On Tuesday, President Trump capped off months of effort in Congress to pass a War Powers Act challenge to the US involvement in the war in Yemen, vetoing the bill and claiming it was a “dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities.”
The bill, SJ Res 7, was a straightforward bill under the War Powers Act of 1973. The bill noted that Congress never authorized the US war in Yemen, and demanded an end to it. The US Constitution grants sole power to declare wars to the Congress, and by extension the power to order an end to illegal wars.
It is a mere accident of the way bills work that actions under the War Powers Act, designed explicitly as a check on presidential attempts to illegally seize war-making powers, can even be vetoed by the president. Yet SJ Res 7 won such a narrow victory int he Senate that it would be highly unlikely that an override of the veto will even be attempted.
This threatens to set a very dangerous precedent, as after decades of presidents claiming unilateral war-making powers, Yemen was the first real challenge under the War Powers Act to get any momentum. That it was wiped away with an easy veto, and little controversy, only adds to the appearance that the president has unilateral war-making powers, at least as a de facto matter, and Congressional oversight exists only on paper.
Just give it a day or so and JR will explain how this is actually Trump really sticking it to those warmongering neocons!
You guys still read Justin?
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war. The President, meanwhile, derives the power to direct the military AFTER a Congressional declaration of war from Article II, Section 2, which names the President Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
trust the plan /sarc
Both “sides” ignore the restrictions placed on government power from the constitution. The courts generally side with expansion of state power. No surprise there since the courts are part of the government. The Anti Federalists believed that the US Constitution and all the claimed checks and balances were going to fail. Turns out they were right.
“On Tuesday, President Trump capped off months of effort in Congress to pass a War Powers Act challenge to the US involvement in the war in Yemen, vetoing the bill and claiming it was a “dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities.””
How the hell can he veto this bill when the president doesnt have the constitutional authority to go to war in the first place??? 😡
At this point, Congress should impeach him for disobeying the Constitution which he had sworn to uphold.
Now the significance of the GOP corruption in the scotus pick (non pick) in 2015 is shown. As US militancy loses popular support, corruption must grow for them to hold power.
I guess once you can negate the power of the legislative branch, there is no reason to burn their building down.
We used to have presidents who thought their job was to let Congress make decisions like this. I’ve never seen such blatant corruption. This guy has to go. It is necessary for our physical survival.
Probably be crickets from the trump supporters at antiwar, so I’ll just post it for em….”but, russiagate” !
Didn’t he promise to keep out of wars?
Yes, but he is truly a man that lacks Ballz when it comes to standing up to the MIC,,rather he stands up and salutes them then drops to his knees to #leasure them.
…and which previous President since Eisenhower/Kennedy has not done that?
John, I do not believe Carter did, so he was out after 1 term. But I may be wrong….
Yes he did; he made those pledges both in his campaign speeches and in his Inaugural address. What changed? While Trump was sitting at his desk undoing Obama’s EO’s, a group of Trotskyists aka Neocons entered the Oval Office and surrounded him. One of them opened up a folder and showed him photos of JFK’s assassination and warned, “This can happen to you if you don’t toe the line.” From then on, the newly inaugurated POTUS lost his courage.
No Eileen, he promised whatever was required at the time. For every campaign promise to keep the US out of wars, I can find 3 that said he would war more. Fact is, he has no ability to get us out of any war anywhere, never did. Doesnt know how or why, he is actually far dumber than can be imagined. Successful reality show host tho.
Why doesn’t Congress simply refuse to fund the war in Yemen?
Huh. From a guy who ran on the platform we need to end these endless and destructive wars.
So, it is all about him?
Spoke our Caesar.
Every President piggybacks on previous “authorities” given to predecessors to cement the Imperial Presidency.
Fine. A simple majority of Congress can refuse to pass all military spending bills until all assets of the department of DEFENSE have been returned from the various war-zones to US territory.
Yes, a simple majority of Congress can do just that, but are they willing to pass all military spending until all assets of the Dept of Defense have been returned from the various war-zones to US territory? That’s the question.
Jason, I wonder if you meant to type the word “veto,” instead of “voted” in your sentence, ”
It is a mere accident of the way bills work that actions under the War
Powers Act, designed explicitly as a check on presidential attempts to
illegally seize war-making powers, can even be voted by the president.”? Thanks for your continued attempts to document and expose the lies and BS strategies of the war mongers in our government.
Like Obama, Trump is getting so confident in his power that he will stop at nothing.
Once again, ladies and gentleman, this is a man who Justin Raimondo believes in.