John Boehner - Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress haz a sad!
Apparently the President of the United States of America is contemplating using the military for, you know, military stuff.
So John has sent a "stiffly worded letter"
From the Office of the Speaker:
I deeply respect your role as our country’s commander-in-chief, and I am mindful that Syria is one of the few places where the immediate national security interests of the United States so visibly converge with broader U.S. security interests and objectives. Our nation’s response to the deterioration and atrocities in Syria has implications not just in Syria, but also for America’s credibility across the globe, especially in places like Iran.
See what he did there? He
"deeply respects the Office"
Now, having again determined your red line has been crossed, should a decisive response involve the use of the United States military, it is essential that you provide a clear, unambiguous explanation of how military action – which is a means, not a policy – will secure U.S. objectives and how it fits into your overall policy. I respectfully request that you, as our country’s commander-in-chief, personally make the case to the American people and Congress for how potential military action will secure American national security interests, preserve America’s credibility, deter the future use of chemical weapons, and, critically, be a part of our broader policy and strategy. In addition, it is essential you address on what basis any use of force would be legally justified and how the justification comports with the exclusive authority of Congressional authorization under Article I of the Constitution.
And he wants any action
justified under the Constitution, just like the last war.
And he haz questions, this among others:
Does the Administration intend to submit a supplemental appropriations request to Congress, should the scope and duration of the potential military strikes exceed the initial planning?
Well I have a question for John Boehner:
Mr Speaker. When do you plan to reconvene the House, that the elected representatives might debate these matters, appropriate the funds, fully paid for with a tax, and allow the American people to share in the debate?
In other words, Mr Speaker:
When do you plan to start doing your job?
Boehner, like all of his ilk, is posturing. He has it well within is authority to call the House to business, bring a resolution to the floor, and pass it.
Mr Boehner, why are you not doing this? What are you afraid of?
I have a nasty suspicion that what John Boehner is scared of is actually giving the go-ahead to the President, to use the military, and have every one of his caucus nailed down to a vote supporting the President.
The tactic is transparent, the cowardice is clear.