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Fox News Fossil John Bolton: President Wages War While Congress Just Declares War
9/1/2013 | Laissez-Faire Capitalist

Posted on 09/01/2013 11:31:51 AM PDT by Laissez-faire capitalist

I was watching Fox News last night, and John Bolton (R-GOP-e) was asked to give a reply to a previously recorded clip from Rand Paul, and Bolton seemed to be acting as if the president (Obama) is the one who gets to wage war, while Congress just gets to merely declare and/or authorize it.

As if the president (be it Nixon, GHWB, or Clinton) sits on the throne and Congress' job is to merely place the crown on their heads and the scepter in their hands.

Once again, it seems as if another Republican goes to bat for Obama (like McCain and Grahamnesty do ad infinitum) when it comes to military matters. Like I have said, where have the Dems been? Why is it these two stooges (McCain, Graham) who keep traveling to the Middle East doing Obama's bidding?

And today on Fox-e News Sunday with Chris Wallace there -behold - was the all star lineup of Joe Lieberman, and the rest of the panel (Gen. Jack Keane, Jennifer Rubin and Charles Lane) with Lane being the only one who appeared to not be beating the war drums to the point where holes busted in them.

And on MSDNC-e, there he was, mega war hawk Bill Kristol, with pro-Obama Robert Gibby Gibbs in tow, and the rest doing the basic head nod.

In the end, if Congress says no, it's no. Period.

The Dems in the Senate are probably going to betray the majority of Democrat voters and just rubber stamp Obama's wishes, but it remains to be seen what Republicans do in the House of Reps...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Military/Veterans; Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: 113th; alreadyposted; assadhaskilled100k; billkristol; charleslane; chriswallace; congress; corruption; declarationofwar; hesnotwrong; israel; jackkeane; jenniferrubin; joelieberman; johnbolton; mediabias; obama; randsconcerntrolls; redline; rino; robertgibbs; rulesofengagement; russia; syria; unitedkingdom; vanity; warauthorization; waronterror; warpowersact
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To: Marcella
thank you...
21 posted on 09/01/2013 12:11:31 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

I say that your vanity is worthless name-calling.


22 posted on 09/01/2013 12:12:14 PM PDT by BCrago66
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
"As if the president (be it Nixon, GHWB, or Clinton) sits on the throne and Congress' job is to merely place the crown on their heads and the scepter in their hands."

No kidding; with B. Hussein O.'s propensity to enact Executive Orders, why even consult Congress?

Why even have a Congress - just let them sit in their little chairs and Big Daddy (and Valerie Jarrett) will shoot a few EO's out there and his job is done.

Then, if it goes south, blame the Congress for not stopping him, as if they had any power/will to stop an EO.

Laissez-faire capitalist --->.

Love your name!

23 posted on 09/01/2013 12:21:12 PM PDT by hummingbird (Don't be afraid of the big words.)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
"What say you?"

NO WAR!

It is better for everyone when he IS on vacation. He doesn't have the ability to lead troops to success.

His background in COMMUNITY ORGANIZING is not enough for him to wage war.

He is a simpleton who just might get us in war in order to ease his EGO.

PRAYING FOR NO WAR.

B. Hussein O. doesn't know what he is doing. He is willing to go unilaterally. Maybe he thought it was so easy when GWB got a coalition going. Instead, every one seems to back off from him.

Where is his international support?

*crickets"

24 posted on 09/01/2013 12:30:55 PM PDT by hummingbird (Don't be afraid of the big words.)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
Umm, just exactly whom do you believe it is that has the authority to order troops to engage in military strikes? It is not Congress, not Generals, not the Vice President, not the Speaker of the House. It is the President, Commander in Chief. Congress merely declares war and funds them

By the way this is not Obama's first military strike without Congress declaring war. He sent planes to bomb Libya.

There have been 11 Declarations of War by Congress, 2 were issued at the start and during WWI, and 6 were issued at the start of and during WWII, for a total of 5 wars.

Declaration of War with Great Britain, 1812
On June 17, 1812, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Great Britain. The Senate approved the resolution by a vote of 19-13.

Declaration of War with Mexico, 1846
On May 12, 1846, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Mexico. The Senate approved the resolution by a vote of 40-2.

Declaration of War with Spain, 1898
On April 25, 1898, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Spain.

Declaration of War with Germany, 1917
On April 6, 1917, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Germany. The Senate approved the resolution by a vote of 82-6 on April 4, 1917.

Declaration of War with Austria-Hungary, 1917
On December 7, 1917, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Austria-Hungary. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 74-0.

Declaration of War with Japan, 1941
On December 8, 1941, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Japan. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 82-0.

Declaration of War with Germany, 1941
On December 11, 1941, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Germany. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 88-0.

Declaration of War with Italy, 1941
On December 11, 1941, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Italy. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 90-0.

Declaration of War with Bulgaria, 1942
On June 4, 1942, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Bulgaria. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 73-0.

