Hillary vs. The 7 other Democratic candidates: Iraq war withdrawal, bomb Iran, Clinton cackle

Originally titled: "Hillary Clinton has NOT already won the Democratic primary". When Hillary Clinton was 'inevitable' and there were still eight contenders in the 2008 Democratic primary, the senator from New York had the luxury of laughing (or cackling) when asked tough questions. In a debate, the other seven candidates give thoughtful answers on Iraq while Hillary laughs at the notion of going to war with Iran.
--------------------------------------------
Barack Obama escalated his criticism of Hillary Clinton's foreign policy...blasting Democrats who try to "look tough" by "talking and acting and voting like George Bush Republicans." Asked about that line on Sunday's Meet the Press, Obama seized on Clinton's vote for the Kyle-Lieberman amendment, a hawkish, non-binding Senate statement on Iran policy, saying it sent the "wrong message" on the region. Instead, Obama is advocating legislation stating that Congress did not grant President Bush the authority to attack Iran, either through the Kyl-Lieberman amendment or "any resolution previously adopted." Putting the brakes on Bush would be good for foreign policy...Obama's Iran resolution aims to check the executive branch in two strokes. First, it purports to define the boundaries of past congressional action. Second, it reiterates the constitutional fact that the president cannot start a war without congressional approval. The first goal is likely to backfire and the second is irrelevant

Obama's resolution also states that any attack on Iran "must be explicitly authorized by Congress." This is irrelevant because Article I of the Constitution already gives Congress the exclusive power to declare war. The Constitution trumps laws passed by Congress. Constitutional rules are not strengthened if Congress reiterates them, just as they are not canceled if Congress opposes them. Yet like many concerned citizens, Obama says that the Kyl-Lieberman amendment may have "opened the door to an attack on Iran." This analysis has become something of conventional wisdom among Democratic activists and liberal bloggers. But based on recent history, the administration is actually unlikely to cite a nonbinding statement on Iran policy as the legal basis for a new war. Instead, the administration could repeat its tactic of citing the congressional authorization of force after 9/11.

Prior to the Iraq War vote, for example, White House attorneys said Bush could invade Iraq without congressional approval, based on the 2001 authorization. In 2005, Condoleezza Rice de the same legal claim for attacking Syria. That may be why she was so dismissive of the Kyl-Lieberman amendment this weekend, telling ABC News that it had "nothing to do with" any potential attack on Iran. After all, Rice added, the president already has the "authority to use whatever means he needs to use in order to secure the country."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-melber/is-obamas-iran-resolutio_b_72259.html

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 2008
• democratic
• primary
• Barack
• Obama
• Iraq
• war
• Hillary
• Clinton
• Iran
• kyl
• Lieberman
• amendment
• John
• Edwards
• Mccain
• bill
• Richardson
• mike
• gravel
• joe
• biden
• chris
• dodd

[mbmart2005]

Ron Paul for President & Mike Gravel for Vice President

[x429960]

He did.... 6 months ago you were right !

[fjeffrey10]

I have a good feeling that the post war in Iraq era is about to begin.

[89pac]

hehehe

[Greenmin5]

The thing is, obama wants to be a president

hillary just slept with one

[tank2021]

she "evil laughs" not crackles

[onedarkflame85]

I agree. Obama would do very well to pick one of them for his running mate.

[karlaelisa]

oddly enough, she seems to have floated right thru that one into the 'assassination of rfk in june' comment. and even THAT does not get near the air time that trinity church's antics that obama attended do.

tell me this isn't slanted yet again...the clintons work in tandem with the dark forces already in the whitehouse. they are one and the same. expect NOTHING to change if that bitch rips the dem party apart and ruins our only hope for change from us.

strike on 9-11-08 no shopping, work, etc

[prisonerofalliance]

Best not use the word "cackles". They'll use it against you.

[souljaEXVOTO]

thanks for reminding me how brilliant Gravel and Kucinich were in those debates. Even Biden & Dodd were pretty good.