From our friends at Unleash Prosperity, a handy illustration of how the Biden/Harris administration…
CFIF on Twitter CFIF on YouTube
Image of the Day: Biden/Harris Facilitated Iran

From our friends at Unleash Prosperity, a handy illustration of how the Biden/Harris administration facilitated Iranian restrengthening, which in turn allowed them to fund terrorist proxies like Hamas prior to their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, by scaling back Trump administration sanctions on Iran.   The Biden/Harris administration's conduct throughout its tenure in signaling international weakness has been both inexplicable and shameful:

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="790"] Biden/Harris Facilitated Iran[/caption]…[more]

October 28, 2024 • 01:16 PM

Liberty Update

CFIFs latest news, commentary and alerts delivered to your inbox.
Congress Strikes Back Over Obama’s War in Libya Print
By Ashton Ellis
Thursday, June 09 2011
No president since Nixon has waged so much war for so long with so little congressional approval as has President Obama in Libya.

Last week’s bipartisan rebuke of President Barack Obama’s handling of the war in Libya was dismissed by a White House spokesman as “unnecessary and unhelpful.”  For Americans weighing a change in leadership, it was instructive. 

It’s never a good day as president when a congressman representing a fraction of the national electorate sounds more authoritative on the finer points of making war.  Yet that is precisely how House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) came across in his warning to President Obama. 

“He has a chance to get this right.  If he doesn’t, Congress will exercise its constitutional authority and make it right,” said Boehner last Friday after House Republicans passed his resolution to require a detailed report on the purpose and goals of President Obama’s unilateral war on Libya. 

The tough talk came after President Obama missed the 60-day deadline to get congressional approval for his ongoing war.  The deadline comes from a controversial piece of legislation known as the War Powers Resolution which purports to be a control on the executive branch’s ability to make war without congressional authorization beyond a two-month limit. 

Originally, the War Powers Resolution was designed to limit President Richard Nixon’s command of secret bombings in Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War, though ever since presidents have only somewhat followed the Resolution’s requirements.  Instead, commanders-in-chief prefer to “act consistent with” the act in order to retain control of operations. 

Nonetheless, no president since Nixon has waged so much war for so long with so little congressional approval as has President Obama in Libya.  Covert operations and short-term engagements like the invasion of Grenada never reached the 60 day trip wire, while bigger actions like both Iraq wars and the invasion of Afghanistan were commenced under the aegis of specific congressional authorizations to use force. 

In practical political terms, an unofficial code of conduct has evolved that every president since Nixon has observed: Wrap up the conflict before time runs out; seek congressional approval when approaching the deadline; always keep the right members of Congress in the know so they can tamp down discontent.   

Not so for Obama.  Unlike his predecessors, this president has refused repeated requests for information from individual members and relevant House and Senate committees.  He even canceled appearances by Defense Department officials and a Marine General at committee hearings, instructing all to keep quiet about what’s going on in Libya. 

Last week’s House resolution was a flashpoint. 

Speaker Boehner’s resolution setting a 14-day deadline (which is really just an extension) to provide the War Powers Resolution’s missing information passed 268-145, with 30 Democrats voting in favor.  A resolution by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) calling for the withdrawal of all American troops within 15 days failed 148-265, but enjoyed the support of 61 Democrats and 87 Republicans.  Since some members voted for both resolutions, the total number of representatives voting against President Obama was 324 out of the chamber’s 435 total. 

Neither of these resolutions carries the force of law, but the wide margin of disfavor against President Obama’s handling of his own war speaks volumes about his failure to follow either legal strictures or the unofficial code of conduct. 

Former Obama protégé Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) says the president’s actions indicate his “disdain” for Congress and the rule of law.  Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) – a combat veteran of the Vietnam War –this week introduced a bipartisan resolution with Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) essentially requiring the same information as stated in Boehner’s bill. 

As of Wednesday, Obama’s White House press secretary said the president would accede to Congress’ demands and deliver the information before Boehner’s deadline.  But even if he does, the president is once again exhibiting a cynical disregard for legal requirements and reasonable inquiries. 

Obama’s litany of abuses toward Congress already include ObamaCare waivers for friendly labor unions, threatening an EPA endangerment finding as an end-run around cap-and-trade and creating a so-called consumer protection agency whose funding is not subject to congressional appropriations. 

It’s time for Congress to hit back on Obama’s executive overreach.  It looks as if the president’s war in Libya may be just the place to start. 

Notable Quote   
 
"Until the Daily Wire uncovered concrete evidence that the Federal Emergency Management Administration was telling relief workers to avoid Trump-supporting homes, the press was happy to take FEMA's word and debunk accusations of political favoritism.Now that the FEMA employee at the center of the current scandal is saying that she's a scapegoat and that the problem is far deeper and wider, will the…[more]
 
 
— Issues and Insights Editorial Board
 
Liberty Poll   

Given President Trump's resounding victory, do you believe that Democrats will now make all the government "lawfare" efforts against him go away?