171.3 - Update 3: Barack Obama and war powers

Update 3: Barack Obama and war powers

Finally on the Update front, last week I said Barack Obama was the Outrage of the Week because of his decision to start bombing ISIS targets in Iraq. The issue had nothing to do with whether or not the bombing could be justified on military or humanitarian or any other grounds, the issue was his authority to do it; his authority, that is, to start bombing Iraq on his own say-so without any authorization from or involvement by Congress.

Well, on August 17, the Amazing Mr. O sent a letter to Congress notifying members of his authorization of the airstrikes - as if they didn't know about them - saying he was doing so "as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution."

However, and this is the important part, he did not appeal to the War Powers Act for his authority to do the bombing. Instead, he said he did it "pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive."

In other words,  it's no longer just implied, he is outright asserting that he can do anything with the military he wants and he don't need no stinking Congressional authorization. "I'm Commander in Chief. So there. Deal with it."

I said last week this is an outrage, it still is. It's an on-going outrage and an affront to Constitutional principles of a balance of powers among the branches of government.

The right-wing keeps going on and on about impeaching Obama over health care or whatever else their fetid little minds concoct. They have the right idea - but for all the wrong reasons.

Sources cited in links:
http://whoviating.blogspot.com/2014/08/1708-outrage-of-week-barack-obama-and.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/17/obama-iraq-strikes_n_5686178.html?cps=gravity
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237053437/Iraq