So, if Obama is able to ignore Congress over Libya, does that mean

[The Backlash Cometh]

that a sitting president has the power to call up the Air Force for a nuclear strike? How far does this new executive power extend? Are there any stop gaps to prevent a disaster? I mean, it's not like the Air Force hasn't already been caught transporting nuclear warheads and nobody could figure out where the order came from.

[no limit]

1. As long as he has a (D) after his name it's all hunky-dory

[PurityOfEssence]

5. Give that man a Ripper Panatella!

Ya know, Mandrake, Clemenceau once said that war's too important to be left to the legislators...

(Okay, so I'm taking liberties there...)

[Angry Dragon]

2. ..............

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[Deep13]

3. He's not really ignoring Congress.

He has the War Powers Act.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Does the War Powers Act stop at nuclear intervention?

[JoePhilly]

6. We're going to nuke Libya?

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. I'm trying to figure out how a Republican president will use this

intervention to justify the next logical step. GBII and Cheney were a gateway drug into abusive executive decisions.

[H2O Man]

7. There were actually two

"War Powers Acts," the second being passed when FDR was in office. The 1973 War Powers Resolution, which was weaker than the War Powers acts, is being violated, as is the War Powers Clause.

[PurityOfEssence]

8. Again, The War Powers Act REQUIRES CONGRSSIONAL AUTHORIZATION UNLESS ATTACKED

SEC. 2(c) The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised ONLY pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.

The UN Participation Act REQUIRES Congressional authorization in ALL CASES.

He has flagrantly violated the law, and does not refute the accusations that have been made of that in the mass media.

[EFerrari]

9. He has to ignore democracy over here so he can fight for it over there. n/t

[Ozymanithrax]

11. It extends to the point where Congress demands the power back...

Obama is not the first to do this.

It has happened because Congress is unwilling to insist on the required separation of powers. Since it has chosen not to defend it's power, it is likely that no one ever will.

[MilesColtrane]

12. deleted

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Then I guess we should be thankful that GBII showed some restraint.

Of course, I'm saying that because we still don't know how those nuclear warheads managed to travel across the country.

[MilesColtrane]

14. I was too quick on the draw in using the Cold War comparison.

That response has always been predicated on the assumption that we are attacked first, which is obviously NOT the case w/Libya.