Wrestling Over War Powers

Congress is always too deferential, too credulous and too timid to check a strong president in wartime.

By Dahlia Lithwick | NEWSWEEK

Published Jul 12, 2008

From the magazine issue dated Jul 21, 2008

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Discuss

Posted By: indydisc @ 07/20/2008 12:01:32 AM

Comment: Doesn't this make Bush 41 look like a sensible and constitutional-minded wartime president? He gathered the necessary in-theater data, assessed the threat, assembled a large, prominent group of allied countries, and asked the congress for ultimate approval. Funny, his generals (Schwarzkopf and Powell), gave an option for taking out Hussein and the Bathists, but Bush 41 understood the disaster that awaited when a power-vacuum succumbed Iraq's cultural tripartite (Sunni, Shia, Kurd).
Posted By: indydisc @ 07/20/2008 12:00:02 AM

Comment: Doesn't this make Bush 41 look like a sensible and constitutional-minded wartime president? He gathered the necessary in-theater data, assessed the threat, assembled a large, prominent group of allied countries, and asked the congress for ultimate approval. Funny, his generals (Schwarzkopf and Powell), gave an option for taking out Hussein and the Bathists, but Bush 41 understood the disaster that awaited when a power-vacuum succumbed Iraq's cultural tripartite (Sunni, Shia, Kurd).
Posted By: amendment2man @ 07/17/2008 11:27:19 AM

Comment: correction 2nd amendment groups
Posted By: abfabinri @ 07/16/2008 8:11:02 AM

Comment: They should vote them all out from that fat ass drunk Ted Kennedy to that Jackass John Boehner...both parties are wastes of air! If you think these people will grow a spine you are nuts...they are spineless power hungry pandering losers...the whole lot should be fired. If anyone had a job performance in the private sector like congress does, would we even ask what would happen?
- Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 8:39:14 AM
  
  Comment: Extermism and cheap talk.It is easy to sit in the comfort of your home and make this idoitic statement.
  The reason we are who we are regardless of the shortcomings is because we believe in the rule of law.
  I always say you want change things, get to work,.
- Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/17/2008 11:20:07 AM
  
  Comment: .................SO TRUE THAT IT IS SCARY!...................WHAT DO YOU THINK.............REVOLUTION? ........ARMED INSURRECTION?....................I WATCHED A SHOW THAT WAS ABOUT THE EXTEME RICH...................IN 1 SEGMENT A MAJOR TRUST FUND BABY SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED BY ARMED INSURRECTION BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE INBALANCE OF VERY RICH TO POOR!...................INTERESTING.
Posted By: wildlifeusa @ 07/16/2008 12:38:47 AM

Comment: If nothing is done in the next 10 to 20 years, most of all african and asian wildlife will be gone!! this is an other issue everyone should care about. See environment on msn.
Patrick Brown / Panos
Underground market in animals takes toll
Special multimedia report: Wildlife trade is the third-largest illegal trade in the world after drugs and guns. Full story | China gets OK to buy elephant ivory | Fact file on illegal trade
- Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/17/2008 11:27:23 AM
  
  Comment: YOU ARE AWARE THAT WHEN YOU LIVE BY EXAGERATION ................PEOPLE REMEMBER?
  
  IN 10-20 YEARS, AFTER NOTHING (WHAT YOU WOULD CALL NOTHING) IS DONE....AND THERE ARE LOTS OF ANIMALS IN AFRICA AND AISIA....................YOU HAVE FLUSHED AND SEMBLENCE OF RESPECT OR BELIEVABILITY THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD!
  
  IF YOU LIVE BY HYPERBOLE..............YOU DIE BY IT AS WELL!
Posted By: kevbdrmn2 @ 07/15/2008 9:24:36 PM

Comment: I see the situation in America much like the situation Rome was in when Caesar controlled Rome. The Roman senate was allowed to vote on what Caesar allowed them to and how he wanted them to. Much like our spineless congress of today. They are not alone in their responsibility for failing to check an out of control executive; all of the thinking and supposedly responsible American citizens are as well. The constitution of the United States charges the citizens with the responsibility and the ultimate authority over our government and we have all failed miserably in our duties as members of a democratic republic. Read the 9th and 10th amendments to the constitution and see and understand why we are failing as a democratic republic. We have failed ourselves.
- Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/17/2008 11:35:11 AM
  
  Comment: ...............I THINK IT IS WORSE THAN THAT....................ROME HAD THE ABILITY TO FUND ITS' INCREADIBLE SPENDING BY USURPING LARGE WEALTHY COUNTRYS AND CITY STATES....................OUR COUNTRY IS DOLING OUT BILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGES LIKE CANDY ON HALLOWEEN.....................AND THIS ROMES' PEOPLE ARE THE PROVIDERS INSTEAD OF THE RECIPIENTS LIKE THAT ROMES' PEOPLE WERE!
Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 4:29:11 PM

Comment: so·cial·ism Audio Help /??so????????l??z??m/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
???noun 1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
Posted By: barbara474 @ 07/15/2008 3:52:40 PM

Comment: Midwest_Dave: this from Wikipedia: "The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam (as part of a wider strategy of containment during the Cold War), beginning with military advisory missions in the early 1960s and escalating to full warfare with the deployment of combat units from 1965 onward. " Johnson was President in 1965.

