Has Obama Breached His Constitutional Power in Libya?

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by Denny Crane, May 23, 2011.

  1. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar...his_constitutional_power_in_libya_109952.html

    In late September 1983, one month before the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, the Reagan administration continued to insist that the War Powers Act did not apply to the U.S. military presence in Lebanon.

    ''The administration wants our stamp of approval,'' said a young Sen. Joseph Biden, ''but it is unwilling to commit itself to our laws.''

    About a quarter-century later, Sen. Barack Obama told The Boston Globe, "The president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

    Today, Obama and Biden lead an administration engaged in a military conflict without legislative consent. The 1973 War Powers Resolution compels presidents to secure congressional approval within 60 days of U.S. military forces' "imminent involvement" or "introduction" into "hostilities." U.S. operations in Libya violated that deadline on Friday.

    The president said he welcomed "Congressional action in support of the mission," which "would underline the U.S. commitment." But the administration argues this "support" is not required. It says the action in Libya is not war but, euphemistically, a "limited kinetic action."

    Yet Obama has already applied the act to Libya. On March 21, to comply with the law, he officially notified Congress that the military was engaged there. "I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution," the letter closed.
     
  2. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    The article goes on to blast republicans for carrying around copies of the constitution, but doing nothing about this.

    There's no doubt that constitutional scholar Obama is 100% wrong about this.
     
  3. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    Every President pushes the limit of authority in matters like this. Does it violate US laws? Well, yeah. But in a round about way it also supports US interests- and that's good enough for me. Now, that said, if he wants to send in a ground based force for the long haul,he'd better get Congressional approval- and I'm sure he will.
     
  4. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    I think the sum total of the US operations in Libya is one frigate, so that we can say we're "supporting" the NATO force through a sea-based arms embargo. The air component was grounded in early April until further notice.

    I don't know about the constitutionality of it all, what's been told to Congress and what hasn't, but it isn't like the President's planning the Normandy invasion without Boehner knowing about it.
     
  5. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Maybe if they weren't all home-schooled they could actually read and comprehend it.
     
  6. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    Funny that a Central Oregoner would bring up homeschooling...I wish more of our representatives were, since it seems that basic math and comprehension (oh yeah, and "telling the truth" and having some integrity) are missing in government.

    Dr. Brian Ray, Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across America, National Home Education Research Institute, Salem, OR, 1997.:
    If you distrust Central Oregon whackjobs, then you can go with the state Board of Education study, but it's older:
     
  7. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Those studies are flawed to the point of uselessness.

    Home schooled children mostly come from 2-parent families with comfortable incomes, and usually live in low-crime, rural communities.

    Comparing them to a base that is mostly kids with 1 or less parents, high crime, high-density population shows nothing.

    My gripe with home-schooling has nothing to do with test scores. Tests are simply a measure of programming and memory retention.

    It has to do with exposure to the infinite ideas and attitudes of real life versus growing up in a bubble where only a single viewpoint is promoted. I've not met a single home-schooler who has developed the ability to think and reason independently of their parents.
     
  8. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    come to one of the Blazer gatherings and meet Mrs. FromWA. Don't let her great looks fool you! :)
     
  9. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    From the same report:
    Independent of race and class, though I agree that having a parent that can stay home is a requirement. Though that doesn't speak to your biases against their "ability to think and reason independently of their parents" and a "single viewpoint is promoted". Also independent of dollars spent in the educational process:
    But I digress from the point of the thread. Perhaps our Ivy League-educated leaders could explain to those of us who attempt to use common sense on a daily basis what the rules are and how they're following them.
     
  10. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Are you trying to tell us she's actually a man?

    barfo
     
  11. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    No. I've checked that pretty thoroughly..."a guy I know" got burned a couple times in Phattaya and Honolulu.

    I meant, don't let her stunning looks make you think she's a dumb homeschooled kid who thinks like Mommy and Daddy.
     
  12. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    We'll need to verify these great looks with pictures.

    Feel free to take them when she's asleep, if you're unsure whether she'll pose for pictures to be posted on an internet forum.

    If she's as attractive as you say, maybe we can reconsider the virtues of home schooling.
     
  13. Paxil

    Paxil Active Member

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    I thought the US handed over operations to NATO quite a few weeks or months ago... with possibly the exception of enforcing a no fly zone?
     
  14. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    they're on here somewhere
     
  15. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    Fixed.
     

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