Senate Ignores Constitution over War Powers Vote

Despite the valiant effort by constitutional conservative Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), the United States Senate rejects a war powers amendment 90-10.  The vote signaled a clear rejection that the sole power to declare war and appropriate funds for war rests sole with the United States Congress.  Rand Paul in his floor speech did cite three exceptions to where American armed forces may be deployed for combat missions without a declaration of war. 

Rand Paul cited the three hurdles that must occur to to put American troops in harms way:

• Declaration of War
• Authorization of force (approved by Congress
• Imminent danger upon the nation

Neither of these criteria was met with the situation in Libya. 

Furthermore, Rand Paul noted that after the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 Congress convened within 24 hours to declare on Japan.  Because there was not attack, there was no reason why President Obama could not reach out to the leaders of the Congress to have a vote on use of force in Libya. 

What is more ironic is the that Senator Barack Obama chided former President Bush in December 2007 by stating that "the President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military in a situation that does not stopping an imminent threat to the nation".

Well, Mr. President was the United States under an imminent threat from Libya.  Of course not.  So the words against President George W. Bush in 2007 were just words.  For when the table is turned and you are in the Oval Office, you do not practice what you preach. 

An interesting close to Rand Paul's floor speech was “The new motto of Congress appears to be, ‘Tread on me. Please, tread on me.’”  Paul is a quick study for only having been an Senator for about three months and realizing that the Congress is just a rubber stamp AGAINST the Constitution.