Remember That Oath We Took?

by: Richard Allen Smith

Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 23:30:07 PM EDT


Clinton Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Bush (41) Secretary of State and Iraq Study Group co-author James Baker have come up with a new bi-partisan plan to revamp the war powers act of 1973.  Their proposal would:

...provide that the president must consult with Congress before ordering a "significant armed conflict" - defined as combat operations that last or are expected to last more than a week.

Kudos to Baker and Christopher for noting that we should put this in writing after the last 8 years of executive hubris and congressional complacency. But let's dissect this proposed statute for a moment. The President must consult with Congress before ordering a "significant armed conflict". Haven't we already covered this?

Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To...

declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;


My question is, who should really be consulting with whom?
Richard Allen Smith :: Remember That Oath We Took?
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How our 'gubermint' works. Or how most drink from the same polluted (4.00 / 1)
water fountain, dip into the same well. This relates to the FISA-Telecom Immunity but is basically the same ole, same ole. Seems both parties are afraid of Transparency and who eroded the Constitution as we were taught to understand it.

"Bush League Senate"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30...


First report: Attack outside USA Consulate in Instanbul (4.00 / 1)
A lot comes in to play here... (4.00 / 1)
...The last seven years has shown that no matter how stringent and clearly-defined the law is, the current administration will go to the end of the earth to find some loophole in it to expedite its plans.

 One of the major issues that the Congress and (we hope) a conscientious President in the future will have to tackle is the fact that the separation of powers in the Constitution has vastly eroded in favor of the executive - and it was overbearing executive power (British Crown) that led to the Revolution in this country in the first place.

 We (VoteVets) apparently still adhere to the oath we took when we joined the Armed Forces: I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...

 Well, we've got domestic enemies of the Constitution, that's for damn sure.  


Officers have a better Oath (4.00 / 1)
Hey, at least an Officers oath does not refer to the President!!


[ Parent ]
Yeah, that always struck me as odd N/T (0.00 / 0)


[ Parent ]
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