Hillary won't apologize for the IWR 2002 - Here's why-

[denem]

She believes it. The first reason given is based on her WH experience:

This is a very difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make -- any vote that may lead to war should be hard -- but I cast it with conviction.

And perhaps my decision is influenced by my eight years of experience on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue in the White House watching my husband deal with serious challenges to our nation. I want this President, or any future President, to be in the strongest possible position to lead our country in the United Nations or in war.

This is an ambit claim for the powers of the President as Commander in Chief, and IMHO the deciding factor in her decision. Her conviction was not limited to Iraq, it is a statement of general principle: An expression of appropriate Presidential power that she believes in. She concludes with the qualifications:

My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of pre-emption, or for uni-lateralism, or for the arrogance of American power or purpose -- all of which carry grave dangers for our nation, for the rule of international law and for the peace and security of people throughout the world. http://clinton.senate.gov/speeches/iraq_101002.html

The critical point here is that the Truman Doctrine, which has been US policy for sixty years, mandates the US to take unilateral action, bypassing the United Nations, to protect the Union's vital interests, as it did in Greece and Turkey.

In summary, Hillary was voting for the "strongest possible" powers of the Presidency, consistent with existing US doctrine and procedure, while warning that her vote should not be interpreted as extending Truman.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I'm sure she'll keep the Unitary Executive Theory alive and well.

[denem]

3. I don't see her supporting the Unitary Exacutive theory here

only the powers of the President as Commander in Chief.

[kristopher]

26. She abdicated the duty of the Senate to declare war because it was politically inconvenient

[bvar22]

24. The DLC helped the Republicans build the Unitary Executive.

The DLC Democrats joined with the Republicans in supporting Roberts and Alito for the Supreme Court (SEE: Gang of 14). Alito & Roberts are BIG FANS of the Unitary Executive.

The DLC will NOT help disassemble something they worked so hard to build.

Unfortunately, Obama will not either. You would think this would be a HUGE campaign issue for him (Constitutional Law and all), but NO. Mostly silence from Obama on the Unitary Executive.

[kristopher]

27. Naomi Wolf wrote an excellent piece on that

Her opinion sounds more informed than yours, frankly.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/why-barack-obama-got-my-v_b_89017.html

"... I am formally coming out of the closet with my support for Senator Barack Obama. Of all the candidates running now, he is the leader on understanding the threat to the Constitution and actually taking action, not just mouthing soundbites, on the need to deny torturers space in our nation and to restore the rule of law.

"Lawyers for Gitmo detainees endorse Obama," read a recent headline on the Boston Globe's political blog. In the article, reporter Charlie Savage notes that "More than 80 volunteer lawyers for Guantanamo Bay detainees today endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama's presidential bid. The attorneys said in a joint statement that they believed Obama was the best choice to roll back the Bush-Cheney administration's detention policies in the war on terrorism and thereby to 'restore the rule of law, demonstrate our commitment to human rights, and repair our reputation in the world community.'"

The lawyers who signed this letter -- prominent names on the list included Washington lawyer Thomas Wilner, retired federal appeals court judge John Gibbons, and retired Rear Admiral Donald Guter, who was the Navy's top JAG officer from 2000 to 2002 -- applauded Obama for having stood up in 2006 against aspects of the Military Commissions Act. Unfortunately, his fight was ultimately unsuccessful -- which is why we are all still in danger. But unlike other candidates he truly fought and he understood the nature of the danger: "When we were walking the halls of the Capitol trying to win over enough Senators to beat back the Administration's bill, Senator Obama made his key staffers and even his offices available to help us," the lawyers wrote. "Senator Obama worked with us to count the votes, and he personally lobbied colleagues who worried about the political ramifications of voting to preserve habeas corpus for the men held at Guantanamo. He has understood that our strength as a nation stems from our commitment to our core values, and that we are strong enough to protect both our security and those values. Senator Obama demonstrated real leadership then and since, continuing to raise Guantanamo and habeas corpus in his speeches and in the debates."

Senator Clinton also opposed the law. In 2006 she said: "If enacted, this law would give license to this Administration to pick people up off the streets of the United States and hold them indefinitely without charges and without legal recourse." She gets the danger; many of her colleagues do too. But this issue requires bold language and action. Senator Clinton has not foregrounded the issue of the subversion of the rule of law in her appearances or speeches; and I am very VERY sorry to say that she did not oppose torture until she opposed it.

