President Obama mentioned The Constitution Tonight

[kpete]

But I'm also the president of the world's oldest constitutional democracy. So even though I possessed the authority to order military strikes, I believed it was right, in the absence of a direct or imminent threat to our security, to take this debate to Congress. I believe our democracy is stronger when the president acts with the support of Congress, and I believe that America acts more effectively abroad when we stand together.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/running-transcript-president-obamas-sept-10-speech-on-syria/2013/09/10/a8826aa6-1a2e-11e3-8685-5021e0c41964_story_1.html


and he did not say it was a goddammed piece of paper
that is a win in my book, peace, kp

[PoliticAverse]

1. I hope his action and words set a precedent that other presidents keep. n/t

[pscot]

2. He did the right thing

I hope our betters in Washington have learned something. The country is fed up with military adventures.

[Ghost Dog]

3. "So even though I possessed the authority to order military strikes"...

... Only for as long as you can continue to get away with pissing on International Law, all of you, sisters/brothers.

[bhikkhu]

5. The customary affirmation of executive power

I can't say the line impresses me, but the result is what counts.

I still trust the president to do the right thing, but we need to recall that affirmation every time we elect a president; as recent history shows, a bad apple at the top really rots the whole barrel, and the recourse for electing a bad apple is very difficult.

[BlueStreak]

4. Good. Next, maybe he will read the Fourth Amendment

[kath]

7. Yeah, wouldn't that be nice?

Not holding my breath though

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. "...even though I possessed the authority to order military strikes..."

Uh, no you don't buster. You yourself said it: there was an absence of a direct or imminent threat. Which means you are Constitutionally required to go to Congress for any military approval.

Don't play that game, dude.

[Uncle Joe]

8. I'm happy he took it to Congress as well, I don't agree with the doctrine

that the President unilaterally has the right to wage war; which is essentially what bombing is.

I like to think he's trying to find a diplomatic way out and that's what the Congressional Approval was all about.

I'm of the mind that the "chemical attack" was in fact an accident caused by the rebels themselves.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[msanthrope]

9. That is a direct reference to the Youngstown decision, and diminution of the Executive power.

It is a good thing.