Obama's Unprecedented War Powers Claims

[Y2kplaya92]

So, if it was up to the Cato institute, Obama should have had Congress vote on killing Bin Laden?

[AshillaBeige]

Hey, anti-war left. Where the fuck are you?

[tabber87]

"Limited kinetic action" has to be the most laughable phrase uttered by government official since "War of Terror".

[a4finger]

What kind of person declares war without asking Congress? A fascist dictator. And people are stupid enough to ask why someone would draw a Hitler mustache on Obama

[hennypenny247]

@a4finger

And furthermore conducts a war without going to Congress when he would almost certainly have received it. There was no emergency, and certainly no sense of urgency on Obama's or Hillary Clinton's part. Launching an action earlier, when momentum was with the rebels, and without all the strings of UN and NATO restricting the operation, would have made success far more likely and the cost and casualties far lower.

He is pushing the edge of the envelope to see how far he can go.

[tmac9938]

first guy to speak: "bush never went into wars that weren't first congressionally authorized."

what a fucking idiot

[wye4379]

@tmac9938 Wow!! You are even too stupid to do an internet search. Here are the citations (to use your words) you "fucking idiot:"

PL 107 - 40 (Afghanistan/Terror)

PL 102-1 (Iraq)

What's the matter jackass? Does the fact that Congress authorized the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan conflict with your own fictional narrative? I've seen a lot of legally incorrect stuff said on Youtube, but you are at the top of the list for complete and unapologetic cluelessness. Shut up or go to law school.

[tmac9938]

@wye4379 did we declare war before entering the two countries? no. you fucking idiot.

[wye4379]

@tmac9938 Oh I get it. Now you are now questioning the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution. This is an interesting, but not novel, argument and a worthy discussion. Unfortunately for you its not a point you brought up.

You know you are really bad at this. You seem to mix normative statements describing your particular world view with descriptions of a law, of which you have little knowledge. Are you the product of a public school education? And really who's the idiot here?

[tmac9938]

@wye4379 yes i went to public schools, unfortunately. at least i realize they're worthless.

my 1st comment:

"first guy to speak: 'bush never went into wars that weren't first congressionally authorized.'"

operant word: *never*

bush rendered one of the biggest abuses of his authority. he went to war without the congress authorizing it. how did i leave the scope of my original argument?? many other presidents have done this before, but that point is irrelevant.

oh yeah... "fucking idiot" :)

[wye4379]

@tmac9938 "oh yeah... "fucking idiot" :) LMAO." Nice one.

Look - I don't agree with the basis of the War Powers Resolution (I think it gets us into a lot of problems - if we are going to wage war on some nation, we should just come out and say it and commit to it as a nation), but it is the law and hasn't been thrown out by SCOTUS and Bush did get congressional authorizations (see citations above) for Afghanistan/Al Quaida and Iraq. So....

[tmac9938]

@wye4379 right, and obama took it a step further by going into Libya without those congressional authorizations. but nonetheless, you dont invade countries and call it a "war on terror" without first declaring war. now, with bush, we were attacked on our homeland and had imminent reason to act for 60 days without war declaration. however, 60 days expired long ago and that lawful declaration has never been made. so, bush got the 1st "OK" but never was held accountable for the missing 2nd "OK"

[wye4379]

@tsaj9321 [from] any treaty heretofore or hereafter ratified unless such treaty is implemented by legislation specifically authorizing the introduction of [US Forces] into hostilities ... and stating that it is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization."

I may have been born yesterday, but I did go to law school (and a good one at that). If you want to try and sell your Obama white house spin as legal fact to the tourists go ahead. But don't try to bull shit a lawyer on the law.

[wye4379]

@tsaj9321 "The War Powers Act exempts joint military operations conducted pursuant to a treaty."

Really? And which section of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541-1548) provides for this magic exception? In fact 50 U.S.C. 1547(a) provides that "Authority to introduce [US Forces] into hostilities ... shall not be inferred ... CONTINUED

[JudgeNapolitanoFTW]

"we're bombing libya but we're not engaged in hostilities"

LOL

[USoSilly2Me]

Ignore us at your peril Obama...!!

