Pelosi: Bush Lacks Authority to Invade Iran

[Doondoo]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that President Bush lacks the authority to invade Iran without specific approval from Congress, a fresh challenge to the commander in chief on the eve of a symbolic vote critical of his troop buildup in Iraq.

Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word."

At the same time, she said, "I do believe that Congress should assert itself, though, and make it very clear that there is no previous authority for the president, any president, to go into Iran."

.......

But Bush took a swipe at his critics during the day.

"This may become the first time in the history of the United States Congress that it has voted to send a new commander into battle and then voted to oppose his plan that is necessary to succeed in that battle," the president said.



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRAQ?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-02-15-16-13-15

[Greeby]

1. Nancy, you've wasted a whole week on this nonbinding resolution

And then Congress is going on a district work week. You could have passed 5 bills on the subject by now

[saigon68]

8. He and the NeoCons will do anything they want

And Congress will DO NOTHING TO STOP THEM

[Fire Walk With Me]

44. They can't stop him from invading Iran, and they can't seem to stop him from continuing in Iraq.

Once he's got the bombs dropping (remember "shock and awe" against non-existent WMD?) and the troops moving, just try to stop him.

I wonder how many times Bush and friends have said "like taking candy from a baby"?

[Zhade]

21. Agreed. It's like she doesn't GET IT.

This whole mess is going to end in the need for ARREST, not a fucking nonbinding resolution!

[knight_of_the_star]

35. But this gets attention

This move was more targeted at the GOP in the Senate and the House. If the members of the House and Senate who are working to block this resolution look like idiots, then their seats, for all intents and purposes, are easier targets. It's not just in the immediate we want to win but in the long-term, making damn sure the neocons NEVER AGAIN get this much power.

[berni_mccoy]

50. "You could have passed 5 bills on the subject by now"

Wow, it's that easy is it? When you've served as Speaker of the House, tell me how easy that goes for you.

[blondeatlast]

65. You said it far better than what I was thinking.

:thumbsup:

[PurpleChez]

72. Ditto!

[Demeter]

57. Nancy Just Drew a Line In the Sand

and if Bush steps over it, it's curtains. He knows this, too, but I'm willing to bet he disses her as he's dissed everyone, including his Daddy. Then it's Impeachment, and with Fitzmas Part 2: The Cheney Indictment in the wings, the fun is going to begin and the fur is going to fly.

Hope the world can run itself for a while as we tear our country to pieces and reconstitute the Constitution!

[PurpleChez]

73. I guess I haven't been paying enough attention lately....

...is the Cheney Indictment Thingy just a wonderful dream, or are there actual signs that Fitzy has such a thing up his sleeves?

[El Supremo]

2. "His plan?"

My head is spinning too fast!

[harun]

20. Democrats NEED TO RAIL HIM ON THIS

Pugs have never stated "their" plan, they have never stated milestones of success, they have never stated objectives. Occupation is not a plan, at least not in this country.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. No problem. He won't "invade". He'll provoke Iran to attack a ship,

and call it self-defense and Congress can't outright stop him.

[Monkeyman]

6. Yep that's why three fleets in the area

[ShortnFiery]

16. Then the Congress should make it clear that Bombing Iran without their approval

will result in immediate Impeachment. They CAN do that, can't they?

[BonnieJW]

45. I wouldn't be surprised if

bush even provides the provocation. Some undercover types creep into Iran and launch something at one of the ships.

[rodeodance]

4. bush will just lauch a few missles. That is technically not an invasion

[Chef]

5. Invade

Why does the media, congress and everybody else keep talking about invading. All he has to do is attack them with air power and cruise missiles. And then, when everyone rallies around him, he can invade. Why doesn't someone ask him if he plans an air assault?

[Toots]

11. If you penetrate their airspace you invade it

An invasion does not need troops on the ground. That becomes occupation when you physically have people in their territory.

