Congressional Republicans Roll Over
21st March 2011
Republican House Speaker John Boehner has been quoted as expressing some concerns about President Barack Obama’s war against Libya. “Before any further military commitments are made, the administration must do a better job of communicating to the American people and to Congress about our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved.”
What’s remarkable about such a comment is how Boehner takes it for granted that the President of the United States can go to war by his own decision, while the Congress waits passively for the President’s explanation for his decision. Notice that no one inside or outside the Congress is saying anything about the fact that the Constitution of the United States clearly grants to the Congress the power to declare war. What this means, of course, is that that part of the Constitution has been set aside. In effect, the power to declare war has become a prerogative of the President.
March 21st, 2011 at 11:56
Friends cheered as Republicans regained power in Congress, but I had to dampen their enthusiasm by pointing out one terrible fact: Most of the Republicans in Congress are completely useless.
Oh, they appear to be OK; they eat whatever a lobbyist will pay for, they drink too much, they consume oxygen, and they cut deals with whoever they can. But standing up for Truth, Justice, and the American Way? Not gonna happen.
Obama declares war on Libya – something that confuses friend and foe – and 435 members of Congress (give or take a few) are scrurrying around trying to figure out how they can profit from the deal. Better not say anything until you’ve checked to see if they make Tomahawk guidance systems in your district, Congressman.
Election ballots should have a “None of the Above” box and, if it gets the majority vote, a new election must be held and none of the original candidates are eligible.
{sigh} All of that is, of course, contingent upon the American people actually paying attention to who or what they are voting for. Reality is that they pay closer attention to voting for “American Idol”, and they rarely get that right.
March 21st, 2011 at 12:36
That’s the problem – he didn’t ‘declare war’, he just attacked them. That’s the kind of shit that Hitler or Stalin would pull.
March 21st, 2011 at 18:50
If NOTA wins, abolish the office.
Better yet, use approval voting and abolish the office if no one can be found to whom 3/4 of the voters are willing to entrust its powers.