Darned Republicans, already making a hash of Something President Nobel Peace Prize wants in order to use America’s war making devices
(Politico) President Barack Obama faces a clear uphill battle in swaying skeptical lawmakers of the merits of military action in Syria, as top officials were dispatched to Capitol Hill Sunday to make the administration’s case.
In response to concern from a swath of lawmakers, Senate Democratic aides are drafting new language for an authorization of military force in Syria, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said Sunday.
The administration’s proposal is too open-ended — a complaint many lawmakers aired Sunday — Leahy said after leaving the classified briefing. The current version wouldn’t garner his support, but he indicated that a more tightly written draft might.
Aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) are overseeing the revisions to the authorization of force measure, which seek to narrow the scope for any U.S. military mission in Syria, Democratic sources said.
Those Republicans, always saying “no”….oh. Well, I bet there are a few Republicans who don’t appreciate the open ended resolution, and some like John McCain want even more in terms of attacks. The resolution is expected to be changed in the Republican controlled House, as well. And the White House is apparently on some sort of charm offensive
On Sunday, a senior administration official said their strategy in selling the Hill on military action “will be to flood the zone.†The official noted that President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough all made calls on Sunday to individual lawmakers and would again hit the phone lines on Monday. On the Labor Day holiday, a conference call was also planned for House Democrats with administration officials.
So much for concentrating on the economy during every waking moment. Time to kiss that pivot fully goodbye.
On Sunday members of President McBombypants, who won a Nobel Peace Prize, made the case for the strikes. That didn’t go so well
“I sense pretty much zero support for boots on the ground and in fact a great deal of skepticism for limited strikes,†Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) told reporters. “There are profoundly unanswered questions about effectiveness, about what happens next.â€
He added: “I’m a long way from being a yes vote on even a narrow resolution.â€
Rep. Hines is speaking for a great deal of Congress Critters, both GOP and Democrat. I suppose one question that could be asked will be “how many Democrats will vote in favor of any resolution simply because Obama is in office, rather than with their constituents and beliefs, and how many Republicans will vote against simply because it is Obama in office, rather than on their beliefs and any evidence?”
The second question should be “how soon till Team Obama uses the issue to attack Republicans?”, making this yet another in wedge issue.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.
It is very telling that the discussion to bomb or not comes down to one’s like or dislike of Obama and not National Security. Obviously not a serious debate.
We have zero reason to be messing with Syria. These people are doing a good job of killing each other, which is the best for our national interest. Remember WWI started under similar circumstances.
I don’t think it is just about that, blick, in fact I think most are looking at this situation in terms of “what does this have to do with our national security”? But, Obama shifted it into the standard Dem/GOP debate.
I’d like to hear more from PBO, but, I have to agree, David. Especially what with the opposition being Islamists at this point.
Well, since the economy is fixed, and our military is fully funded and not overextended and fully capable of defending the homeland while defending the 100 other nations at the same time… then I’m sure there is plenty of room (militarily and economically) to blow up Syria for the terrorists. Since the terrorists are our friends and all.
One wonders, how Obama plans to conduct this military exercise without a military. Or with a military that he despises and has cut down with liberal ideologies and PC attitudes.