President Obama invited Congressional leaders to the White House today to give them a preview of the Wednesday speech on the ISIS war, with officials saying he wanted the Hill’s backing on the conflict. Instead, he just told them how they don’t matter.
Obama told the leaders he would welcome anything that shows a “united front” behind his new war, but that he maintains, as he’s always maintained, that he has the authority to launch the war without them.
The White House readout of the meeting said Obama told Congress he believes “that the nation is stronger and our efforts more effective” when Congress backs the president, and that he will continue to engage in “consultation” with the handful of Congressmen he deems worth talking to.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R – KY) didn’t directly dispute the White House assessment, but said he believes that it is in the president’s “best interest” to ask Congress to endorse the war.
There are two different bills working through Congress right now, one which endorses a three-year war without ground troops, and another which endorses an open-ended war with no limits.
Congress needs to vote, not for war, but for impeachment. Seriously, Obama has lost his head over a few beheadings.
Silly rabbit…this has absolutely nothing to do with a couple of journalists losing their heads because they were someplace dangerous. This is all about the Imperium and the authority to do what the Emperor wants to do sans Congress. And make no mistake, Congress themselves are responsible for the state of this Constitutional squabbling. If they had stood their ground when Bushco (especially their lawyers) pushed the meme that the President already had the power to take us to war under the War Powers Act and demanded that an exit strategy and definite goal be laid out for the American people to see then perhaps there wouldn't be any question regarding who has the authority or not.
Instead, Congress doubled down and devised the AUMF to get them off the "Congressional Responsibility" hook (in case it all went badly – which it did, of course) and gave the Executive all the leeway it needed to do whatever it wanted. Congress almost righted some of its dithering when they started to discuss repealing the AUMF…but then did what they usually do and tabled it for further discussion…which, of course, didn't happen.
As for McConnell, he was decidedly silent when Dubya made the exact same declaration of independence. And as for his statement that "he believes that it is in the president’s “best interest” to ask Congress to endorse the war," the only person McConnell is concerned about it is McConnell and his impending re-election bid. He is only blowing smoke to satisfy his constituents who might be libertarians and who are concerned about the Constitutional step-arounds being performed by the Executive.
Its a good thing the presidency wasn't so imperial back in Woodrow Wilson's' day. Just imagine all the wars he would have done.
The one he did manage to do was the one that destroyed European civilization.
Its not like congress would say no to any war proposal. Why do people keep thinking there would be a lick of difference if obomba asked for authorization?
always on about Obama shouldn't be doing this or that, but never a word said about the fool that gave him the precedents to do it al! These are all Bush precedents every one of them, from the Activities at Gitmo, to the Drones to the I can do as I want because I am the President MAINLY that one!
Oh, Omnipotent one George W Bush, who claimed to be as President, he could do as he pleased not unlike his predecessor Tricky Dicky Nixon and all because his VP Cheney said he could do it and found a few Lawyer friends to Write dubious Advice that was the case!
All of this is the Republicans fault in the first place they are the ones that decided that the Middle East despots had to go, they are the ones that funded the groups that we have had to fight now in the first place, Osama originally Known by the CIA as Archer all those years back in Afghanistan when they were fighting the Proxy war with the USSR in the 80's! The list of funding these groups has continued, other nations have also done it, we shouldn't forget that Hamas came about because Mossad wanted to undermine the PLO, and mark my words the Little funding exercise in Ukraine will cause another disaster, the CIA and Pentagon and organizations of similar ilk cannot help themselves! Remember the new Government has direct Neo Nazi roots!
Until the US Justice Department grows some Cahones and Prosecutes the Former President for the crimes he committed whilst in the Oval office and there are some BIG crimes that are on the Domestic crime list there, we will see future Presidents do what he did with impunity because the Legal Precedent is still there! Start with Torture, charge Yoo and Bybee as well at the very least it was their advice that the President took! At the very least that would stop current Presidents from doing what Bush authorized there, even if Bush didn't go down!
Also for all of those who make the comments about the Czars of this and that, remember that is exactly what Bush upheld, strong Unitary executive! Now you are complaining because it isn't the President that you want wielding that power! as I said have to go back and deal with the originator of the problem! Future presidents knowing that they can be prosecuted criminally will in fact not be tempted and until a President is prosecuted the temptation will always be there!
This website was a lonely voice of protest in the wilderness when Bush did his thing.
I suppose Obama is correct. If anybody disagrees with his war, they'll be droned.
Emperor Caligula appointed his horse, Incitatus, a consol and member of the Roman Senate.
American voters appoint representatives to the Senate (and Congress) where they act like horses' asses.
Is there anything we actually NEED Congress for any more?