Before you admonish someone to check their facts, please be correct yourself.
Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:34:54 PM

Comment: When a frog is dropped into a pot with hot water - it jumps out immediately (almost?) unharmed....but if it is put into a pot of cold water which is then heated slowly it will stay in the pot and boil to death because it can't tell when it is getting too hot until it is too late......
That scientific fact seems like such an apt description of the human condition as well. If life takes a turn for the worse slowly, just a lit bit at a time....when do we decide to act or make a change? I find this a most difficult question....
- Posted By: barbara474 @ 07/15/2008 4:07:10 PM
  
  Comment: lillea: The how to boil a frog thing is an old saying not a scientific fact. I point this out because there will be those people who will read what you have posted, and take that as 'fact', too.
  Also, as to the loss of freedoms: Both liberals and conservatives are guilty for we have lost more of our Constitution recently (FISA & other bills). If you are truly concerned about infringement on our constitutional rights, you should be writing your representatives(as I and many other Americans of both parties do), not posting specious, angry, unsupported opinions as fact.
  - Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 4:21:17 PM
    
    Comment: I write my opinions here because a letter to a Rep is only read by one person. Many people, including politicians, read these comments . So you can kill more than one bird with one stone.
    - Posted By: barbara474 @ 07/15/2008 4:26:50 PM
      
      Comment: So you don't participate in the process?!!!!!! I thought so, but I'm glad you were so eager to verify this fact. Now anyone with an ounce of brains can see what your comments are worth.
      - Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 4:34:47 PM
        
        Comment: This is a mass communication age. George Washington wrote letters. Mail was delivered by pony express. We are blessed to use the tools given to us. If you want to write personal letters to your reps., by all means, be my guest. I choose to use the technology given to us. And believe me, our reps are reading our comments that are posted here.
        
        Posted By: OBWan @ 07/17/2008 9:41:32 PM
        
        Comment: The Pony Express was in existence for 18 months (April 1860 - October 1861) delivering from St. Joseph MO to Sacramento CA. What was it replaced by? Telegraph. As far as Rep's reading the our comments - perhaps or not. I know that I can call my Representative (5 offices) and my 2 Senators offices and get a reply. Of course I can also e-mail them. Oh! and yes I get a response - and I have personally meet them.
- Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/15/2008 3:46:52 PM
  
  Comment: .....................WHEN A REPUBLICAN IS IN HOT WATER...................IT SCREAMS OUT......EXECUTIVE PRIVILIGE OR PRESIDENTIAL PARDON!...............LOL!
  - Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:51:12 PM
    
    Comment: Leftist Liberals are slowly and gradually taking our freedoms away. Trusting American citizens are being preyed upon. All Americans want is their freedom. Liberal want to take freedom from us.
    - Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/16/2008 12:03:11 PM
      
      Comment: ................JUST SAY THAT 3 TIMES WHILE CLICKING YOUR HEELS TOGETHER , DOROTHY...............THEN YOU CAN GO BACK TO KANSAS...............OR OZ WHERE THE MCAIN CAMP CAN GET VOTES IT IS GONNA NEED!
      - Posted By: amendment2man @ 07/17/2008 11:25:26 AM
        
        Comment: likeitsnot: wow why don't you post something of substance? are you in junior high or something?
        
        The congress is certainly showing their worth these days. they actually have done nothing and have been virtualloy silent when it comes to the economy.
        
        the pres. election is important and obama will most likely fizzle before november. there are several groups which have not weighed in as yet, the conservative and middle christians, the gun lobby, veterans. none of these groups support that flip flopping hack who bends with the wind. i work with 3nd amendment groups which have not yet weighed in and I can tell you we changed congress when the ridiculous cliton "crime bill" was enacted and they learned their lesson that we are politically expedient.
        
        obama you dont stand a real chance and the hopes and dreams are just that. we will be relentless in the nov. general and we have an eye on the next round of congressional elections.
        
        the driling plan is sound. it is just the sad short term orientation of the general public who are short sighted and gullible. we must learn to plan more in the long term. 10 more yers would go by with debate of opening up our offshore reserves to drilling and the same debate would still exist. in the meantime new fields would have been opened and we would have less dependence on people that hate us as well as transferring less of our wealth and resources to thes people who will NEVER like us no matter how many times obama invites them to a koombahyah bbq. there they would just snicker when he turns his back while using him and the US as a mouthpiece for their selfish demands(see recent carter - hamas debacle) .
        
        hopes and dreams and inspiration? you cant run a country on these.
        
