[This post was originally published on The Living Room Tumblr.]
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted this image earlier today, with a one-word caption: “Unacceptable.”
I may not be a Cruz supporter, but hey, when he’s right, he’s right. Unacceptable, and unconstitutional.
As I wrote on Facebook last night:
I said this under Clinton, I said it under Bush, and I’ll say it again now: We didn’t win independence from the Crown to have an executive who could start wars of choice without legislative approval. The very notion is absurd.
After 70+ years of blatantly and unconstitutionally ignoring Congress’s nondelegable role in warmaking – namely DECLARING WAR, which hasn’t happened since WWII – and with the unconstitutionalism now escalating to the point where Congress apparently isn’t even allowed to have ANY sort of formal input, I’m thinking we might as well rejoin England. I wonder if they’re accepting applications?
No response yet from my inquiry to the Queen. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
But seriously…
Congress is not authorized to wholly delegate its Article I powers to the executive. Undeclared wars of choice are unconstitutional. #protip
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
Instead of Roman Senate toothlessly petitioning Emperor http://t.co/eZll29pqxs how about 218 reps say “wage undeclared war & we impeach you”
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
(This isn’t a partisan thing & “Emperor” isn’t a slur on Obama. I said same re: Bush & WJC. Undeclared wars of choice are unconstitutional.)
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
@dehodges Doesn’t matter. You think a credible threat of impeachment alone, even if no conviction, wouldn’t shift the paradigm just a bit?
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
@brendanloy I’m with you. I like this idea. DC circuit says it’s nonjusticiable so it’s impeachment threat or nothing at all.
— David Hodges (@dehodges) August 29, 2013
@Lord_Chadeous I’m torn on intervention in Syria. Can see both sides. I’m firmly opposed to action without congressional approval.
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
“President does not have power…to unilaterally authorize a military attack…[absent] an actual or imminent threat” http://t.co/wCqerh5sFo
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
“It is always preferable to have the informed consent of Congress prior to any military action.” http://t.co/wCqerh5sFo
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
Those quotes came from one Senator Barack Obama, by the way. http://t.co/wCqerh5sFo
— Brendan Loy (@brendanloy) August 29, 2013
Quoting myself again from Facebook:
I’m looking at you, John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell. Are you all the legislative branch of the United States Government, or are you not? IF YOU ARE, ACT LIKE IT!!