WHEN HE WAS A SENATOR HE THOUGHT THE SENATE SHOULD HAVE POWER...:

Lawmakers slam Obama for embracing Bush tactic (CHARLIE SAVAGE, 8/09/09, The New York Times)

President Bush set off a national debate in 2006 over the propriety of signing statements — instructions to executive officials about how to interpret and put in place new laws — after he used them to assert that he could authorize officials to bypass laws such as a ban on torture and oversight provisions of the USA Patriot Act.

During the presidential campaign, Obama called Bush's use of signing statements an "abuse" and said he would issue them with greater restraint. Obama administration officials said the signing statements the president has signed, challenging portions of five bills, have been based on mainstream interpretations of the Constitution and echo reservations routinely expressed by presidents of both parties.

Nonetheless, since taking office, Obama has relaxed his criteria for what kinds of signing statements are appropriate.