May 21, 2011
NYC Letter: The Obama Doctrine, Part X -- Tick Tock
Day 851 of CHOPE
With only hours to spare Mr. Obama becomes an obedient servant. No. He's not looking for a sky-ride to the rapture.
On the very last day, at the end of the day, Mr. Obama makes a perceptible pinky lift to comply with the War Powers Resolution ("WPR").
OBAMA ASKS CONGRESS FOR RESOLUTION ON LIBYA
WASHINGTON May 20, 2011 (LAT) - Facing criticism from Congress that authority for U.S. military action in Libya is about to expire under the War Powers Act, President Obama asked congressional leaders late Friday for a resolution of support for continuing the military involvement. In a letter to the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate, Mr. Obama writes:It has always been my view that it is better to take military action, even in limited actions such as this, with congressional engagement, consultation and support. ... Congressional action in support of the mission would underline the U.S. commitment to this remarkable international effort.*... In the president's letter on Friday, Obama expressed appreciation for a bipartisan resolution of support for the Libya effort being drafted by several senators. Speaker Boehner spokesman Michael Steel:
We received the president's letter but have yet to see the draft resolution it mentions. No decisions will be made until such a review takes place and we discuss the matter with our members.
The news report doesn't mention any mention by Mr. Obama to the WPR. (The letter hasn't been posted to the White House Web site yet.) It is just that in Mr. Obama's view it would be nice to have a cheering show of support from Congress for his little war in Libya. Congress is not anxious to vote one way or the other on Mr. Obama's Maghreb botch-up. Team Barry has done little or nothing to win over Congress as the Libyan stalemate grinds on. By nature military stalemates are not limited in duration, so don't expect Congress to sign on to an open-ended conflict with no national interest at stake or no practical advantage to the United States.
Mr. Obama is now on record asking for just that.
CHOPE.
Bold pinky-lift leadership.
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* And this and this.
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INSTANT UPDATE: We stand corrected. Mr. Obama is on record asking for a pat on the back not a WPR authorization.
May 20, 2011 (ABC News) - In an effort to satisfy those arguing he needs to seek congressional authorization to continue US military activity in accordance with the War Powers Resolution, President Obama wrote a letter to congressional leaders this afternoon suggesting that the role is now so "limited" he does not need to seek congressional approval.... From the beginning of the U.S. military intervention in Libya, the Obama administration has cited the 1973 War Powers Act as the legal basis of its ability to conduct military activities for 60 days without first seeking a declaration of war from Congress.
The military intervention started on March 19; Congress was notified on March 21. Those 60 days expire today.... The president voiced support for a bipartisan resolution drafted by Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., John McCain, R-Ariz., Carl Levin, D-Mich., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn... Earlier this month, Kerry – who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – described his resolution as “in limbo.”
[A commotion in the wings.] A Constitutional scholar threatens impeachment!
Joe "Constitutional Scholar" Biden,Ladies and gentlemen, I drafted an outline of what I think the Constitutional limits [Garbled.] have on the President with the War Clause. I went to five leading scholars, Constitutional scholars, and they drafted a treatise for me that is being distributed to every Senator. And I want to make it clear, and I’ll make it clear to the President: that if he takes this nation to war...without Congressional approval, I will make it my business to impeach him. And that's a fact! That. Is. A. Fact.
taking it to the man
SCOTT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY BANQUET
DAVENPORT, Iowa December 14, 2007 (YouTube)
Wow! Two constitutional scholars in the white house...Biden and Obama. Seems the only thing they know about the constitution is how to weasel out of the inconvenient parts.
Posted by: Duncan at May 21, 2011 12:53 PMDuncan,
Let's be fair. Let's be objective.
Team Barry is no more versed in Constitutional end-runs then they are in Constitutional proprieties. They are a law unto themselves. They are not subverting the Constitution in their minds, they are reinventing it as it should be to serve their purposes. Wherever there is a correspondence with the actual Constitution, all the better to confound their critics.
DGB