        Posted By: IndependentPatriot @ 07/17/2008 9:37:10 PM
        
        Comment: Hopes and Dreams and Inspiration? Have you forgotten the ideological "faith-based" initiatives that Goerge Bush has gambled his presidency on? Besides, hopes/dreams/inspiration is what we elect a president for! We elect someone to that position becasue we depend upon them to direct our country towards a brighter future! The president is a subjective role, that's why when people get mad at the president for making poor decisions, we say he's a "figurehead" only. It's true. The president IS a figurehead, but is responsible for guiding the coutnry, not micromanaging it!. It's the same with a CEO of a major corporation....they don't involve themselves with the daily mundane tasks, they have plenty of people to do that for them. They are responsible for roughly a 10-15 year outlook for the complany, to guide where the near future takes them! Same thing with the president. So yes! Hopes/dreams/inspirations are important, we just have to make sure that those very same things are congruent with American ideals and that occasional foolish policies are not left unregarded!
        
        Posted By: IndependentPatriot @ 07/17/2008 9:38:33 PM
        
        Comment: ...sorry for the typos.....I was typing too quickly!
        
        Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/17/2008 11:38:44 AM
        
        Comment: SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE LIKE: OBAMA YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE?
        
        READ THE POLLS, LOOK AT THE FACTS.............MACAIN IS LOSING, EVEN IF IT IS WITHIN THE MARGIN.
        
        AS FAR AS MY POSTS.................I REPLY AS I WISH...................IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM : FIRST , EAT ME AND SECONDLY .......................DON'T F'KING READ THEM, RETARD!
        
        Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/17/2008 11:41:12 AM
        
        Comment: ALSO, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THAT IF MY POSTS PISS YOU OFF.............MY GOAL HAS BEEN ACHIEVED!
Posted By: 4carol @ 07/15/2008 3:32:24 PM

Comment: Just read how MCWar wants to send three more brigades to Afghanistan; of course, he wants to continue the force in Iraq, so where on earth will he find these brigades!!!
I can see us now, or should I say my children and grandchildren, in Iraq for at least another 10 years as liberators and in Afghanistan as liberators for who knows how long while more and more of our young men
and women are killed and maimed.
Of course, by that time, China will truly own us because his administration will barely allow alternative energy solutions and our debt to them will have quadrupled, the Mexican drug cartels will have taken over at least most of the southwest if not the whole west coast, and the three nation NAFTA will rule so their won't be any jobs for Americans as they will all have been given to the illegals!! Of course, there won't be any dollar as it will have shrunken so low that it won't be worth a penney!! Of course, it's all psycological and in our minds!!
- Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/16/2008 9:38:35 AM
  
  Comment: CHECK IT OUT................................BOTH CANDIDATES WANT MORE TROOPS IN AFGANISTAN!
- Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 4:57:22 PM
  
  Comment: Come on Obama! Tell everyone what your strategy is on getting out of Iraq. While you are at it, tell us where you got your military expertise experience. The only experience that I know you have as far as terrorism goes, is your close friendship and working relationship with William Ayers and his girlfriend, and your close friendship with, and your political support from Khalida.
  
  Obama supporters, a good candidate changes their position based on experience and present conditions and not on a whelm or for political expediency. Experience takes many weeks, months and years and must be thoroughly analyzed before you decide to change your mind on important issues. Changing your mind in just a few hours or a few days is called flip flopping and that is an appropriate name for it. We need a president that examines history and past practices very carefully before he changes his mind and changes policy for this country. We don't need someone that flows with the tide and looks at polls to make decisions. Yes, we need someone that listens to the people, but in some cases, based on information that can't be made public, the president must use his/her good judgement.
  
  Obama is controlled and told what to say and where he stands on a particular issue by his election staff. These people determine what the public wants to hear or where the other candidate stands on an issue, and then tells Obama what to say to the voters. Obama reads directly from a teleprompter most of the time and says exactly what his staff has come up with. He sounds like a great politician, but in fact he is just a robot with a lot of shrewd politicians behind him who have created a new political figure. Don't get caught up in their rhetoric and make an important decision that you will REGRET for the rest of your life.
  - Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 9:03:46 AM
    
    Comment: Your degree of ignorance of the candidate and your level of exaggeration in your comment clearly relegates it to ...obscurity.
    The succes of the campaign are the master mind of sen. Obama.He as set to plan from day one and chosen those he wanted to work for him.
    He has build a great organization, sign of leadership.
    He wrote all the important speeches he has made. 2 books and graduated from Harvard MAGNA *** .
    LAUDE
    The McCain has demostrated his knowledge of foreign affairs by confusing shiite with sunni on several occasion. By naming Checoslovakia, a country that has not existed for over 10 years, and generally appearing confused in most of his campaign speeches. and seemingly in need of psychologial help.
    There is no comparison here.
- Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:38:03 PM
  
