Reasserting the Constitution
Bruce Fein
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
In the 2008 congressional elections, American voters can reverse a reckless constitutional counterrevolution reminiscent of Napoleon Bonaparte's 18th Brumaire that has crowned the president with war powers in flagrant contravention of the Founding Fathers.
Since World War II, Congress has actively or passively endorsed twin counterconstitutional ideas: namely, that the president may initiate war; and, that Congress may delegate its power to authorize war to the president. The Korean War was undertaken by President Harry Truman without prior congressional authorization. Ditto for President Bill Clinton's war against Serbia over Kosovo in 1999. Congress delegated the decisions to commence war in Vietnam and Iraq to Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush, respectively.
Voters in the 2008 congressional campaigns should support only candidates who pledge to oppose any delegation of the power to declare war; and, to impeach, convict and remove from office any president who starts war without a congressional declaration or equivalent authorization.
--MORE--
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
In the 2008 congressional elections, American voters can reverse a reckless constitutional counterrevolution reminiscent of Napoleon Bonaparte's 18th Brumaire that has crowned the president with war powers in flagrant contravention of the Founding Fathers.
Since World War II, Congress has actively or passively endorsed twin counterconstitutional ideas: namely, that the president may initiate war; and, that Congress may delegate its power to authorize war to the president. The Korean War was undertaken by President Harry Truman without prior congressional authorization. Ditto for President Bill Clinton's war against Serbia over Kosovo in 1999. Congress delegated the decisions to commence war in Vietnam and Iraq to Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush, respectively.
Voters in the 2008 congressional campaigns should support only candidates who pledge to oppose any delegation of the power to declare war; and, to impeach, convict and remove from office any president who starts war without a congressional declaration or equivalent authorization.
--MORE--