George W. Bush has absolute authority to attack any nation at any time

[Walt Starr]

Congress abrogated their responsibility to declare war and handed it over to George W. Bush on a silver platter on Friday, September 14, 2001. All George W. Bush must do is issue an executive order stating he has determined that the nation in question "planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons" and he complies with the requirements. He is not required to prove it in any way, shape, or form and is only required to report to the Congress within 48 hours of launching such an attack.

This was granted to him under authority via S.J.Res. 23 on September 14, 2001:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/background/warpower/sj23.pdf

[Patchuli]

1. We must demand that Congress take it back

due to irresponsible abuse of such power.

What gets me is our military has been so weakened by the neocons' bs war in Iraq, how in the hell do they think we can go marching on anyone else?

[Walt Starr]

3. The only way that would have been taken away

would have been if John Kerry was elected in 2004 instead of Bush.

[Patchuli]

22. Oh we know for sure that power

would have been taken from a Democratic president! The neo-cons are pretty consistent about that!

I still believe that Kerry won and the elections are broken. I think it is going to take action by the American public to slap our reps back into reality.

Activism and huge marches on them has worked before. Getting media to actually be journalists again would help lots.

[elehhhhna]

4. they're too busy legislating out rights away. call back later.

[Fridays Child]

13. "Press one, if you have contributed $10,000 or more to my re-election."

"All others, please leave a message."

[saskatoon]

5. marching on anyone else

No, we don't do that. WE just send in Bombers and "Blow them back to the stone age"--------Remember!

[napi21]

8. That's a great idea, but how do that do that?

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I'm really not sure. Do they draft a bill that says "we recind the authority of the Pres to invade any Country with the approval of congress?" Do the have the ability to ammend their previous decision?

And I wonder if ANY Pubs are NOW willing to go against their leader that far?

[gratuitous]

18. Congress will take the power back

As soon as that deranged, vengeful madman is out of office.

I don't know what I would do in this situation. Crossing the Bushes can be hazardous not just for your political health, but for your physical health. I'd like to think that I'd still do the right thing, but as corrupt and compromised as the entire GOP and a significant portion of the Democratic party are, it will be very difficult to re-take control of the country away from these criminals.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. And doesn't THAT

make you sleep well at night?

[indepat]

6. The framers gave the Congress the authority to declare war so the

authority to take this nation to war would not rest with one man for that one man might be in error, have his own agenda, or just be plain crazy/delusional/you name it. So much for that constitutional protection.

[niallmac]

20. a Poly Sci topic that Blue Books were made for, see #19

[bryant69]

7. Legally able

But could he use it with inpunity? Probably not. We should get rid of it as soon as possible, though.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Walt Starr]

10. Tell me, bryant, what does a cornered animal do?

Yes, I fear the consequences when the indictments come dow. I expect full pardons immediately for all players and an immediate attack on Syria.

Once war is begun with Syria, there will be no going back.

Congress dug this hole for us, Bush jumped down in it with Iraq.

The only reason Bush did not use this power to go into Iraq was because he didn't have to. He was able to force the IWR resolution due to it being an election year, thus saving this second ace in the hole for just such an occasion as the imminent indictments.

[bryant69]

25. He could do it; but what would be the consequences?

It doesn't seem like the sort of action that would actually work; he's already got congress in an uproar, and his approval ratings are pretty low. And they haven't spent the same kind of capital getting us all afraid of Syria.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[emald]

9. this is a bomb waiting to blow

he will use this power, mark my words. he knows nothing but the crude use of childish ways bullying and lashing out. we were in trouble the day this ugly piece of unamerican legislation happened. crap.:grr:

[Walt Starr]

14. A NUCLEAR bomb waiting to blow

Remember, he has nukes.

[mmonk]

11. Note to all:

Getting rid of the administration will not get rid of all our current problems. Many like thinkers are in congress on both sides of the aisle. This is the beginning of the long struggle back. We must stay diligent and choose candidates carefully.

[rosesaylavee]

12. Agreed. We must keep focused and not lose interest

after the indictments begin, the congress turns in 2006 or even when we take back the White House in 2008. It may take us 10 years to undo most of *s misdeeds.

[BeFree]

15. Never heard of this before

How come? What have you been doing these past three years Walt? Why didn't you find this before now? :satire:

And how come the CONgress has let this slide for this long?

Two things are about to happen: indictments are handed down, and somebody gets nuked. The question is, how many folks will like the nukes going off?

[Walt Starr]

16. Most people never heard of it before

but it's been mentioned on DU soooo many times since then.

[Ksec]

17. This is simply Congressional cowardice

to give this power away. They clean their hands of any responsibility.

[niallmac]

19. The Executive has always had the upper hand in war making powers.

On paper the Executive branch is tempered by the congress but this might as well just be on paper. Article II of the Constitution as interpreted broadly and historically gives bushie 'the prime responsibility for the conduct of United States foreign relations. These duties carry very broad powers, including the power to deploy American forces abroad and commit them to military operations when the President deems such action necessary to maintain the security and defense of the United States...' That's a direct quote from some political scientist somewhere that I lost the link to...Anyway, recognizing that sometimes moving militarily cannot wait for a congressional quarum the executive is allowed to get things moving. This can be seen perhaps as necessary however you look at the state of the world
BUT,
It's this countries popular support of any military action that stumps me. We seem to be a
military culture. People do not swarm into the streets asking what the hell the prez is up to starting a war. We can't buy flags fast enough. Even when the hysteria dies down we as a majority just seem to associate calls for peace with weakness and treasonous thinking.
Congress may have given the Executive too much power but who got We The People so fucked up in the head?

[karlrschneider]

21. Jebus, DASCHLE introduced & sponsored it. I never knew THAT

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:S.J.RES.23:

[proud patriot]

23. Congress must get it's Authority back

:grr:

[emald]

24. this continues to bug me badly

I hear rumblings of Syria being the new bad guy, *is in big trouble and probably unbalanced. After the bomb will come the draft, to support the war. crap. :banghead:

[spanone]

26. That is one of the most frightening statements I've ever read.

God Help us All.