Kennedy Plans Unconstitutional Coup

Posted on January 10, 2007

Cross-posted from Right on the Right:

As the debate over the proposed troop surge heats up, Senator Kennedy is preparing a piece of legislation which will unconstitutionally attempt to steal power from the Commander in Chief and hand that power to the legislature. He wants the President to no longer have control of our Armed Forces. In fact, Hillary Clinton and the Armed Services Committee, if Kennedy had his way, would be the experts on military decisions. Scary, isn’t it? Note: ThinkProgress is a liberal bunch of crap.

KENNEDY INTRODUCES BILL SIPHONING POWERS FROM EXECUTIVE

The legislation requires the Congress to vote before the President escalates troop levels in Iraq.

The legislation claims the peopleâ€™s right to a full voice in the Presidentâ€™s plan to send more troops into the Iraq civil war. It says that no funds can be spent to send additional troops to Iraq unless Congress approves the Presidentâ€™s proposed escalation of American forces.

The Iraq War Resolution of 2002 authorized a war against the regime of Saddam Hussein because he was believed to have weapons of mass destruction and an operational relationship with Al Qaeda, and was in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolutions.

The mission of our armed forces today in Iraq no longer bears any resemblance to the mission authorized by Congress.

Iraq has descended into civil war and sectarian violence continues to escalate. â€¦

President Bush should not be permitted to increase the number of United States troops in harmâ€™s way in the civil war without a specific new authorization from Congress.

Senator Kennedy needs to realize, this is one conflict. Senator Kennedy needs to realize, they declared War on Terrorism and they have no right to revoke that declaration. Senator Kennedy needs to realize, he killed a girl so he didn’t get the opportunity to sit behind the desk Bush will tonight and make these decisions. Senator Kennedy needs to realize Bush isn’t escalating the war, he’s trying a new plan to win it. Let’s take a look at the powers Bush has… From the United States Constitution:

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States

The Congress has the power to declare war, but the President has the power to command our Armed Services. Let’s not forget that Congress didn’t declare war in the first place, they just authorized Bush to do what was necessary to eliminate the enemy. The enemy hasn’t changed, the enemy is the guy shooting at us. Simple enough. Bush is going to do what’s necessary to win, and Kennedy can’t grab power to stop him.

» Filed Under Illegal Activities, News, Politics As Usual, War On Terror

Trackback URL

Comments

4 Responses to “Kennedy Plans Unconstitutional Coup”

Dwiddle Bug on January 10th, 2007 6:38 pm

What is even more moronic about this proposed legislation is that Bush will have to sign it to make it a law. Even if he did sign it, I am positive that the ACLU would be the first group to file suit to have the law declared unconstitutional.
Jeff Molby on January 10th, 2007 6:47 pm

they have no right to revoke that declaration.

Why not? You can argue that they shouldn’t meddle in individual command decisions, but why don’t the people have the right to change their mind? This is even more relevant when you remember that there isn’t officially a war. Iraq is a sovereign nation that needs our help to maintain the peace. Why can’t the congress say we’re done helping?
loboinok on January 11th, 2007 12:48 am

Why canâ€™t the congress say weâ€™re done helping?

Section 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

The President is CIC of the Armed Forces and has committed troops for the “common defense” of the U.S.

Since Congress holds the Treasury and works with the President to “provide for the common defense”, that is their constitutional responsibility.
Jeff Molby on January 11th, 2007 8:45 am

The President is CIC of the Armed Forces and has committed troops for the â€œcommon defenseâ€ of the U.S.

Since Congress holds the Treasury and works with the President to â€œprovide for the common defenseâ€, that is their constitutional responsibility.

Right, so where’s the part that says they can’t say “We’re safe now; quit fighting.”?