[cfountain72]

@tsaj9321 I believe you are confusing things. The UN Resolution gives us the authority under international law to take action in Libya, but that, in no way, supersedes our own Constitutional war process. It's like Grandma telling you it's ok to do something (the UN), without getting your parent's (the Congress) permission first. Peace be with you.

[666sigma]

@tsaj9321

Are you a warmongering lefty or a warmongering righty? One thing that I will bet is that you are too big of pussy to put your own ass on the line.

[666sigma]

@tsaj9321

He has no constitutional authority to do that, either.  Not that this would be the first time that we have tried to assassinate a foreign leader.

[666sigma]

The audacity of Obama. He is the most unconstitutional President that we have ever had because he does not recognize or understand the constitution. He is un-American with every fiber of his being.

Obama should be IMPEACHED over his bombing in Libya. I doubt that he would be thrown out of office, but he should be impeached.

[UTubekookdetector]

As one commenter at the Cato blog said (I *think* it was Healy), the WPA itself doesn't supercede the Constitution, Obama violated the Constitution on day one of the Libya operation.

[wye4379]

The military should refuse to honor an illegal order. The congress should impeach this treasonous bastard.

[Snowflake70]

So, let me get this straight - the President knows the law and the military knows the law and both are accountable to the American People. The Military wasn't able to decern that the 60 days were over and had no more authorization and couldn't have pulled out ON THEIR OWN until Congress gave the go ahead ? ? ? B. S.

[Clint7981]

Cato Institute FTW! Great video.

[Synapticsnap]

I'd like to ask a real possibility that could arise with this "Wanna Be Tin Horn Dictator" Obama. What if he out of the blue, like Libya, Obama decides that Israel posed a threat to U.S. Interest since he, Hamas and all the other Islamic Nations believe Israel is a threat to World Peace, Since, rightfully they refused to bow to Obama and the Terrorist Nations to give their hard won Country away to those that want to annihilate them from the face of the Earth? How about a Nuclear War with China?

[Jac0bAndrew]

Where are the fanatic screams for Obama's head?

*Cough cough*

Why is the public square experiencing a drastic reduction in hysterical screams (see: Otep) for a sitting president's murder? Has all that fallen out of fashion?

The loud-mouthed anti-war mob lost their vinegar for Humanism?

Even Cindy Sheehan(!) has noticed the moral foot-dragging on shameful display.

This predicable inconsistency on the left can be mercifully called double standards, but can it avoid the charge of racism?

[tmac9938]

@Jac0bAndrew people are broke

[Jac0bAndrew]

@tmac9938 Creativity doesn't cost much: I attend Tea Party rallies at little-to-no cost. I think the issue has more to do with effort, or perhaps commitment.

But yeah, times are lean.

[TacticalCitySlicker]

How about we stop spending money on our empire and just elect RON PAUL and get it over with...

[trime1851]

It is sad, President Obama is a big liar!

[quill62]

Oh please! Really?

[Slipknotyk06]

Gotta love CATO! Obama is a freaking fascist!

[athomemom85]

Sorry, obama may not have sworn the oath to protect our country....remember, he botched the wording during the inauguration and if there was a correction, cameras were not there.

[kingpin30314]

look this is suppost to happen please watch The Obama Deception. this was planned well before he was elected. Obama and the bilderberg group dont need that oil now they want to take over africa by putting there own banks in there and gaddafi wont let them so they need to kill him and put in place somebody who would allowed western powers to set up international banking systems in africa staring with libya but they need china out of there first

[dragknuckle]

The first test of the legality of any position is the laugh test. Obama can't even pass that.

[Firestryke2]

I am suprised why congress has just stood by while its powers have been usurped (and therefore its relevance steamrolled)... they have no say in war, and recently legislation through regulitory fiat has increased (Boeing and the NLRB, Ameican electrical power VS connecticut (EPA) ). Yet they do nothing! this isnt a partisan issue, this is a seperation of powers issue!!

[Jebusrulez]

If Congress had any balls it would impeach Obama over a clear violation of the War Powers Act