banal

Faced with a veto-proof margin in Congress, President Bush agreed to sign a bill banning the torture of detainees, which he proceeded to do with much flag-waving fanfare. Not quite. While Bush signed the new law, he also quietly approved another document: a signing statement reserving his right to ignore the law. Senator McCain was furious, and so were other lawmakers. However, for this brilliantly executed evasive act of reptilious political brilliance, president George Walker Bush will recieve the prestigious 2006 Göran Persson award.