[niceypoo]

55. He has nothing to invade with without a draft

Bush escalating in a lame duck phase of his term? It's a power grab. They want an emergency so they can "postpone" the 08 election.

[dos pelos]

59. There will be no draft.There will be elections in '08...

There is NO precedent for the suspension of elections because of an "emergency".The government itself would balk at such a maneuver.The citizenry,anesthetized as it is ,would be in the streets.Yes,there is a power grab underway .It is a slower moving and more tentative thing,done with a willing legislature,at least with a willing Senate.The House of Representatives is awakening and beginning to stir.If the '08 election is "postponed" people will be voting with lead instead of paper ballots.Won't happen.

[niceypoo]

69. There is NO precedent for anything Bush does, but he does it anyway

I believe that the neocons think they can start a massive middle east war then declare a national emergency. I cannot see these morons letting go of power, period. I do agree they wouldnt get away with it because they would have to send into congress and the military would say "fuck you". It would spell the end of the GOP so it wouldnt necessarily be bad in the long run.

[joldnir]

7. Sadly I think she is wrong in this.

All * has to do is invade under the war powers act, and * will have 60 days to conduct armed conflict. * just has to consult with congress prior to any hostilities. If after 60 days congress has not passed a resolution or declared a war, then the troops must be removed from the conflict. However, if * send an official request; the 60 days can be extended by another 30.

My fear is that * will use the bogus evidence of Iran's involvement in Iraq to say that he was consulting with congress. There is only one way to stop this mad man. Impeach! Stop playing around with non-binding resolutions, and stand up to the mad man by removing him from office.

[Zhade]

23. Indeed, and welcome to DU!

NT!

[melm00se]

34. and even then

the War Powers Act has never stood a Constitutional/Supreme Court test as neither side is really willing to find out how the Court will side. On the one hand you have the Executive branch's constitutionally granted military CIC and on the other hand the Legislative Branch's power to declare war. the question is which, if either, is the "superior" power. As a Supreme Court decision is pretty final, I seriously doubt either branch really wants to bring this issue to a head...to much at stake.

[atreides1]

9. I Like This Part

Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word."

IS she on drugs? We all know what happened the last time Congress took this psycho at his word, and now thousands of troops are dead, over 30,000 are wounded, and only God knows how many Iraqis have been killed.

"and I take him at his word." Shows that maybe he isn't the only one who's delusional here!!!

And yes, I would have preferred if she had questioned his credibility, because we the people know he has none!!!!!

[ninkasi]

30. How can there be a diplomatic solution

If we refuse to told talks with Iran? Dipwad keeps saying that all options are on the table, but all I hear about are plans to attack in the Spring, and saber rattling by our military. What diplomatic measures are being taken?

[Amonester]

48. CondiLiesa is out shopping for new shoes.

We've all seen what happened to the Gulf States when she was doing similiar 'werk' before.

Remember New Orleans.

(How come these criminals R still running their deadly fake $how?)

[ccpup]

51. It amazes me that people don't get this.

When Pelosi says "I take him at his word", she doesn't really take him at his word, per se. Can you imagine the uproar (and subsequent change in subject) if she were to say "Bush is a liar and I don't believe a word he says"? What she's doing is positioning Bush as a man who is "honest" and so, therefore, if he should break "his word" and attack Iran, the Public will be much more likely to believe him to be dishonest. To have "lied" to Congress and, in effect, the American People. Nancy isn't stupid enough to believe a word Bush says and I trust she knows -- better than any of us here do -- what she's doing. We can't see behind the scenes and Nancy's been known to bust a few knee caps, so let's just see how it plays out before we throw her on the pyre, tie her to the stake and light the torches.

[PurpleChez]

74. Exactly!!!!!

Like when Rangel (I mis-spelled that, didn't I?) advocated reinstating the draft. Some of us have become either so dense or so thin-skinned that we cannot see irony, sarcasm, etc. We have no understanding of the fact that Nancy is merely setting * up in order to knock him down -- or in order to have his own actions and words turned against him. We no longer have a sense of subtlety. Get a brain, morans!!!

