Kucinich calls Obama’s attack on Libya ‘an impeachable offense’

[El Supremo]

WASHINGTON – In an exclusive interview with Raw Story on Monday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) tore into President Barack Obama's decision to order U.S. air strikes against Libya, opening the door for impeachment while emphatically declaring that Obama violated the Constitution.

"President Obama moved forward without Congress approving. He didn't have Congressional authorization, he has gone against the Constitution, and that's got to be said," Kucinich told Raw Story. "It's not even disputable, this isn't even a close question. Such an action -- that involves putting America's service men and women into harm's way, whether they're in the Air Force or the Navy -- is a grave decision that cannot be made by the president alone."

"And I'm raising the question as to whether or not it's an impeachable offense. It would appear on its face to be an impeachable offense," Kucinich said. "Now, it doesn't necessarily follow that simply because a president has committed an impeachable offense, that the process should start to impeach and remove him. That's a whole separate question. But we have to clearly understand what this Constitution is about."

The anti-war Democrat said Obama must know he violated the Constitution, referring to this quote from candidate Obama in 2007: "The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

the rest at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/21/exclusive-kucinich-calls-obamas-libya-attack-an-impeachable-offense/
and more at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/21/kucinich-obama-could-be-impeached-for-attacking-libya/

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. I'm sure the House Judiciary Committee....

...will, given its present composition, be swift in helping him draw up one or more articles.

Unless Kucinich is just blowing smoke. Which is, of course, impossible. Because he's Kucinich.

[forty6]

4. I knew there was a reason NOT to trust that little man with the tiny voice!

He's out for himself, ought to review history before he makes a fool of himself, but he never does..

I hate this Libyan thing, too.... but I choose my words more appropriately, and speak from wisdom, not make a flash in the pan for Fox News idiots.

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. Father Drinan....

...a year before any Watergate-related action by the HJC, had articles of impeachment drawn up against Nixon for the bombing of Cambodia.

Gotta walk the walk..

[forty6]

13. Is Kucinich on the HJC? I'm pleading ignorant here... my thoughts re

Drinan was a wonderful man. Too bad he didn't give up his religion and stick to politics where he actually made a difference.

[Davis_X_Machina]

17. He's in the House, and there's someone...

...either a principled progressive Rep, or a Republican who just wants to light up Obama, to move the article(s) in committee for him.

If he's not just blowing smoke, that is.

[countingbluecars]

2. He's wrong

and foolish to throw words around like that.

[JuniperLea]

3. I wonder what he thinks will be accomplished by this statement...

Wasn't he just groaning on about the Patriot Act?

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. We're talking about him, aren't we?

Mission accomplished.

[forty6]

7. In other words, he's just an egotist, right?

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. Unless he acts, yes. See my #9

[forty6]

6. He will get 40 seconds of time on Fox News.. THAT's what he wants!

[vaberella]

14. I had a very negative thought in my head thinking he sees this as his claim to fame.

Impeaching the President.

[Ozymanithrax]

8. Congressman Kucinich, continues to prove himself a fool...

President's letter to Congress...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/21/letter-president-regarding-commencement-operations-libya

The Conflict now is fully legal under U.S. Law, and will remain so as long as Obama keeps Congress informed and follow the War Power Resolution.

[forty6]

15. Dennis' supporters don't like facts and laws to get in their way...

I don't like this new war effort, but I don't threaten to impeach the smartest man in the White House since Kennedy.

[vaberella]

19. Obviously and they like Republican Presidents too...

because that's definitely what this measure would earn if Kucinich had his way---Repub Presidents indefinitely.

[Ozymanithrax]

23. Kucinich is either aware of law and knows he's talking shit...

or he is unaware and is guilty of grotesque ignorance. As a Congressman it is his job to be aware of what laws passed by Congress say.

I have no problem with him being anti-war, which he is. I do have a problem with ignorance. There are people out there who will repeat what he says and think it is a fact.

[SnakeEyes]

36. you mean the ones that at least requires

informing Congress (though it's debatable if other, more serious action, is required) that the president went back and did AFTER the fact? That hadn't been done before Kucinich spoke out? This proves Dennis was at least partially right. Otherwisre the president wouldn't have even done this.

[SnakeEyes]

34. look at the date

when did this conflict start again?

[zulchzulu]

47. Kucinich is the Carrot Top of the Democratic Party

Why he gets a breath of acknowledgment with his utterly complete lack of ANY legislative accomplishment is beyond my comprehension.

He literally is like the media focusing on Carrot Top doing an interview of the hapless "humorist" wacking off to an elephant sex video on the Nature Channel.

WTF.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Didn't Bush do the same

and then get approval 10 months later ?

Presumably Obama is seeking to pull the same stunt.

[ProSense]

18. In a word

no

Bush unilaterally invaded Iraq by misleading Congress and the public even after securing an AUMF.

Does anyone believe that the Iraq war was legal simply because an AUMF was approved?

[Arctic Dave]

12. Good for Dennis.

It's bullshit no matter who does it.

[forty6]

16. Yes, but is this an "IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE"? Please try to

at least address the substance of the topic here.

[Arctic Dave]

20. And he may be right. He is saying it no matter what people like you think.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Arctic Dave]

30. Interesting comments you make.

None of them that have anything to do with the my post.

[CakeGrrl]

45. He'd better be DAMNED SURE he's right before he goes off saying anything like this.

If he isn't, he had no business spouting off and giving the impeachment-hungry Right any excuse to start that shit.

[ProSense]

21. "It's bullshit no matter who does it."

What's bullshit?

Kucinich doesn't have a leg to stand on. He cannot challenge the President's authority to act in accordance with the U.N. or under the War Powers Act.