Declaration of War with Hungary, 1942
On June 4, 1942, the Senate approved a resolution declaring war with Hungary. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 73-0.

Declaration of War with Rumania, 1942
On June 4, 1942, the Senate approved a resolution declaring war with Rumania. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 73-0.

25 posted on 09/01/2013 12:33:08 PM PDT by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: wideawake
"The Commander-in-Chief gets to command US forces."

Like tin soldiers.........

26 posted on 09/01/2013 12:33:12 PM PDT by hummingbird (Don't be afraid of the big words.)
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To: hummingbird
Like tin soldiers.........

...and Obama's drumming....

27 posted on 09/01/2013 12:34:08 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

You can trust John Bolton on this one, whatever he said. Let me see, your perception about what he said against whatever John Bolton said. Hmm.. You must not have heard right. There. Settled.


28 posted on 09/01/2013 12:35:29 PM PDT by tupac (the crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

What is wrong with these people?
Bolton qas decent for a time.


29 posted on 09/01/2013 12:36:15 PM PDT by autumnraine (America how long will you be so deaf and dumb to thoe tumbril wheels carrying you to the guillotine?)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

That’s a straw argument....totally absurd...and refuses to intellectually back up the notion of calling Bolton a fossil of the GOP e......


30 posted on 09/01/2013 12:36:20 PM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (Tokyo Rove is more than a name, it's a GREAT WEBSITE)
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To: wideawake

“If he wants to command them against a sovereign state recognized by the US as legitimate, then Congress has to declare a state of war.”

Here’s my understanding. The president can engage any country for 90 days. By that time Congress must either declare war or back the president. If they don’t he has to stop.

Having said that, I don’t think there’s any mechanism to force the president to stop. Our system worked because all sides obeyed the law and the Constitution. If the president continues and the Senate will not convict on impeachment then I see no way to stop Obama.


31 posted on 09/01/2013 12:36:34 PM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

The answer is this:

When you have any disagreement with someone, write them off completely and forever.

That way you will be pure.

And alone.

This is the key to political power, being alone.

Oh, and I can’t be a RINO, I left the R party 6 years ago because it’s not a conservative party anymore. I’m pure and alone and considering my options.

D and R not on the list.


32 posted on 09/01/2013 12:39:35 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (....Let It Burn...)
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To: Regulator

Thanks for link on War Powers Act.


33 posted on 09/01/2013 12:39:43 PM PDT by hummingbird (Don't be afraid of the big words.)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

The power to declare war is relevant only in cases of aggressive war. In the 18th century, defensive wars were not declared. Aggressive war is now illegal.

The Constitution is poorly worded. It should have specifically referred to the power to wage war, not merely to declare it.

The Second Amendment should be stripped of its first clause, incidentally.


34 posted on 09/01/2013 12:49:44 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan (If you're FOR sticking scissors in a female's neck and sucking out her brains, you are PRO-WOMAN!)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
Not sure if it's the same interview, but I caught a clip of Bolton on Fox where he said this country shouldn't be in any war until we get a stronger president in the White House.

I happen to think he's right on that point. Obama is no commander-in-chief.

35 posted on 09/01/2013 12:52:51 PM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

You totally misrepresented the Bolton interview on FoxNews.


36 posted on 09/01/2013 1:03:39 PM PDT by Innovative ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

Obama already blinked with regard to the War Powers Act. Had he wished to push the limits, he could have gone ahead and attacked and explained later.

But he decided to go ask Congress for support instead. Smart, politically...consider the options:

1. Approval is given. He now can claim bi-partisan support, full compliance with the Constitution, and will still claim credit for a favorable outcome and try to spread the blame around for an unfavorable one.

2. Congress fails to authorize action. Obama’s off the hook and it’s on them. Early tee time?

3. The House and Senate split, and no joint authorization is issued. This too puts Obama off the hook and gives him a perfect platform to blame obstructionalist Republicans.

Add it up, it’s Advantage Obama. The most risky move for him would have been to attack quickly under War Powers authorization, and he’s already backed away from that.

The question now is just how much of a propaganda/PR victory he can achieve out of this.


37 posted on 09/01/2013 1:07:15 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: Gen.Blather
Congress must either declare war or back the president

I think what you mean is that Congress must either declare war or vote to stop funding or continue funding the war.

The Democrats certainly did not back Bush regarding Iraq, but they also did not vote to defund the Iraq operation.

38 posted on 09/01/2013 1:12:19 PM PDT by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

39 posted on 09/01/2013 1:15:18 PM PDT by LyinLibs (If victims of islam were more "islamophobic," maybe they'd still be alive.)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
Bolton: NSA leaker Edward Snowden is guilty of treason

June 10, 2013

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3029488/posts

______________________________________________________________

He already jumped the shark.

40 posted on 09/01/2013 1:20:41 PM PDT by Ken H (First rule of gun safety - have a gun)
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