[niceypoo]

56. Right, his word has been a pack of lies up to this point

[Mr. Ected]

60. She Has To Say That Publicly

Put her on truth serum, and she'd sound like one of us...only smarter.

[VaYallaDawg]

63. I think the whole damn country has taken him "at his word" too long.

[Raksha]

76. She was being sarcastic.

She meant Bush claims he wants a diplomatic solution, and she's gonna HOLD him to it! He claimed he wanted a "diplomatic solution" to Iraq also and that war was a last resort, but we know how well that went. That isn't going to happen again. "I take him at his word" means this time he better actually mean it--whether he does or not.

[MessiahRp]

10. I honestly think we should pass it to see his true intentions

If he vetoes a bill saying he has no authority to invade Iran it will fully signal his intentions to invade and the public will be far more easily persuaded to Impeach. Besides being an important foreign policy move this is a huge move on our life sized board of political chess we're playing with the Neo-Cons.

This move, I believe, puts Bushco at Check.

Rp

[Daylin Byak]

13. If you don't like the job our great speaker is doing

Then plain and simple just leave the Democratic Party for good. The party dosen't need anymore negative vibes(we get enough from papers, radio and the MSM) just because you don't like what she says or that you can't have it your way.

I don't know about you but I have been waiting for the party I love near and dear to my heart take power again and my god i'm going to keep it that way. You don't like how the party is doing business and can do nothing to change it then became a Republican or Green

[MessiahRp]

15. Huh?

The last time I checked that post I put out didn't bash Pelosi or other Dems at all. I just expressed my opinion on what our strategy should be on this situation.

Lighten up. Geesh. You won't find a harder-worker-on-the-campaign-trail Democrat than I so your diatribe is misplaced.

Rp

[Daylin Byak]

17. I won't lighten up

I'll be damned to see the Repukes take the reins of power again and turn america into a facist state, you don't think they'll do it?

[Zhade]

25. So stay silent and only agree with YOU, or the country goes fascist?

Do you know the meaning of the word 'irony'?

[Zhade]

24. Hey, guess what? HE DOESN'T HAVE TO LEAVE. That's not YOUR fucking call.

You don't control who belongs to the party, and you don't get to bully people into silencing their criticism "just because you don't like what says or that you can't have it your way."

[Daylin Byak]

29. Whatever have it your way

I have my opinoon and you have yours, i'm not debateing this any further.

The debate is over.

[emald]

49. Man you really need to join the repuke party

they have the same attitude as you. Think like me or I'm not even going to talk to you. Believe the party line or get out. Thats what you said. You sir are a closet republican and don't even realize it. People like you make my blood boil bad and what I really want to say would create problems. up yours you nascent republican. Shove your attitude up your ass and have a thrill. Don't like what i have to say? Gonna plug your ears and stamp your little feet? Jayzus, you sound just like *. Maybe you are an older person, like me, and won't be around for long; one can hope. As for lock stepping with your opinion, never. And my opinion is Pelosi and the dems look like fools who can't grab power even when it's layed in their lap. Talk, talk, talk, talk, meanwhile we have a dictator for a president who has ruined our country. But hey, lets talk about it. You might think the debate over your comments is over but it is not.

[whathappened]

54. db take it easy

i have been watching all these clowns on cspan and i have never heard so much bs in my life coming from both sides of the house , i'm beginning to think no one there wants to stop this maddness , something is going on in dc , and it stinks to high heaven , i have heard no one there speak of pnac , we need some turths coming out and now , this is why some of us are so dam pissed at the dems , are they keeping there powder dry again or what , so give people some lead way and let them shout out , it's pissing me off to , why arent they taking a stand

[PurpleChez]

