"I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action..."

[demwing]

"...without specific congressional authorization"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/10278442/Barack-Obama-on-Syria-text-in-full.html

The President's move to seek Congressional approval is appropriate, but he did not tie himself to limiting his actions based on such approval. In a bit of foreshadowing, he even noted :

"I'm comfortable going forward without the approval of a United Nations Security Council that, so far, has been completely paralyzed and unwilling to hold Assad accountable."

and later reminded Congress:

"I am looking forward to the debate. And in doing so, I ask you, members of Congress, to consider that some things are more important than partisan differences or the politics of the moment."

If Congress were similarly "paralyzed," would Obama be similarly comfortable? He's acted without congressional approval on lesser matters, why would he not also act on matters of life and death? Certainly, such matters would be more important than the politics of the moment.

Obama is telling us straight up that he's ready to act. He's invited Congress to join him, but is he tying himself to that partnership?

[johnd83]

1. Maybe you should just calm down?

It is going to be several weeks before anything plays out.

Edit: he probably is leaving the door open in case of another attack or threat of attack before congress gets their act together.

[demwing]

9. It's playing out right now

Starting at about 3:15, continuing to about 4:45

When asked directly, Kerry refuses to reveal whether the President will act without Congressional approval, just reiterating the position that the President has that right.

[leftstreet]

2. The votes have probably already been counted

The 'debate' will likely consist of Congress members getting their 'stances' powerpointed into their reelection pamphlets

Most worthless, cowardly, partisan, money-grubbing Congress ever

[demwing]

3. I gotta agree

And all said, If I were the President to this congress, and believed action outside of congressional approval were the right, ethical, and legal thing to do, you'd better believe I'd act.

But I don't believe that the President has that authority. Obama says he does, so I expect him to act on his beliefs.

Wouldn't you?

[libdem4life]

5. I wonder if it was equally "understood and orchestrated" in the UK.

I feel a bit envious when watching Parliament in session. I get the sense there is at least some level of real debate...more energy and intellectual combat. Possibly they are less "Citizen's United" driven?

[Benton D Struckcheon]

4. Serious question

Is that chemical weapons agreement signed by the US an actual treaty??? Because if it is, that might mean (not a lawyer, don't know this for sure at all) that he could act under that treaty and still be within the Constitution, because treaties are supposed, I believe, to be coequal with the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

[johnd83]

6. There is a treaty against chemical weapons

but Syria never signed it. I don't know how the enforcement was written though.

[DearAbby]

7. Congress will have to vote for Obama

and imagine how that will play to the base? If congress approves, they will be placing their support behind a President they just spent 5 yrs trying to eliminate, by hook or crook. Imagine that....

If they can't lay aside partisan bickering in a matter important as this, the congress is dysfunctional, and he has authorization to go ahead without it. He feels this strongly, that unanswered would give the appearance of condoning this atrocity.

He used the word ATROCITY, it has special meanings globally. Obama isn't only making his case before congress and the American people, he is opening up a dialog globally...how far will we allow these actions to continue..his threshold has been crossed. He will respond. I believe that was a warning against other countries who feel this is a sign of weakness.

[demwing]

8. I don't know if this was political

in action, or in timing, but I agree with you that President Obama is speaking to the world through this release, and is considers the topic a reflection and measure of our national ethos. I also went away from the speech thinking that closing two major wars does not indicate any US show of weakness. Anyone doubting such a conclusion could put in a quick call to OBL for a reminder.

I'm just saying...