Congress Constrains Bush
Yesterday the Washington Post reported that a bipartisan amendment passed by congress will rebuff the mandate given to President Bush post September 11th. This following the unrest with the failed war effort in Iraq and Bush getting a little too defensive over being called out for misleading the people over my favorite term, weapons of mass destruction.
This is a very big step in what is largely becomming the worst year of George Bush’s life. Much worse than, say, playing frisbee with buddies at Yale. What this means is that our government is working. Our legislative branch is doing its part to limit the executive branch’s power. This happens ever-so-often, most notably after Watergate and Nixon. Executive power was extremely limited when it came to international relations when Ford took office. But when Clinton was in office and Kosovo took place, that was when waging war on a nation was allowed as long as war wasn’t technically declared by congress. The power of the president to deploy troops was unlimited by a bill allowing for about two months of military conflict before Congress could say anything.
What is happening is very good. It’s a big step in limiting the expenses of this conflict, be it death, money, etc. If you are against the war in Iraq, this is a very good sign in what could bring an end to our occupation of Iraq. And finally, if you are a liberal, this is a good indication of where Congress and the country are going. In addition to the elections of last week, where Dems won two senate seats, and public opinion swaying in the favor of the Left. Conress passing this amendment, although premature, could be the end of the conservative reign over Congress.
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