What's he going to impeach him on, the fact that he doesn't like it?

[Arctic Dave]

26. I didn't realize we were under imminent danger.

Can you explain this further.

[ProSense]

31. "imminent danger"?

U.N. action. The U.N. Charter and the Security Council.

What was the imminent danger in August 1990?

Kucinich might want to equate this to Bush's illegal action, but there is precedent for this action.

Again, he cannot challenge the President's authority to act in accordance with the U.N. or on the War Powers Act.

[sabrina 1]

38. Obama disagrees with you and he's a Constitutional Lawyer.

Obama in 2007:

The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.

Yes, he agrees with Kucinich, Nadler, Taylor Lee and the others who are now questioning this action.

[ProSense]

41. No, he doesn't

The action wasn't a "unilaterally authorize a military attack."

President Obama today

<...>

Now, keep in mind, we’ve only been in this process for two days now, and so we are continuing to evaluate the situation on the ground. I know the Pentagon and our Defense Department will be briefing you extensively as this proceeds. But the core principle that has to be upheld here is that when the entire international community almost unanimously says that there’s a potential humanitarian crisis about to take place, that a leader who has lost his legitimacy decides to turn his military on his own people, that we can’t simply stand by with empty words; that we have to take some sort of action.

I think it’s also important to note that the way that the U.S. took leadership and managed this process ensures international legitimacy and ensures that our partners, members of the international coalition are bearing the burden of following through on the mission, as well. Because, as you know, in the past there have been times where the United States acted unilaterally or did not have full international support, and as a consequence typically it was the United States military that ended up bearing the entire burden.

Now, last point I’ll make on this: I could not be prouder of the manner in which the U.S. military has performed over the last several days. And it’s a testament to the men and women in uniform who, when they're given a mission, they execute and do an outstanding job.

But, obviously, our military is already very stretched and carries large burdens all around the world. And whenever possible for us to be able to get international cooperation -- not just in terms of words, but also in terms of planes and pilots and resources -- that's something that we should actively seek and embrace, because it relieves the burden on our military and it relieves the burden on U.S. taxpayers to fulfill what is an international mission and not simply a U.S. mission.

<...>

He is Constitutional Lawyer.

[sabrina 1]

43. Those are nice words. No one ever said he wasn't a good

salesman. He sold us after all. However, the War Powers Act is clear. There is only one exclusion to waiting for Congressional approval, and that is when the country is in iminent danger of attack.

Was Libya planning to attack this country or not?

There are potenital humanitarian crises' all over the world right now. The U.S. does not take its direction from other nations as to which one they ought to intervene in. The U.S. Congress makes these decisions.

If humanitarian crisis is the reason, then I would suggest they go to the Congo or the Ivory Coast where disasters of mammoth proportions are happening. But they don't have the oil that Libya has.

I just wish they'd be honest. And then make their argument based on the truth. We are not stupid. Well most of us anyhow.

[Champion Jack]

22. That little Howdy Doody lookin' sucker should just STFU

[BeyondGeography]

24. So impeach him then, Dennis

:silly:

[stevenleser]

25. He has his ski's on and is read to jump over the shark n/t

[davidpdx]

48. I can't help but wish that when he jumps the shark

the shark eats him alive. But I guess that's not possible since his ego would be too big for the shark's mouth.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. I supported Dennis in the primaries but think he's a bit off-base here.

However, I'm sure there are plenty of DUers who will agree with him.

And, it'll be just one more bone thrown at the feet of the wingnuts.

Thanks, Dennis...

[rubberducky]

28. So, let him start impeachment proceedings. He would have plenty of tea

partiers to join him, no doubt. This makes him look as nutty as Beck.

[xiamiam]

32. its ok to some because obama did it.if it would have been a repub pres ALL of du would be up in arms

i have mixed emotions as i believe qadaffi to be a madman..yet, i do not trust the powers that be and the war profiteers or the fact that the neocons are so supportive of this intervention..dennis usually speaks for me..he gets more of a pass than 99% of our so called representatives..

[Windy]

33. Hmm... I wonder what some at DU would say if Obama did nothing and 1000s died

as was the case in Rwanda.

[El Supremo]

35. It's not that we can't be the world's policeman....

It's that we fuck it up most of the time and make matters worse. By using cruise missiles as the first response is not just wrong - it's lazy.

[xiamiam]

39. i understand that as well..

i also am aware of the following (from a friend)

The U.S. fires 110 tomahawk missiles, each costs $569,000. By my reckoning we spent about 62 million dollars in Libya's new war in about 60 minutes.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

42. is that 110 alone, or 110 by the US and brits, since i seem to recall the brits fireing em as well

[stevenleser]

44. Not true...

I supported Bush's action in Afghanistan, that is on the record. I supported Gulf War 1 and that is on the record. I did not support Gulf war 2 in Iraq because the reasons were lies and everyone knew it including most of our allies and the UN.

If you stop generalizing and look at each conflict seperately, and start to look at each persons motiviations for whether they support each war or not seperately, you will start to come to accurate conclusions.

[SnakeEyes]

37. Candidate Obama once said:

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[zulchzulu]

46. Kucinich is a poseur and a leech

In Madison, when he spoke at a recent rally, there were MANY PEOPLE in the crowd that were clearly disappointed that this outsider to the grassroots cause for working people was interjecting his self-absorbed agenda and polluting the message.

I recorded his "speech" and was very disappointed in his ruse to apparently support the Wisconsin cause and plead for money and bloviated attention to himself.

We didn't need him in Madison and we certainly don't need him now with the half-assed conjecture and clueless halfwittedness.

So, DU moderators, delete this message. I will know where you stand.