[wideawake]

Evidently, it existed in the mind of George Washington, too.

He certainly hasn't left behind the slightest trace of such a sentiment in his writings or recorded speeches, so there is no "evidently" about it.

But what would HE know about constitutional intent?

Since he presided over the Constitutional Convention and since he was the close confidant of Alexander Hamilton, he clearly was intimately familiar with the Constitution's intent.

He warmly endorsed The Federalist as a worthy exposition of the Constitution's intent, and The Federalist's broad view of the President's authority to conduct both warfare and foreign affairs would presumably coincide in the main with his own.

[PerConPat]

The Federalist's broad view of the President's authority to conduct both warfare and foreign affairs would presumably coincide in the main with his own.

For me, the Libertarian approach generally ignores the necessity to take into account "circumstances" that, as Burke observed, "give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing color and discriminating effect."

Washington was concerned with the policies and actions best suited to an infant nation unable, in his day, to effectively control matters in a world dominated by European powers.

I have very much enjoyed your posts. Good night.