  Comment: Hon,
  If Obama becomes Pres., your children will be placed in the Communist Youth Army. And you will not be allowed to make any personal decisions, because the government will make those decisions for you.
  - Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 9:05:12 AM
    
    Comment: I hope your children will join also. The youth in this country needs a draft.
  - Posted By: raddave @ 07/16/2008 1:10:33 AM
    
    Comment: ha ha ha so *** funny
  - Posted By: barbara474 @ 07/15/2008 4:20:50 PM
    
    Comment:
    lillea Hon, you confuse Communism, Socialism and Fascism. This is a large error for someone being so condescending to others on this thread.
    - Posted By: IndependentPatriot @ 07/17/2008 9:25:41 PM
      
      Comment: Here we go...thank-you Barbara for pointing that out. I'm so sick of ignorant countrymen who can't be bothered to go open a book in order to educate themselves on the differences between Communism, Fascism, and Socialism. Apparently, Lillea is one of those. GO READ LILLEA!! By the way, for all the Republican blowhards who believe the Democrats are socialistic (ok...sometimes..yes), just remember.....Socialism is a form of socioeconomic policy that provides benefits/services to the masses while being funded by the same society. It is NOT a form of government, like Fascism and Communism are. And if that doesn't bake your noodle.....remember that we pay taxes to provide things like Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, FDIC, and the MILITARY! All of which are Socialistic in their nature....of course these things are necessary for our country, but if we truly didn't want Socialism here then we would all only have individual militias of the States (like in the Civil War). And one more thing.....FDR brought this country out of the Depression with his "Socialistic" alphabet policies. Don't believe me? GO READ A BOOK!
Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:29:56 PM

Comment: Democrat Party = Socialistic Party (Communists)
Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:28:22 PM

Comment: We are spending more on foreign oil than we are spending on the Iraq war. So why in the heck doesn't our Democrat controlled house and senate get busy and pass laws to allow domestic drilling. It looks like they are setting our government up for Socialism. We have been dooped!!!
- Posted By: raddave @ 07/16/2008 1:12:06 AM
  
  Comment: Actually oil is sold on the world market, no matter if it is from the U.S. or the Middle east. That is capitilism at its best.
- Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 4:59:47 PM
  
  Comment: Americans deserve to know the truth about oil and gasoline prices and where the fault lies.
  
  Price of oil when Bush took office - $29
  
  Price of oil when democrats took over Congress - $51
  
  Price of oil today, July 11, 2008 - $145
  
  Price of gasoline when Bush took office - $1.60
  
  Price of gasoline when Democrats took over Congress - $2.34
  
  Price of gasoline today, July 11, 2008 - $4.30
  
  During the first 58 months of Bush's term in office, the price of a barrel of oil increased by $22 and a gallon of gasoline increased by $0.64! In the last 20 months of Bush's term in office, since the Democrats took control of Congress, the price of a barrel of oil increased by $94 and a gallon of gasoline increased by $1.96.
  
  Now, who do you think is more responsible for gasoline prices being so high? Let me clue you in! Speculators are accused of being responsible for high oil prices. But, why would they be blamed? Their intelligence tells them that increased US oil drilling will never be allowed under a Democrat controlled Congress and our dependency on foreign crude will continue to rise. They are not stupid!!
  
  Some ignorant Americans are going around saying that oil companies are not drilling on millions of acres that they have leased. That is a lie!! They are drilling dry hole after dry hole. There is not much oil there to be found. The oil companies know where the oil is and where it would be profitable to drill. Why are we telling them where to drill and where not to drill? Because our Congress contains a bunch of elite politicians that can afford high gas prices since the tax payers pay their expenses.
  
  Congress needs to act on legislation immediately to open up offshore drilling and ANWR drilling. This Congress is killing the American people. Their approval rating is down to 9% and if anymore Democrats are elected, it could go to 0%. If the U.S. commits to using our own resources rather than depending on foreign countries, the price of oil would drop immediately! OPEC cannot afford to lose a big spender like the U.S.! The LOUD AND PROUD AMERICANS need to take action immediately and persuade Congress to get off their hands and accomplish something to help the American people now and in the future.
  
