Deference Prevails Over Hostility

That's not to mention the one sweetheart who seemed to give Bush the finger .

Historic Moment

Reporters wanted some details about the historic moment itself, but no dice.

Spokesman Tony Snow explained: "Here's how it works -- because I know a lot of you have questions. There will be no photographers, no ceremony. What the President will do is, in his office, he will sign a veto message, he will hand it to a clerk, who will convey to a clerk of the House, and then you go through the formalities of announcing a message from the President and, at some point, the House will vote on the veto.

"Q Is there a reason why he's not having photographers in, at least?

"MR. SNOW: Because he doesn't feel it's appropriate. He's signing a veto.

"Q Is that true of all vetoes? I mean, he's never vetoed anything.

"MR. SNOW: Well, then I guess we don't have a precedent, do we? (Laughter.)"

Editorial Watch

The Los Angeles Times : "In 5-1/2 years as president, George W. Bush has seen more than 1,100 bills cross his desk. Some were good pieces of law. Some were shortsighted and silly, and many flat-out contradicted the president's own stated values, especially in the areas of fiscal prudence and free trade. He held his nose and signed them anyway.

"On Wednesday, after the longest veto-free streak since Thomas Jefferson, Bush wiped the cobwebs from his veto pen and finally wielded a president's most potent legislative weapon. To which there can only be two responses: It's about time -- and he shouldn't have."

The Raleigh News and Observer : "The president's position is that destruction of an embryo equates, morally, to the murder of a human being. Yet an embryo leaves no one grieving or dependent when it is no longer viable. An embryo can only fulfill its potential to become a human being if the right circumstances occur. For want of those circumstances, gazillions of human eggs and sperm never become human beings in nature. As a practical matter, the embryos available to researchers are fertility clinic discards destined for destruction one way or the other.

"Our society should do everything possible to preserve lives that have already begun. Toward that end, stem cell research holds magnificent promise. Congress was right to expand that research with federal support, and it would be right to override the president's veto."

The Kansas City Star : "President Bush kept his veto pen dry when Congress ran up the federal debt with runaway spending on road projects, unnecessary farm subsidies and other wasteful gifts to special interests.