"He's ignoring me again....."
Posted on 06/03/2011 6:45:48 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
He’s forcing him to make a decision. And you know how he hates to make decisions.
In a resolution to be voted on in the House tomorrow, Boehner is giving the president two weeks – until the Pentagon Appropriations bill comes up – to either:
a) Ask for authorization for the military intervention in Libya, or
b) Figure out how to disengage the US from the NATO operation in Libya.
The resolution states: “The President has not sought, and Congress has not provided, authorization for the introduction or continued involvement of the United States Armed Forces in Libya. Congress has the constitutional prerogative to withhold funding for any unauthorized use of the United States Armed Forces, including for unauthorized activities regarding Libya.”
Boehner is explicitly and formally stating that the president did not check the box on the War Powers Act before sending the US military to intervene in Libya.
Actually, I think Boehner’s the one being forced to make a decision. Dennis Kucinich recently introduced a resolution demanding immediate withdrawal from the Libya coalition; the GOP leadership had to scramble to yank it from the floor before a vote yesterday when it started to look like the thing might actually pass. The new plan, I thought, was to offer a watered-down resolution by Republican Michael Turner and 63 co-sponsors stating that the House “does not approve” of the mission, but I guess even that’s a bridge too far for GOP strategists. Operations in Libya remain popular-ish with the public thanks to the war’s small footprint and lack of media coverage, and Republicans are probably worried after the Bin Laden raid about ceding too much of their cred among hawks to Obama ahead of the election. Hence Boehner’s resolution, which frames congressional opposition as procedural rather than substantive. He’s not saying the GOP disapproves of the mission, just that it disapproves of the way Obama’s handled it legally under the War Powers Act. It’s a punt, in other words, not unlike how The One punted recently on this issue by asking for a resolution of congressional support but not a formal authorization of the mission under the WPA. Hot potato!
One slight flaw in Boehner’s plan, though: Isn’t the choice presented by his resolution an easy call for Obama? He’s not going to be cowed by the House into pulling out of the mission, especially given the defections in Qaddafi’s military lately and new pressures on the regime. He’ll call Boehner’s bluff and formally request authorization, knowing that any House resolution that passes will deadlock in the Senate anyway. Before the Bin Laden raid, I might have thought he’d be leery of letting Congress challenge his authority as C-in-C by risking a “no” vote, but post-OBL, even if the House votes no in bipartisan fashion, it won’t do him much harm. He’ll cite the fact that there hasn’t been a single American casualty in Libya, that Qaddafi’s own cronies are starting to abandon him, etc, and then this will drop off the media radar. But at least it’ll change the topic for the GOP from Medicare for a few days. Small victories, right?
Exit question: What if Boehner’s resolution passes and Obama simply ignores it, or sends back a letter reminding him that the House is free to vote on authorization or deauthorization without a formal presidential request? What’s the GOP’s move then?
RE: What if Boehner’s resolution passes and Obama simply ignores it, or sends back a letter reminding him that the House is free to vote on authorization or deauthorization without a formal presidential request? What’s the GOP’s move then?
SIMPLE ANSWER: IMPEACHMENT
Good luck with that. while they should impeach him for a laundry list of reasons..
Just like Clinton it will die in the senate.
Plus, Bonehead and co would probably just vote to continue the war.
Where on Gods Green earth shall we find one when ours only allows for impeachment of American Presidents?
Boner is a Bozo. That should be apparent by now.
Barry has already told congress he does not need their approval. He will continue to do same.
"He's ignoring me again....."
“...resolution demanding that Obama seek congressional approval on Libya”
This should have been done LONG ago!
Too many of “O’s” illicit and otherwise questionable projects and policies have been indulged… and for one lame excuse or another. Mostly, the public hears about these things AFTER they are put into place.
This is an insolent, irresponsible pattern by which “O” operates with laughable impunity and which Congress routinely overlooks. It cannot be seriously challenged SOON ENOUGH!!
Then Congress should repeal the War Powers Act. Are we a nation of laws or not?
We are now a nation of womyn, not laws.
Yes we are but the won has plans to declare himself king and permanent ruler of the US.
This is an almost meaningless gesture, unless Boehner intends to quickly escalate. (That'll be the day!) Other Resolutions: Declaring May 31 National Fudgesickle Day, Terlingua Chili Cook-off Day, and Sock-Drawer Orderliness Day. In a tight-ship Republican run House, this might mean something. With this bunch'o'RINOklowns running the show with Boehner, fuggedaboutit. This Boehner baby ought to resign on liver treatment grounds, or to treat his tanning bed burns, and let us get somebody with a much higher testosterone count to kick the Mombasa Moonbeam's slats around the block. The campaign has begun. Join the fight, fellows!
O well, NoBallsBawlingBoehner gets a headline.
Doesn’t the War Powers Act already cover this?
C’mon Boner!
Pass a law declaring it unlawful for the president to ignore other laws!
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