Specter: Bush not sole 'decision-maker' ["The decider is a shared and joint responsibility,"..]

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 41 minutes ago

A Senate Republican on Tuesday directly challenged President Bush's declaration that "I am the decision-maker" on issues of war.

"I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said during a hearing on Congress' war powers amid an increasingly harsh debate over Iraq war policy. "The decider is a shared and joint responsibility," Specter said.

The question of whether to use its power over the government's purse strings to force an end to the war in Iraq, and under what conditions, is among the issues faced by the newly empowered Democratic majority in Congress, and even some of the president's political allies as well.

No one challenges the notion that Congress can stop a war by canceling its funding. In fact, Vice President Dick Cheney challenged Congress to back up its objections to Bush's plan to put 21,500 more troops in Iraq by zeroing out the war budget.

Underlying Cheney's gambit is the consensus understanding that such a drastic move is doubtful because it would be fraught with political peril.

But there are other legislative options to force the war's end, say majority Democrats and some of Bush's traditional Republican allies.

The alternatives range from capping the number of troops permitted in Iraq to cutting off funding for troop deployments beyond a certain date or setting an end date for the war.

"The Constitution makes Congress a coequal branch of government. It's time we start acting like it," said Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., who is chairing a hearing Tuesday on Congress' war powers and forwarding legislation to eventually prohibit funding for the deployment of troops to Iraq.

[ClancyJ]

I take exception to the term "elitist".

The dumbest people in Washington are always those that claim the title "elitist".

An "elitist" really is "ignorance claiming the natural right to rule over the minions".

[Sword_Svalbardt]

So, what's your point? Are you an elitist? I consider the shoe fits - they are out of touch with the rest of society.

[PhilDragoo]

[TChris]

Mr. Specter, sit down and shut up.

Thank you.

[Just A Nobody]

Short, sweet and succinct!

[musicman]

"no comment"

I went to check e-mail on Compuserve.

THIS Specter comment is the Breaking news headline.

MY comment:

[Mo1]

Specter, Arlen - (R - PA)
(202) 224-4254
E-mail: arlen_specter@specter.senate.gov

[Just A Nobody]

Maybe could send Specter Article II, Section 2 of the Constiution - he has obviously not had time to read it:

Sphincter doesn't need no steekin' Constitution. He is god, doncha know.

I just called his office and told one of his lads to read the Constitution for his boss and inform him that President Bush is indeed the Decider-in-Chief, not the idiots in CONgre$$! Cut all funding or shut-up. I told him CONgre$$ has the blood of our troops on their hands and I hold them directly responsible!

[stumpy]

I want a constitutional convention. Change the rules. The President IS the commander in chief. Make senatorial terms 3 years so these clowns get to explain themselves in campaigns every three years.

Remove their ability to give themselves pay raises. Make them put their "proposed" pay increases on the ballot during presidential election cycles. Let those who employ them decide if they merit an increase.

Senator Sphincter, read the constitution as to who is the commander in chief. If this clown really was a prosecutor did he EVER win a conviction??????

[DustyMoment]

I guess Sphincter needs to have someone show him the REAL Constitution of the United States of America - NOT the Communist Manifesto's version of the United States of America.

It's a small distinction, but one he might want to know.

[rovenstinez]

What really is ugly is that Lord George W went to Pennsylvania in the primaries and campaigned for THIS candidate over the Pro Family candidate who lost. She is a nice pay back to the President.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

(Hangs head in shame). Sometimes it is just soooo embarassing to be known here as PennsylvaniaMom.

[listenhillary]

I take it that was who the RNC didn't fund in the primaries?

[NeoCaveman]

I take it that was who the RNC didn't fund in the primaries?

Not only that but President Bush and Senator Santorum actively campaigned for Arlen Specter.

Now Specter can sit back and laugh.

[VA40]

I understand. Thank God I abbreviated my state, so it's not so obvious. (Hanging head with you)

[Texas Federalist]

LOL! The President deserves everything he gets from Specter. I have absolutely no sympathy for him.

[rightinthemiddle]

Thanks for nothing, Fly-Spec.

[scannell]

To the extent that Spector is right, he is wrong again. If Bush isn't the sole decider on matters of "Mananging a War" and the Senators have a say (which they don't), it would be true to say it is no more accurate than to say the entire country is the final decider since they elect Senators. The whole point of who the descision maker is or are is moot, because the concept of "decision maker" presumes a dialectic with various positions.

In the end an issue is resolved by the decision maker. So it is obsurd for this ego maniac (Spector) to consider himself on par with that and I say he is no more the "final" decision maker (final being implicit in the words decision maker) than the voters. Spector is an A** HOLE.

[NeoCaveman]

I only feel badly for our country.

Karma is a Hillary!

[A Citizen Reporter]

I sent an email and got a delivery failure notice at that address.