Disposable Heroes of Hipocrisy
Today Mike Pence decried Congressional micromanaging of foreign policy in no uncertain terms:
I’m categorically opposed to any effort that would attempt to change the 535 members of Congress into a surrogate commander-in-chief or secretary of defense. That is the role of the president of the United States ever since our Congress hired General George Washington to be our first commander-in-chief.
Oh crap. I mixed up my links. That was Mike Pence in January 2007. Today Mike Pence led an effort that would attempt to change the 535 members of Congress into a surrogate commander-in-chief or secretary of defense.
The pejorative phrase “535 secretaries of state†has a reasonably long history in American imperial (and Republican) politics, being a favorite of Dick Cheney and Ronald Reagan. I suppose the defense of Pence would be that, “Hey, it’s just a resolution. He’s not trying to pass a law to make Obama send troops anyplace specific.†Ironically, that’s the thing his branch of government does have the power to do.
Comment by TGGP —
June 20, 2009 @ 1:17 am
If we’re headed back to the days of our enemy the president, it would be a good thing in my opinion.
Comment by Thoreau —
June 20, 2009 @ 1:46 am
The constitution is not a division of powers pact, Jim. It is a rotation of powers pact. It rotates between the President and the Congress depending on which party has the Presidency.
Comment by BDR —
June 20, 2009 @ 8:59 am
Franti’s Spearhead is a pretty good band too, though far short of the alluded to.
Comment by Thoreau —
June 20, 2009 @ 9:45 am
Thinking about it more, maybe this resolution in support of the Iranian protesters is some reverse psychology to show support for brutal, misogynist theocrats with lots of oil money.
Comment by Derek Copold —
June 20, 2009 @ 10:28 am
I don’t see the hypocrisy in these examples. Maybe I misread the 2007 transcript, but in there Pence is talking about Congress establishing troop levels. On that matter, he had a point. As he pointed out Congress has the power to cut funding and end the operation, but when it gets into determining how many troops are there, then it is beginning to manage the operation itself.
The resolution, which is co-sponsored by a Democratic congressman, pretty much echoes the Obama administration’s position and is an expression of the legislature’s opinion. This has its own long precedent.
Comment by Eric Martin —
June 20, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
Ah, some classic Henley titlizing.
Comment by joe from Lowell —
June 20, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
…and most Americans think that “Central America” means Kansas…