  The Republicans passed an energy bill and Clinton vetoed it. Clinton said that it would take ten years to get the oil to the market. That was twelve years ago and look where we are today. Sound familiar?
  - Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 9:11:16 AM
    
    Comment: How do we know you may work for the oil company and coming here telling us lies.
    No one beleives Bush and it is hard to fugre how the economy works because there are too many fingers in the pie and they are all oil men,, Bush's friends maybe..
    Bin laden family are friend of his also, maybe they know where he is?
  - Posted By: Sun666 @ 07/15/2008 11:04:35 PM
    
    Comment: Hey Jim McBush,
    
    Great that you can post all of these "facts". And repost and repost and repost. Typical republicon methodology: if you say it enough times, it becomes truth. When the Dems took over Congress (Feb 1, 2008) oil was at $100/barrel. Gasoline in the summer of 2006 topped over $3.00 per gallon and COINCIDENTLY dropped almost $1.00 prior to the November election, although to no avail to the keystone cop administration of Bush and Co.
    
    Bush and Co invaded Iraq over spin from half-truths and fear of the unknown (WMD's, smoking gun...mushroom cloud), all the while telling the American people "we'll be treated as liberators", Iraq oil will pay for the war", "mission accomplished", "last throes", and "a few deadenders". Enron, whose CEO Bush fondly referred to as "Kenny-boy" Lay, fixed unregulated electrical utilities in California, causing brown-outs, jacking up rates, and laughing about "ripping off grandmothers".
    
    Now here it comes again, members of the executive board of oil companies, that call Bush fondly refers to as his "base, the haves, and the have mores" are reaping record breaking profits (and bonuses), all the while Bush is using the same tired tactic of fear of the need to increase drilling in previously unaccessable areas. If he really wanted to relieve the oil market, he'd release some of the 100 million barrels of oil that he stubbornly contined to pump into the oil reserve until Congress forced him to stop in mid-May 2008 when oil was at $125/barrel. Historic reserves have never topped over 600 million barrels, but under Bush he continues to pump to capacity without reagard to the American people. But why should he care? After all his rating as president is the lowest of any since Richard Nixon, and his "base" is getting overwhelming rich while he continued to pump. When he's no longer president, you can bet he'll be repaid ten-fold. Hey, you can rest assured that they all want his tax cuts to remain permanent and to continue the tax susidy they all enjoy of a flat corporate tax at 15%.
    
    Meanwhile Jim, how are you liking the historic national debt incurred during the 6 years Bush enjoyed the majority republicon congress. And the tricle down from those tax cuts? Well thy sure have this economy absolutely humming. Where did you spend Bush's tax rebate this year? You know, the couple of hundred dollars that would "stimulate" the economy? I'm sure while your still overpaying your taxes in 2020 trying to reduce the historic deficit from this administration you'll find a way to blame the Democrats.
Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:26:21 PM

Comment: Barack Obama is nothing but an armchair quarter back. He has not studied or experienced first hand what is going on in Iraq. What a bag of hot air.
- Posted By: 4carol @ 07/15/2008 3:39:36 PM
  
  Comment: And MCWAR may have even though he cannot differenciate between Sunni and Shia and still thinks Czechoslovakia is a country!!
  Yeh, he's real on top of things!!!!
  - Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:42:49 PM
    
    Comment: AND Obama micaculously visited 57 states during the primary!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!!!
    - Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 9:17:11 AM
      
      Comment: We do have 50 states and 7 teriitories you can google and check find before you open you big mouth.
      Most people on the web are not well informed.
      Waste of energy, power and creates confusion among the population.
      It would be benficial and patriotic of everyone took the time to check thei facts from mulitple source before showing all of us the degree of ingorance in the richest country on earth with infinite resources to find the truth.Could you lean how to think maybe?
      Time to go.
    - Posted By: OBWan @ 07/17/2008 9:25:53 PM
      
      Comment: Go back and think primaries and caucus - 50 states + DC, American Samoa, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Democrats Abroad. Then of course there was the Texas two step, and the state of Washington thing.
    - Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 5:01:55 PM
      
      Comment: Obama was counting Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, and others as 'states to be'.
      - Posted By: IndependentPatriot @ 07/17/2008 9:11:35 PM
        
        Comment: Unreal, Jimmy.....just unreal. Do you really think that spewing belligerent biased hyperbole make any point what-so-ever? We understand you do not like Obama......wonderful. Idon't particularly do either. But I'm not going to unload sophmoric rhetoric about the man just to counter equally asinine comments from other readers jst to atempt to prove a opint that doesn't exist! Frankly, I'm tired of your rants,and I'm going to call you on them each time. Oh, and please don't make some rediculous reply about myself being a far-left wacko liberal. I'm not, you can bank on it.
Posted By: Midwest_dave @ 07/15/2008 3:05:50 PM

Comment: It was JFK that first sent combat troops to South Vietnam not Presidents Johnson or Nixon. Need to check your facts.
- Posted By: kjhuggard @ 07/19/2008 10:46:59 PM
  
