“The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.” – James Madison

President Obama in his recent move by waging a war on Libya by going after Qaddafi has not only created waves among constitutional conservatives but also to his base who are against war altogether. Unless the country is being invaded, which is not the case, Obama must go to Congress before waging any war. Since he did not, Obama has committed a serious violation of the Constitution.

Obama’s War on Libya: A Constitutional View

The bottom line? By using US Military to begin hostilities with a foreign nation without a Congressional declaration of war, Barack Obama has committed a serious violation of the Constitution. While he certainly is not the first to do so in regards to war powers, it’s high time that he becomes the last. (read article)

The Phony Arguments for Presidential War Powers

A U.S. president has attacked another country, so it’s time for the scam artists to pull out their fake constitutional arguments in support of our dear leader. Not all of them are doing so, to be sure – in fact, it’s been rather a hoot to hear supporters of the Iraq war suddenly caterwauling about the Constitution’s restraints on the power of the president to initiate hostilities abroad. But I’m told that radio host Mark Levin criticized Ron Paul on his program the other day on the precise grounds that the congressman didn’t know what he was talking about when it came to war powers and the Constitution. That means it’s time to lay out all the common claims, both constitutional and historical, advanced on behalf of presidential war powers, and refute them one by one. (read article)

Mark Levin Wrong on War Powers (read article)

My Challenge to Mark Levin

Last week I posted “The Phony Case for Presidential War Powers,” an essay that examines and then refutes all the major claims advanced on behalf of the US president’s alleged right to commit troops to battle without congressional authorization. Shortly thereafter, radio host Mark Levin launched into an attack on Congressman Ron Paul’s views – identical to mine, as far as I can see – on presidential war powers. (On FOX Business he referred to Congressman Paul as “RuPaul,” an example of disrespect the gentlemanly and civilized Dr. Paul would never even consider returning in kind.) I in turn replied to Levin. (read article)