The Coming Constitutional Crisis

King Features Syndicate ^ | Februrary 20, 2007 | Richard Lowry

[RWR8189]

While other House Democrats were pretending that their nonbinding resolution against the Iraq troop surge was of great import, antiwar champion Rep. John Murtha spoke the truth. It is not “the real vote,” he said in a webcast for the left-wing MoveCongress.org. That comes with Murtha’s imminent attempt to hamstring President Bush’s conduct of the war that may well spark a constitutional crisis.

There is a straightforward way for Congress to end a war: Cut off its entire funding. Congress has the power of the purse, the most important lever of legislative influence in the Anglo-American tradition. But House Democrats don’t want to wield this power because they’re afraid it will expose them to charges of defunding the troops. So they are resorting to an unconstitutional expedient instead.

Murtha wants to attach conditions on the impending supplemental appropriations bill to fund the war. He would require that troops have a year at home before redeploying, that they train with their own equipment before deploying and so on. Because the too-small U.S. military is under enormous strain, these conditions would be impossible to meet while still doubling the number of U.S. combat troops in Baghdad.

Murtha repeatedly says in the webcast that his proposals are meant to “protect” the troops. But he is frank about the not-so-ulterior motive of keeping more troops from heading to Iraq, explaining that “they won’t be able to do the work.” Because his provisions can be sold as guaranteeing the readiness and quality-of-life of the troops, Murtha believes that they “will be very hard to find fault with.”

[xcamel]

perfect example of "Senility in Power"

[Graymatter]

We wouldn't have the likes of Murtha in positions of leadership if we required them to pass a simple exam that proved them knowledgeable in basic American history and government. Even if it were voluntary, let them explain why they don't wish to take it. Results would be published and we'd have a better idea who's qualified and who needs to retire.
I bet if it were high-school level, at least half the Congress would flunk.
And while we're at it they should be able to walk a straight line to the test center, on 30 minutes' notice.

[Jacquerie]

"President Bush will have no choice but to reject the Murtha restrictions should they reach his desk. But a veto is problematic. As Murtha points out, a veto means that Bush doesn’t get the continued funding for the war."

In a perfect world, the President will veto the bill then pull a Ronald Reagan. To wit, go over the head of the stinkin' press, go directly to the American people and demand that they pressure the rats to fund the Battle of Iraq without strings attached.

Hey, I can dream can't I?

[Parley Baer]

I agree in thats what should happen if the dimocRATS take that course. If they should succeed then they "own" the war IMHO.

[expatpat]

Hey, that last bit is racial profiling -- the Kennedy clan is clearly being targeted.

[PghBaldy]

Very interesting take on this. I wopnder if any lawyer/bloggers or commentators have analyzed this.

[xzins]

they train with their own equipment before deploying and so on.

This is sort of a dumb point. One M16 is the same as another. One Abrams tank is the same as another.

If we have equipment stockpiles in Kuwait and Iraq, and troops get into an Abrams tank, that's no different than being assigned to a different unit and getting into a different Abrams tank. It's no different than getting another one assigned after the first gets blown up. We have standard equipment for just that reason.

So far a the "one year deployment," that's a short-sighted way to fight a war in the first place. In WWII, the were in for the duration because we went to full mobilization and we knew what we had to do to win.

We'd be far better off doing the same today.

[italianquaker]

If this passes the president shall immediately withdraw our troops and not allow murtha and the democrat party to play politics with young soldiers lives

[Mark Felton]

"Congressmen who ... undermine the military ... should be arrested, exiled or hanged" - A. Lincoln

[hinckley buzzard]

The President should do what Teddy Roosevelt did. When the congress balked at funding coal stations around the world for the Navy, he set the fleet asail, and dared Congress to let them be stranded without fuel in foreign ports. GW should make a public statement that he will not submit to a preemptive strike against our troops by Congress, will do whatever he deems necessary as CinC to insure victory, and if Congress will then not provide for these troops that is their decision.

[foreshadowed at waco]

I didn't hear all his remarks today but Joe Biden had a clip on FNC talking about the need for a president with experience not one who needs on the job training. He was saying that talking of pulling out of Iraq is irresponsible and that we need a plan for success in Iraq. If we had to have a Democrat in the WH I guess I'd go for Biden since I do agree with his 3 state within a country solution for Iraq. (I know he's a bit of a blowhard, a plagiarist, and has 'plugs' but he has been consistent in his Iraq solution.)

[Jacquerie]

Yeah, that's the ticket!

[Blogatron]

A barf alert could have saved me a pair of shoes.

[t2buckeye]

I believe that President Bush will put himself in the position of being impeached in order to protect the constitutional powers of the Executive branch rather than give in and lose in Iraq OR defund the troops.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"We wouldn't have the likes of Murtha in positions of leadership if we required them to pass a simple exam that proved them knowledgeable in basic American history and government."

Hell, we wouldn't have half of Congress in place if they had to each pass the same urine test applicants for stocking clerk jobs at Home Depot are required to pass before getting the job.

[Christian4Bush]

bttt

[RWR8189]

Why would I put a barf alert on this article?

Did you read it?

[sefarkas]

We wouldn't have the likes of Murtha

if the Republicans during the time when they controlled both houses of Congress and the Presidency passed term limits. Give them a test? Why so they can cheat on that too? Out! Out with'm all. Another group of 535 could do no worse.

[hellbender]

"We wouldn't have the likes of Murtha in positions of leadership if we required them to pass a simple exam that proved them knowledgeable in basic American history and government."

The entire government has been behaving in a flagrantly Unconstitutional manner for decades. Hardly anyone in Congress or the White House cares what the Constitution says the Federal Government is allowed to do or not do.