  Comment: And the first casualty was also during Kennedys term.
Posted By: barbara474 @ 07/15/2008 3:04:30 PM

Comment: D Lithwick: I was refreshing to read an article that championed what should be of utmost importance to the average American: that of the abuse of the Constitution by an over-reaching President and the neglect it receives from an agenda driven Congress.
- Posted By: Boopme @ 07/15/2008 3:57:10 PM
  
  Comment: Our Democratic Congress can only do so much with a Vetoing idiot for a President. Even in his last days he's vetoing anything that would help the regular people. He politically wants to send up a smoke screen about off shore drilling when he knows it is ridiculous and will never pass. You don't hear the oil companies asking for it, because they know it is useless. GWB knows that but will say anything so his illiterate following of Repubs can get the not so bright down home folks angry and spew stupid blogs. People really need to think of their situation and what would best serve them and their families if not the country.
  - Posted By: barbara474 @ 07/15/2008 4:11:34 PM
    
    Comment: Then write your representatives and call them to task for not fulfilling your needs as a constituent. Don't give them a 'pass', call them to task.
    I have a Republican rep. and he hears from me weekly. Voting is not our only tool.
Posted By: Midwest_dave @ 07/15/2008 3:04:16 PM

Comment: It was JFK that first sent combat troops to Vietnam not either Presidents Johnson or Nixon. Need to do some fact checking.
- Posted By: raddave @ 07/16/2008 1:13:45 AM
  
  Comment: JFK only sent military advisors. Johnson sent the first combat troops in 1965. you need to do some fact checking
  - Posted By: IndependentPatriot @ 07/17/2008 9:06:57 PM
    
    Comment: Oooo! Gotcha Midwest! Yes, He's right. JFK only sent advisors....long before the begrudged Escalation.
Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/15/2008 2:43:09 PM

Comment: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WINNING THE WAR IN IRAQ!

WHAT COULD WE WIN.......................4500 PEOPLE MYSTERIOUSLY COME BACK TO LIFE?

WHAT COULD WE WIN.......................THE MANY TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT BUSH FLUSHED OVER THERE?

WHAT COULD WE WIN......................THE REPLACING OF A SOLID IF TENUOUS ECONOMY?

WHAT COULD WE WIN......................THE WORLDS' REINSTATING THIER RESPECT FOR AMERICA?

IT WAS LOST THE DAY THAT BUSH DECIDED THAT IT WAS NO LONGER ABOUT GETTING AND KILLING SADAAM, BUT THE GIFTING OF DEMOCRACY TO A PEOPLE THAT ARE SO BACKWARD AS TO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH FREEDOM!
Posted By: glubber @ 07/15/2008 2:38:25 PM

Comment: Newsweek and the rest of the liberal leaning press should just START wearing their armbands with the Democrat logos on them. Dahlia can go by her rank in the Joseph Goebbels-like propaganda wing of the Democrat party, UnterSturmFuhrer Lithwick...

Talk about IN the tank for Obama. These guys are DRIVING the dang thing!
- Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/15/2008 6:33:22 PM
  
  Comment: THE CONSERVATIVES DON'T NEED ARMBANDS....................THEY ARE ALL JUST DRIVING MERCEDES AND USING THEIR I-PHONES AND DRINKING STARBUCKS LATTES!................ITS A GAY THING, YOU UNDERSTAND!
Posted By: Richard1327 @ 07/15/2008 1:34:26 PM

Comment: Do you think that Bush, the OIL MAN and Saudi BFF, blaming the Dems in Congress will piss-off Nancy Pelosi enough to put impeachment back on the table? This has to be Bush's most Ballsy move yet - By going on video (permantent record) and blaming the Dems for high gas prices and essentially the bad economy, he takes care of his presidential legacy rather than taking responsibility for his conspiracy with his family/friends and the Saudis for price gouging. The little DICK-tater is brilliant. This video will be played on a loop in the GW Bush presidential library in the year 2050 when all of us are gone and there won't be anyone around to tell the truth about what really happened. Unless the Dems in congress fight back with impeachment, the DEM party will disappear and go down in history as a bunch of idiots.
Posted By: Coolheads @ 07/15/2008 12:43:03 PM

Comment: The war hawks of Congress thought thety would invade a country, and our army would succeed as the enemy had 3 ethnic groups who would never unite. When our army invaded, it lost in a set piece battle as the 3 groups united before the battle. I am talking about the US invasion of Canada in 1812 when the Congress declared war on England. Canada defeated the US army, the following year the British burned Washington DC. Only History will provide wisdom to avoid war.
- Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 5:02:57 PM
  
  Comment: Americans deserve to know the truth about oil and gasoline prices and where the fault lies.
  
