Congressmen Suing White House Over Libya

[mrjarrell]

The guys in the house are really ratcheting things up over Libya, trying to wrest power back from the executive branch that shouldn't have been in their hands to begin with. Even Dan Burton's getting in on the action, along with Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. It's about time someone took a step in the right direction. If a president wants war then he can damned well go hat in hand to congress and ask for it, as set forth in the Constitution. Presidents don't have the power to wage war when they want. Even FDR went to congress to get a declaration of war.

Lawmakers sue the White House over use of military force in Libya - TheHill.com

 

[jeremy]

Interesting times we live in....

 

[Expat]

The Court has no business getting involved in a battle between the two elected branches of our government. If the Congress wants to end this, cut off funding.

 

[SEIndSAM]

The Court has no business getting involved in a battle between the two elected branches of our government. If the Congress wants to end this, cut off funding.

Yep, I agree.

 

[mrjarrell]

The Court has no business getting involved in a battle between the two elected branches of our government. If the Congress wants to end this, cut off funding.

The courts are the proper place for things like this. That's their job. They get between the government and the people and they can get between the branches of government when they are quarreling and mediate the dispute. The congressmen chose this route, not the courts. But the courts will have a say in it, now.

 

[Expat]

The courts are the proper place for things like this. That's their job. They get between the government and the people and they can get between the branches of government when they are quarreling and mediate the dispute. The congressmen chose this route, not the courts. But the courts will have a say in it, now.

I don't support the tyranny of a group of nine, black robed unelected individuals. Jefferson foresaw the logical conclusion:

BUT THE OPINION which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional, and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action, but for the legislature and executive also, in their spheres, would make the judiciary a despotic branch. — Letter to Mrs. John Adams, Nov. 1804

 

[mrjarrell]

I don't support the tyranny of a group of nine, black robed unelected individuals. Jefferson foresaw the logical conclusion:

You are overlooking the fact that the executive branch is already waging an illegal war and has no intention of stopping. The house has already voted to cut funding, but there's no guarantee the senate will go along with them. This isn't about the SCOTUS, it will go before lower courts before it ever reaches them. It's a legal remedy for an out of control branch.

 

[J_Wales]

fearless leader continues to demonstrate on a regular basis that he is a clear and present danger to the republic.

His disservice to the republic cannot end too soon.

 

[Pocketman]

Notice how these same congressmen are not saying they don't want Gaddafi removed.

This is a very gray area in the Constitution. The president is the commander in chief. We are not at war with Libya, so there's no "declaration" of war in play. This is two branches of the government fighting over who's in charge. If memory serves me, didn't some of these same people complain that Obama took too long to get involved in Libya?

I am not an Obama fan, but I feel like he did the right thing in forcing NATO to the lead in this action. The U.S. is always carrying to load for the rest of the western world. It's about time France et al started pulling their weight.