Let’s Bind
Jan 30th, 2007 at 5:36 pm by Chris
This could be interesting -
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee began laying the constitutional groundwork today for an effort to block President Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq and place new limits on the conduct of the war there, perhaps forcing a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.
They were joined by Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who led the panel for the last two years, in asserting that Mr. Bush cannot simply ignore Congressional opposition to his plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.
“I would respectfully suggest to the president that he is not the sole decider,” Mr. Specter said. “The decider is a joint and shared responsibility.”
Mr. Specter said he considered a clash over constitutional powers to be “imminent.” The Senate next week will take up competing proposals that would express disapproval of Mr. Bush’s plan.
Senator Russell Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat who acted as chairman for the hearing, said he would soon introduce a resolution that would go much further. It would end all financing for the deployment of American military forces in Iraq after six months, other than a limited number working on counterterrorism operations or training the Iraqi army and police. In effect, it would call for all other American forces to be withdrawn by the six-month deadline.
“Since the President is adamant about pursuing his failed policy in Iraq, Congress has a duty to stand up and prevent him,” Mr. Feingold said.
There’s quite a bit to be written about this, but I have to run, so go read what this guy has to say about it. Just quickly, I’m always concerned when I see Specter’s name attached to anything that might require a little spine, because it’s always safe to bet on him, spineless syncophant that he is, caving at the last second and making a total mess of everything.
Specter is a blowhard- loves to hear himself talk- fancies himself a big thinker.
It’s too bad you and the Dems seem to wish failure on your own country…hope we don’t have to write an epitaph such as “USA pols fiddled with potential and very distant damage from global warming while looking past real, present and cataclasmis danger of Islamofascists”. Hope you feel the same way.
yup you are right about our man Arlen. There may be many twists and turns and surprises and who knows, maybe Feingold will pull it off (unlikely) but the one thing you can count on is that Arlen will talk all Constitutional and righteous right up the the end and then cut off whatever momentum the act had to that point.
Spam I am I guess if you say so…
Al, I’m with you on your first paragraph. On your second paragraph, I still tend to think that my country is made of sturdier stuff than one that could be displaced by what you fear. I hope that some day you’ll feel the same.
Specter is a guy who actually believes his own image, no matter how much he betrays it.
d.o.u.c.h.e.b.a.g.
[…] DownWithTyranny!: IF CONGRESS DOESN’T STOP THIS WAR, IT ISN’T BECAUSE IT DOESN’T … Booman Tribune: Feingold Moves on the War Michael J.W. Stickings / The Reaction: Debating war powers: Democratic resolve, Republican hypocrisy Spree / Wake up America: Congress Will Bear Responsibility Prairie Weather: Telling Bush his duty: Senate Judiciary Committee gears up for a … Jacob Sullum / Reason Magazine: I Think It’s Somewhere in Article I Chris / Suburban Guerrilla: Let’s Bind […]