  Price of oil when Bush took office - $29
  
  Price of oil when democrats took over Congress - $51
  
  Price of oil today, July 11, 2008 - $145
  
  Price of gasoline when Bush took office - $1.60
  
  Price of gasoline when Democrats took over Congress - $2.34
  
  Price of gasoline today, July 11, 2008 - $4.30
  
  During the first 58 months of Bush's term in office, the price of a barrel of oil increased by $22 and a gallon of gasoline increased by $0.64! In the last 20 months of Bush's term in office, since the Democrats took control of Congress, the price of a barrel of oil increased by $94 and a gallon of gasoline increased by $1.96.
  
  Now, who do you think is more responsible for gasoline prices being so high? Let me clue you in! Speculators are accused of being responsible for high oil prices. But, why would they be blamed? Their intelligence tells them that increased US oil drilling will never be allowed under a Democrat controlled Congress and our dependency on foreign crude will continue to rise. They are not stupid!!
  
  Some ignorant Americans are going around saying that oil companies are not drilling on millions of acres that they have leased. That is a lie!! They are drilling dry hole after dry hole. There is not much oil there to be found. The oil companies know where the oil is and where it would be profitable to drill. Why are we telling them where to drill and where not to drill? Because our Congress contains a bunch of elite politicians that can afford high gas prices since the tax payers pay their expenses.
  
  Congress needs to act on legislation immediately to open up offshore drilling and ANWR drilling. This Congress is killing the American people. Their approval rating is down to 9% and if anymore Democrats are elected, it could go to 0%. If the U.S. commits to using our own resources rather than depending on foreign countries, the price of oil would drop immediately! OPEC cannot afford to lose a big spender like the U.S.! The LOUD AND PROUD AMERICANS need to take action immediately and persuade Congress to get off their hands and accomplish something to help the American people now and in the future.
  
  The Republicans passed an energy bill and Clinton vetoed it. Clinton said that it would take ten years to get the oil to the market. That was twelve years ago and look where we are today. Sound familiar?
  - Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/16/2008 9:47:11 AM
    
    Comment: COPY / PASTE / COPY / PASTE............................YAWN!
  - Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/16/2008 9:45:21 AM
    
    Comment: DEMOCRATS + REPUBLICANS + OIL INDUSTRY EXPERTS .....................ALL SAY THAT DRILLING OF ANY KIND WOULD TAKE 5-20 YEARS TO AFFECT THE PRICE OF OIL............................I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DRILL EVERYWHERE THAT THERE IS OIL ON U.S. CITIZEN PROPERTY, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ALL OIL PUMPED FROM OUR SOIL (AND OFF SHORE) SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM SPECULATING..................PUMPED IN THE USA...................BURNED IN THE USA!
Posted By: lbrillante @ 07/15/2008 12:24:59 PM

Comment: Sounds stupid... more consultation ;between a submissive congress and a dominant executive???? That is not a solution.... what reigns in an out of control executive and a docile, irresponsible congress??? The people of this country have to get really pissed off and stay after all of them, making life as usual completely impossible, and uncomfortable. Those who have money and are wiling to act on the 'people's' behalf should take them to task in court in every way possible until they all shape up!
Posted By: alogicalidealist @ 07/13/2008 1:47:06 AM

Comment: newsweek and the entire media in general is totally biased for Obama, it's just stupid. Its getting to the point that i am beginning to question and doubt everything the media says reguarding politics. Our media is totally liberal and anyone who cant see that is ignorant and stupid!
- Posted By: summer4077 @ 07/14/2008 2:45:10 PM
  
  Comment: You obviously haven't watched Fox News.
Posted By: Pwelvr @ 07/12/2008 10:03:27 PM

Comment: Can an earthworm grow a spine? No, it's not in its genes. The same goes for Congress. Worms get re-elected. Spines do not. Now whats more important to them? Getting elected or growing a spine?
Posted By: greengeekpdx @ 07/12/2008 7:48:10 PM

Comment: For crying out loud, how much spooge can these pages hold? Government in the US is so far out of touch with the people these days. All decisions made in government (at all levels) start with the singing of the WIIFM theme song. (what's in it for me?) We have such a goofy Pollyanna attitude in this country today is beyond comprehension.
Posted By: gary4books @ 07/12/2008 3:11:44 PM

Comment: Perhaps the Congress should recognize that for war, the only solution is victory. Congress should do nothing to get in the way. Doing noting is often the wise, but overlooked way to peace.
- Posted By: Coolheads @ 07/15/2008 12:49:30 PM
  
  Comment: Do nothing to stop war?. Let Chancellor Hitler lead the way to victory? What is your "Victory" in Iraq? Give no-bid contracts to exxon? we won. lets go home now.
  - Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 5:03:57 PM
    
    Comment: Americans deserve to know the truth about oil and gasoline prices and where the fault lies.
    
