Six Republican Senators have written to President Obama asking for an explanation of what his administration intends to do about the War Powers deadline as it relates to the Libyan War. The War Powers Act requires Congressional approval for a war lasting longer than 60 days, a deadline that will be reached on Friday.
Though administration officials have repeatedly confirmed that the war would continue, the letter mentions that others claimed the president would obey the law. With the deadline so close at hand the senators urged the president to make his intentions clear.
President Obama has likely already run afoul of the War Powers Act in starting the war, as the act only allows presidents to do so with congressional approval or in an “emergency” case where the US was attacked first. Administration officials have admitted that the war isn’t even a vital US interest.
While it seems all but certain that the administration will totally ignore the deadline and allow Friday to come and go without mention, it remains to be seen if there are enough senators concerned about the war to actually raise the issue formally. Sen. John McCain (R – AZ), an enthusiastic support of this and other wars, mocked the notion and claimed that the act “wasn’t constitutional.”
Breaking news for Thursday May 19, 2011… Sen. Mitch McConnell poses the question, "there's a war in Libya? Really?"
"the act only allows presidents to do so with congressional approval or in an “emergency” case where the US was attacked first. Administration officials have admitted that the war isn’t even a vital US interest."
Then he broke the law. What legal consequences are there when a president breaks the law so blatantly? Oh yea, none. Like Nixon said "If the president does it, it's not illegal."
Be Warned from this point forward. When they do bring it up "Officially", it will be for endless war. The precedent has been set and the framework of the machine has been put in place. There is a proposal being secretly put forward to grant the president and EVERY president after to declare war at any time on ANYONE including US CITIZENS. I never thought the doorway to damnation would be opened with such thunderous applause.
You should read more history
Great opportunity for the GOP; how about impeachment?
Impeachment of Obama should be set in motion. The hypocrisy of the liberal Left, for example The Nation, screams out, for it called for the impeachment of Bush who lied us into war. Obama did not even bother to lie, so arrogant is he and so confident of his "antiwar" base. On Libya clearly (and Pakistan which we are bombing) Obama has violated the Constitution.
"Impeach Obama" should be the words on everyone's tongue. And to be even handed we might say: "Impeach Obama. Indict Bush."
How hypocritical. Where were these idiots when Bush was waging war? I have no problem with calling Obama out on this, but the GOP is just playing politics here.
Ron it sounds like you are just engaging of the flip side of that to beg Obummer off for his crimes. One thing I like about antiwar.com is it calls out both parties on their crimes against humanity. And note I say this a left activist who 100% disagrees with Libertarians on economics. It's the O-bots more than anyone who have gutted the peace movement. 🙁
Amazing how the Democrats who used to whine about Bush are now silent.
Of course, these Republican Senators will be silent during the next Republican war.
The enforcement mechanism for a President that breaks the law is impeachment. Of course, since both parties have obviously agreed that impeachment is off the table no matter what the President does, then that's actually tacit approval from Congress for the President to break any law they choose.
As with the Democrats and Bush, there's a difference between hot air and posturing and really fighting. The Democrats were hot air only about Bush, but, they'd never take the step of investigating whether the President really broke the law and should be impeached. Conyers writes his stern letters.to Bush, Sen Byrd would pontificate for hours, but they'd never actually start investigating impeachment.
The Republicans will be exactly the same about Obama. A lot of hot air about posturing. But a complete failure to follow their oath to defend the Constitution by taking the one action the Constitution requires of them if they believe the President has broken the law.
Under the Constitution, Congress has all the power it needs to keep a President under control. Congress controls the money. And Congress can remove a President with impeachment.
Too bad we don't have an honest Congress. Next chance to elect one is in 13 months. Here's a hint, don't vote for any candidate with millions of dollars. The broke candidate is also the honest candidate.