75. MessiahRP's objections notwithstanding,

I think that there are some valid points here for Dems in general. I have long felt that a big reason we have had so many dramatic losses to Thugs in the last 20-or-so years has been infighting. Just look...the Thug Faithful STILL talk about * as if he were the greatest leader since Charlemagne, practically infalible, while two thirds of the country and most of the world knows he's a buffoon. The GOP could nominate a Tickle-Me-Elmo doll for president and a good chunk of the Thug base would be yammering on and on about how only Tickle-Me-Elmo can stand up to terrorism. But Dems/liberals/progressives sometimes seem to WANT a reason NOT to support "our" candidates: "sure, he's pro-choice, but he's not pro-choice ENOUGH." "She supports every other cause I stand for...but she doesn't endorse PETA, so...." I'm not saying that pro-choice and PETA are not valid causes, but it seems too often that we demand (ideologically) PERFECT candidates, while the Thugs would vote for ANYONE, so long as he/she pays lip service to "Values".

[denverbill]

19. They need to pass a law outlawing all unauthorized military action.

And assign criminal penalties. We need a 'high crime' to impeach his ass on. We also need to make military officers aware of the law, so they know if they receive orders to do so, the orders would be illegal and they would be just as liable as Shrubby.

But the law should also preclude provoking an attack by breaching of their land, air, or sea borders, supplying terrorists to attack Iran, or launching missile strikes against Iran.

[MessiahRp]

33. Yeah but that would be ambiguous enough for him

to veto. If you say it that way it looks like a generalized statement and a knock to the commander in chief position, or so the media will play it that way. If you specifically make it Iran then it forces him to veto Congress' war authorization powers and proves he plans to invade Iran anyway with or without Congress' authorization. I say force his hand... it makes him look way more criminal if he goes against that vote.

Rp

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. Invade? How about the "authority" to bomb the shit out of it. n/t

[ShortnFiery]

14. Yes, and bomb the shit out of Iran is exactly what The Unitary Executive will do!

They will retaliate and all hell's gonna break loose in the Middle East.

When Bunny Pants bombs Iran, IMPEACHMENT hearings should proceed immediately.

Why? Our troops in Iraq will bear the brunt of Iran's retaliation. :grr:

Lord Pissypants believes that if he bombs Iran and they retaliate that we'll rally around HIM. Nothing could be further from the truth: The American People will want him and his WAR-MONGERING neo-cons out of The Executive Branch.

I don't know about anyone else, but if/when we have another terrorists attack or the troops in Iraq are bombed by Iran in retaliation to Bush-Co's illegal bombing of Iran, I WILL NOT GET IN LINE BEHIND OUR UNITARY EXECUTIVE. I will want these evil and corrupt leaders out of The Executive Branch. :grr:

[Zhade]

26. Same here, SnF!

NT!

[Boo Boo]

18. Great. Thanks. Now tell me this: does he have the authority to

bomb the ever-livin' shit out of them?

Bush doesn't have the army necessary to invade Iran, so the question of authority to invade is beside the point. I would be happier if she would say that he doesn't have the authority to attack Iran. State that he needs a UN resolution and an act of Congress before taking military action against Iran.

Maybe the difference is semantic and just I'm nit-picking, but the phrase "go into" bothers me. Be specific. Use precise words. "Go into," can be interpreted, "military action" cannot.

Wes Clark is pessimistic enough about stopping Bush to suggest that Congress should use the power of investigation to gain leverage against the White House, and then the leadership should go to the President privately and apply that leverage. That is, threaten the President in order to coerce him into changing his policy toward Iran and the region.

Bush will finesse the issue of authority, or he will bully Congress into backing him on the Nukes question. Democrats have, in effect, already signed-off on the basic premise for an attack. "Iran cannot be allowed to..." How many times have we heard that rhetoric from Democrats?

Indulging in that sort of tough talk on Iran has the side effect of boxing us in and making it tougher to oppose Bush on policy. His policy is regime change. His policy is to use WMD as pretext for attacking Iran. He wants to portray Iran has a problem that he must deal with now, when, in reality, his solution (air strikes) could be pursued at any time over the next five to ten years.