I say this with regret: She and her husband really know how to run a country; they delivered eight years of peace and prosperity. I know her to be a skilled politician and motivated by sincere love of country. Mrs. Clinton would be a terrific executive -- in a stable democracy. But that is not enough right now. These are times that should try men's souls -- and women's also. In a closing society, a leader has to be willing to face down evil, engage it and call it by its name...."

Well worth the read if you haven't seen it.

[ingac70]

2. So her vote was strictly about the powers she wanted...

if she were to become President. How selfish.

[Window]

20. Exactly.

I'm sure Bill had some input.

[AGirl]

4. good opinon..

[Tom Joad]

5. Why would she vote against the position adapted by Bill C?

they both supported "regime change" in Iraq. that should be clear.

[denem]

16. Here first principle has nothing to do with Iraq

Its about Presidential power.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. Who did you vote for in 04?

[denem]

10. I didn't get a vote.

I am still waiting on the citizenship period which has now stretched out to seven years, thanks to administration budget cuts. Seven year! - married to my American wife who works at the DoD. But no dice. Australia is a state of Mexico ;)

O4 -First Dean, then Clark. This time, first Biden, then after a lot of soul searching about McClerkin, Obama.

[suston96]

7. Good points. And maybe this part of Hillary's speech should be included...

A vote for it is not a vote to rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our President and we say to him - use these powers wisely and as a last resort.

[denem]

11. Agreed

100%. * set an example which must live in infamy. Not to be repeated.

[invictus]

8. The Clintons love only POWER. They will do anything to get it. Bomb any country. n/t

[denem]

13. The Clinton administration was very restrained in using Military Force n/t

[invictus]

17. I wish Hillary could have restrained her urge to vote for the Iraq War Resolution. n/t

[denem]

19. Yes - but this is Bush's war.

Hilary's presidency would be more like WJC 1993 -2000.

[tularetom]

9. Nah I think she KNEW it was bullshit and voted for it anyway

because she (probably Bill) was afraid she'd be ridiculed as "weak on terror" and "unpatriotic" if she didn't vote for it. And she's still scared of that. That's why she won't apologize for it.

she doesn't believe that WMD shit. But she does believe that DLV shit.

[denem]

12. Hillary believes in the powers of the Presidency.

It's nonsense to suggest otherwise.

[Hieronymus]

14. No doubt, she'd retain all those ill-gotten powers from Bush.

[denem]

15. Bill Clinton use the powers expanded by Reagan & Bush 1

to advance a progressive agenda. I believe Hillary would too, but still, congress should act promptly to put the Unitary Presidency back in the box ASAP. Sadly the USSC is unlikely to be much help here.

[Hepburn]

23. Pure and simple, IMO, Hillary voted for the IWR because....

...it was politically expedient at that time to do so ~~ in that she was looking toward her run for the presidency in the future. At the time she voted for this immoral piece of shit, 911 was all to fresh in the ninds of Americans and ANYTHING ~~ no matter what bullshit ~~ done in the name of NATIONAL SECURITY was OK. Hillary left her morals behind and climbed on that bandwagon NOT because it was the right thing to do for our Nation...but because it was the right thing (so she thought) to do for her political future.

I hope for eternity she and other YES voters are haunted by the dead from that war. Fuck her and fuck anyone else who supported that bullshit and who at this time has not begged forgiveness for that fucking YES vote.

JMHO

[suston96]

18. There is a larger problem here that has to do with the fatal flaws in of our form of government...

The balance of power and the checks and balances between the three branches do not work. Never have. The Executive was never intended to have so much power. Neither was the Judiciary, especially the US Supreme Court. The Congress, the only branch elected directly by the people, must be supreme.

We need a constitutional convention to repair the Constitution and to change to a parliamentary form of government so that an administration can be rejected between elections.

I know, this is a primary thread so I'll just say that I love/hate all the candidates and wish fervently that it was over.

[denem]

21. ...

[4themind]

22. Has she stated her position on the War Powers Act? -nt

[kristopher]

25. I absolutely agree. It's the only one of her "reasons" that makes any sense of such a stupid vote.