    Price of oil when Bush took office - $29
    
    Price of oil when democrats took over Congress - $51
    
    Price of oil today, July 11, 2008 - $145
    
    Price of gasoline when Bush took office - $1.60
    
    Price of gasoline when Democrats took over Congress - $2.34
    
    Price of gasoline today, July 11, 2008 - $4.30
    
    During the first 58 months of Bush's term in office, the price of a barrel of oil increased by $22 and a gallon of gasoline increased by $0.64! In the last 20 months of Bush's term in office, since the Democrats took control of Congress, the price of a barrel of oil increased by $94 and a gallon of gasoline increased by $1.96.
    
    Now, who do you think is more responsible for gasoline prices being so high? Let me clue you in! Speculators are accused of being responsible for high oil prices. But, why would they be blamed? Their intelligence tells them that increased US oil drilling will never be allowed under a Democrat controlled Congress and our dependency on foreign crude will continue to rise. They are not stupid!!
    
    Some ignorant Americans are going around saying that oil companies are not drilling on millions of acres that they have leased. That is a lie!! They are drilling dry hole after dry hole. There is not much oil there to be found. The oil companies know where the oil is and where it would be profitable to drill. Why are we telling them where to drill and where not to drill? Because our Congress contains a bunch of elite politicians that can afford high gas prices since the tax payers pay their expenses.
    
    Congress needs to act on legislation immediately to open up offshore drilling and ANWR drilling. This Congress is killing the American people. Their approval rating is down to 9% and if anymore Democrats are elected, it could go to 0%. If the U.S. commits to using our own resources rather than depending on foreign countries, the price of oil would drop immediately! OPEC cannot afford to lose a big spender like the U.S.! The LOUD AND PROUD AMERICANS need to take action immediately and persuade Congress to get off their hands and accomplish something to help the American people now and in the future.
    
    The Republicans passed an energy bill and Clinton vetoed it. Clinton said that it would take ten years to get the oil to the market. That was twelve years ago and look where we are today. Sound familiar?
    - Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 9:48:54 AM
      
      Comment: I have listened to intervieus on C-span and someof the facts are that since the 70 ; and Crter large sum were set aside for energy research, every president after that has done the same .Reaearh energy gov history and you willsee that the lobbyst, oil and auto have stopped legislation to move forward in our energy independence.
      Why did the car manuf. did not retool their factories or reduce emission.
      The capitalist have had their way with congress, republican and otherwise by preventing bills that would demand certain economic changes.
      That is what is broken in Washington....the present congress has inherited many problems, including a president with veto power, veiled in secrecy, stepping on our constitution.
      The way we do business is wrong. A bill should not have to include iitems the republican want to have it passed and viceversa.
      To me sound more like black mail, what I vote for your bill if accept deregulation on the banks.
      This how Mr. Gramm and others were able to pass certain deregulations that made it easier for banks to to do subprimes loans and selling them in bundles. Same with deregulations for commodities, it made it easier for speculation of futures. and oil price go up.
      It is a lot more complicated than the avergae american is aware of.
      The citizen need to be informed and contact their state rep. when A VOTE COMES UP..
      This whay Obama says we must be involved in government and know the issues.
    - Posted By: IndependentPatriot @ 07/17/2008 9:00:55 PM
      
      Comment: No,Jimmy......most of the existing economic/energy policies that have crippled our country at the moment were in place long before the Democrats took over Congress. You believe these things happen overnight? If that were true,then logic would say that this problem could very well be fixed overnight, whichboth paarties understand will not happen.

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Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/16/2008 9:38:35 AM

Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 4:57:22 PM

Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 9:03:46 AM

Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:38:03 PM

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Posted By: raddave @ 07/16/2008 1:10:33 AM

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Posted By: IndependentPatriot @ 07/17/2008 9:25:41 PM

Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:29:56 PM

Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:28:22 PM

Posted By: raddave @ 07/16/2008 1:12:06 AM

Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 4:59:47 PM

Posted By: lee226 @ 07/20/2008 9:11:16 AM

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Posted By: lillea @ 07/15/2008 3:26:21 PM

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Posted By: Coolheads @ 07/15/2008 12:43:03 PM

Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 07/15/2008 5:02:57 PM

Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/16/2008 9:47:11 AM

Posted By: LIKEITIS @ 07/16/2008 9:45:21 AM

Posted By: lbrillante @ 07/15/2008 12:24:59 PM

Posted By: alogicalidealist @ 07/13/2008 1:47:06 AM

Posted By: summer4077 @ 07/14/2008 2:45:10 PM

Posted By: Pwelvr @ 07/12/2008 10:03:27 PM

Posted By: greengeekpdx @ 07/12/2008 7:48:10 PM

Posted By: gary4books @ 07/12/2008 3:11:44 PM

Posted By: Coolheads @ 07/15/2008 12:49:30 PM

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