Oliver North And The Death Of Irony

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_03/028623.php

OLIVER NORTH AND THE DEATH OF IRONY.... There's a reasonable debate to be had of a White House's responsibilities, military action, and congressional authorization. I think talk about impeaching President Obama over intervention in Libya is silly, but criticism about Congress' role (or lack thereof) is certainly not ridiculous.

But those raising concerns should at least try to have some credibility.

{Yesterday}, Fox News' Oliver North took to the airwaves to complain that President Obama didn't seek congressional authorization before intervening in Libya.

"Quite frankly, it's unparalleled in my entire experience in the military going all the way back to the 1960s," North complained. "Every president has gone to the Congress to get a resolution to support whatever it is he wanted to do. And {Obama} doesn't ask the Congress because he doesn't know what he wants to do."

First, Oliver North is still around? And Fox News is still paying him? How odd.

Second, "every president" has not gone to Congress to get a resolution to support military action. That's precisely why Obama's move wasn't particularly scandalous -- because there are modern, accepted norms related to the powers of the executive, and this president hasn't done anything at all unusual.

And third, has Oliver North forgotten his own professional claim to fame? This guy illegally circumvented Congress to sell weapons to Iran, and then used the money to illegally finance a war in Nicaragua.

He wants to whine on national television about a Commander in Chief launching an offensive in Libya without Congress' permission? Seriously?

—Steve Benen

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. This is so absurd. I hope the talk shows pick it up.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Try saying Republican without using the word hypocrisy or irony in the same sentence.

It's pretty darned difficult.

[karynnj]

3. That definately is irony

An additional irony was that the felony that he was actually guilty of was lying under oath to Congress - and the Senator he lied to was Senator Kerry, whose investigation (when no other legislator would do it) was John Kerry. Yet in 2004 (and since), it was Oliver North on Fox questioning John Kerry's impeccable military record (per official Navy records and the Nixon administration's estimation) and his patriotism.

[Ter]

4. In 1994, he promised to run again after he lost

It's been 17 years, what's he waiting for? I need entertainment, plus it will ensure a Democratic win! Run for VA Senate next year, Ollie! :D

[rasputin1952]

5. To most thinking Americans...

What North and Poindexter did was treason, (and I don't recall either of them getting a green light from Congress to commit such acts).

North is a disgusting piece of crap that should be spending his days playing a harmonica in Leavenworth...:grr:

[opihimoimoi]

10. Pity the surrounding Prisoners.....no harps for him

[ensho]

6. North is a bloody handed criminal and anywhere he is you know he is

doing dirty work.

he is poppa bush's fixer.

[Armstead]

7. Fox could present a pile of steaming turd and call it custard...

..and its dopey viewers would buy it.

[unhappycamper]

8. FWIW, convicted felon Ollie spews regularly at military,com n/t

[struggle4progress]

9. North is a proven liar, who escaped the criminal justice system on a technicality