Quote:
Originally posted by Gattigap
Well, throwing the switch only takes a few moments, so I doubt that the Guv was terribly inconvenienced by official duties.
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Now, now. No exagerating. Gov. Bush did not have the power to actually flip the switch in any execution. Nor did he have the power to commute any sentence (rather, a governor in Texas can issue a stay pending a review by an independant board).
But this does beg a couple of questions. Bush did in fact spend a substantial amount of time outside of Texas in 2000, forcing Perry to step in an act as the executive in his absence. Senators do not have the luxury of having a proxy. Additionally, most gubenatorial duties can be conducted within a flexible time frame: bills can be signed anytime, anyplace, within a several day time period. US Senate votes take place only in one place, at a time decided by leaders who believe it to be in their best interest to make life difficult for Sen. Kerry.
The idea that Kerry should take time off from campaigning to go to Washington to vote on particular matters is absurd: the second he shows up in town, the Republicans will postpone the vote.
ETA: I can't get the Google archive link to work. Cut and paste:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache...postpone&hl=en