Bush has been behind the eight ball in Iraq ever since the invasion, but here in the United States it's Congress that just can't seem to get out front. Congress will have to be much more aggressive about gaining leverage against the Administration, and using that leverage to force a policy change.

Congress must go on the offensive. Investigate. Subpoena. Hold hearings.

Attack!

Target: Dick Cheney.

[Zhade]

28. My respect for Clark just went up.

And yes, go after Cheney, then all his underlings. Circle b*s*. WATCH HIM SWEAT.

Then take his ass DOWN.

[Zhade]

22. "and I take him at his word." Nancy, Nancy, Nancy. NO.

Either you do, and you're as crazy as he is, or you don't, and you're giving a criminal an ounce of respectability.

Don't. The public HATES b*s*. You don't need to give him ONE DAMN THING.

Oh, and could you MAYBE IMPEACH THAT CRIMINAL?

[TheWatcher]

27. Excuse Me?

Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word."

After everything this man has done, After he LIED to get us into a WAR.

Let me emphasize that for a moment.

He LIED to GET US INTO A WAR.

Over 3000 American Soldiers DEAD.

Hundreds Of Thousands of Iraqis DEAD.

HE LIED TO GET US INTO A WAR

After all the lies, everything this administration has done, everything he has done, shes says.....


"and I take him at his word."

You take him at his WORD?

Sorry Nancy, I did not vote for this.

You taking this bastard at his word after all he's done at the very least vastly reduces your credibility, and at worst makes you downright delusional.

You are telling me your are willing to take the word of one of the most notorius criminals that has ever disgraced our government.

These people need to be REMOVED, not given the benefit of the doubt.

IMPEACH. INDICT. INCARCERATE.

[Beetwasher]

31. "...Congress that it has voted to send a new commander into battle..."

Congress didn't send you into battle, fuckface, they said you could use force if it was necessary, not run off half cocked like tasmanian devil on crack.

[ohio2007]

32. Pelosi: Bush lacks power to invade Iran

Is she "egging" him on?


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070215/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

[killbotfactory]

36. What is she gonna do if he invades anyway?

Or just bombs the shit out of them?

[Le Taz Hot]

58. Author a Resolution.

Non-binding, of course. :eyes: That'll learn 'em.

[kurth]

37. Just impeach the asshole

and the horse he rode in on.

[Karenca]

38. AP - Pelosi: Bush lacks power to invade Iran

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent 1 hour, 4 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) said Thursday that President Bush lacks the authority to invade Iran without specific approval from Congress, a fresh challenge to the commander in chief on the eve of a symbolic vote critical of his troop buildup in Iraq.

Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word."

At the same time, she said, "I do believe that Congress should assert itself, though, and make it very clear that there is no previous authority for the president, any president, to go into Iran."

Pelosi spoke in an interview in the Capitol as lawmakers plowed through a third day of marathon debate in the House on a nonbinding measure opposing the administration's plan to increase troop strength in Iraq — and as Democrats readied a more provocative challenge to the president.

Link to entire article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

[DearAbby]

39. Why would you taken him at his word?

Since when has Bush kept his word to the American people? Since when has he spoken the truth? Why would you believe anything resembling honor from this person?

[rodeodance]

43. She is clever----upping the ante (taking his word). She will bring it back

to him (and Condi)----time and time again.

[Moby Grape]

40. pull the plug on the money, or not

NP's claim is not helpful

[AtomicKitten]

41. Like that stopped him before?

He has arbitrarily extended the provisions of the IWR and the Patriot Act to cover a myriad of his crimes. Invading Iran would be just business as usual for him.

[Doondoo]

42. words, words, words

[IsItJustMe]

46. OK Nancy, now we know that your a part of the "Who has the authority and control game", but what I

really want to know is, What do you think about the idea of going into Iran?

