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) January 2, 2013
Once it was confirmed, the hilarity ensued.
Taxpayer $$ at work MT @markknoller DOJ Office of Legal Counsel concludes in 29-page analysis: POTUS can direct use of Autopen to sign bill.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) January 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/vadum/status/286705824032768000
The autopen teleprompter POTUS. I expected no less. RT @KatiePavlich: Obama to electronically sign the #fiscalcliff deal. What a joke.
— GOPRINCESS ?? MN Mama (@GOPrincess) January 2, 2013
Obama signed the fiscal Bill cliff deal from Hawaii by something called "AutoPen". Really. pic.twitter.com/XRrKGA6A
— EHYH2010 (@EHYH2010) January 3, 2013
Actually, the WH "autopen" signed it (no joke!) aka. "Joe Biden" (joke!) RT@fox25news
President Obama signs cliff deal http://t.co/EKrHUwBR— ConservativeNotCrazy (@IAMMGraham) January 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/AiPolitics/status/286744228065865728
The Autopen did. RT @StewSays: The President tonight signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8 as amended) #FiscalCliff
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 3, 2013
Obama can't even sign the bill that was so urgent cuz he's on vacation? Seriously? #autopen #fiscalcliff #tcot
— Chrissy Schmidt (@Chrissys067) January 3, 2013
Autopen, drones, empty chair. Well, at least Obama hits his own golf balls. #HeckuvaJobBarry
— CatsPolitics (@CatsPolitics) January 3, 2013
President Obama uses the Autopen… http://t.co/eO0WY9j2
Is there not an App for that? 🙂
— Steve McFerrin (@nfg2u) January 3, 2013
Or at least a Twitter account! Wait … ask, and ye shall receive: Twitter delivers with @The_Autopen!
Was waiting for this -> RT @The_Autopen Hey! 🙁 RT @KatiePavlich: Obama to electronically sign the fiscal cliff deal. What a joke.
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 2, 2013
@markknoller You could ask @The_Autopen what its schedule is today…
— Mike (@ThePantau) January 2, 2013
There is hope yet?
https://twitter.com/JimmyWWalker/status/286812026385346560
And, win.
Psst… Obama's Autopen was born in Kenya. #PassItOn
— jon gabriel (@exjon) January 3, 2013
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