[Yukari Yakumo]

47. And just what do you think they *can* do?

The repukes and MSM will politicize cutting the funding as not supporting the troops. Beyond that, what else can the Dems do?

[PATRICK]

52. Almost, but

Bush has been shown to actively derail diplomacy with Iran. Someone needs to call out ALL the Bush misdeeds and lies and scheming for war as they exist and can be shown. This is still way to deferential to lies over the facts as good a beginning as it is. Direct confrontation does not need to make concessions to falsehood.

Keep trying.

[whistle]

53. Ms. Pelosi, George W. Bush does not give a rat's ass whether he

....has the authority or not, he will invade Iran. It is up to you to impeach Bush and Cheney before they do that and start World War III

[Stalwart]

61. Trust but Control

Where it is within the authority (and the obligation) of congress to control.

We once trusted an enemy as long as it was verified.

[ProudDad]

62. It's entirely possible that Iran is a smokescreen

The bushies have pissed away the military on Iraq. I don't think there's enough left in the barrel to follow through on any meaningful military action against Iraq.

I'm thinking that the bushies are pretending to gin up for an attack on Iran as a smoke screen. They've got the Congress spinning its wheels over bullshit and they're dominating the news cycles. Meantime, business as usual continues when it comes to global warming, rape of the middle-class and the poor, capitalist rape and pillage of our economy, restoring a progressive tax, education, privatized health care, corrupt "elections", etc.etc.

[LiberalLovinLug]

64. Not tough enough

I can understand the political gamesmanship of "take him at his word". The set-up and all that.
But that is what works for fighting an average politician. Shrubby has repeatedly been proven to be lying over and over. He is "above average" in that regard. I don't think she needed to be so cautious with such a slimeball. She could have worded it something like:
"His word hasn't been something to rely on in the past, so I hope he is being straight up on this one" or something to that effect.
I think that would have even more effective IF the worst happens and troops start Shock n Awe Iran style.

[connecticut yankee]

66. He'll do what he damn well pleases

Just as he's always done.

[randycrow]

67. Little George is not even Commander in Chief

without a US Congress declaration of war. The original enemy is/was Sunni al Queda communi$t$ and this enemy has switched to non communi$ Shiites in Iraq and Iran and Kurds. Big George arranged for Saddam Hussein to get the power, weapons and the enemy, Shiite Iran. Nothing has changed. Our brave soldiers are fighting and dying on the side of Saddam Hussein Sunni and al Queda communi$t$. I would not be surprised if the Neocons ignore all branches of government and the people and run the USA and make war as Hitler did. The House vote is a small first step, and possibly this means America still has a faint pulse.

[ShortnFiery]

68. "The House vote is a small first step,"

Yes, as a Christian (but not pushy) please permit me to say, "God Bless all those in our House of Representatives who had the COURAGE to stand up to our Unitary Executive."

This is the first time that anyone has formally said to Dear Leader, "NO! We don't believe you are doing the right thing." Given the sheer arrogance that The Executive Branch has demonstrated repeatedly, this was an excellent first step.

Our Mad King George is literally foaming at the mouth with regard to the mere hint of insubordination. I hope and pray that he "loses all composure" at one of the near future press conferences.

Is it only me that sees that our President has gone mad and is now a full blown psychopath?!?

Probably not. :( But the neocons have pumped up the populace into a feel good war lovin' frenzy.

"It's Hip to be Square. Heh Heh."

[KoKo]

70. Good for her! At least they HEAR! They can't stop a Bombing but are On Notice!

We've waited years for some SPINE! Nancy has it! I can't be cynical about this. I have to enjoy this moment....we've been so long out in the dark with no one listening.

This DU'er is thankful for this small favor...and hopes that it's the first step to putting the harnesses on these criminals.

[OnyxCollie]

71. Bush will invade Iran.

The pieces are already in motion. The outcome has already been decided. Nancy knows what's coming next. She's forcing Chimpy's hand. Whomever achieves the task of harnessing the public's forward momentum takes the pot.