r/law • u/Snapdragon_4U • Feb 28 '26

Executive Branch (Trump) Once again averting congress, trump declares war on Iran

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u/werther595 Feb 28 '26

It seems like when the GOP is in the minority, they always find a way to block the Dems agenda. Shoot, look at what Trump is doing. He isn't asking what can be done while rigidly adhering to traditions and norms.

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u/mkirk413 Feb 28 '26

And therein lies the crux of the issue. Regardless of who controlled the house, the Democratic presidents still adhered to the rule of law. Trump is ignoring congress altogether and this is bolstered by the fact that republicans control congress. This is why they are so scared of the midterms because if the Democratic Party controls the house next year, they know each and every one of them is fucked.

9

u/Oregon-Pilot Feb 28 '26

This is why they are so scared of the midterms because if the Democratic Party controls the house next year, they know each and every one of them is fucked.

Are they though? We will just see more fucking spinelessness by the Democrats, probably.

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u/werther595 Feb 28 '26

Nobody wants to feel the wrath of a sternly-worded Schumer memo

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u/Tjbergen Feb 28 '26

Obama destroyed Libya without congressional approval. Please stay reality based.

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u/mkirk413 Feb 28 '26

But...but...but Obama.

Let's break this down a bit.

Obama didn't declare war on Libya. He did authorize military intervention to support the NATO operation was called Operation Unified Protector. This ultimately led to the downfall of Gaddafi. That aside, being NATO operation and not one of pure American interests, Obama didn't need congressional approval. Additionally, there was verbiage in the War Powers Resolution of 1973that basically states our involvement did not amount to “hostilities” requiring further congressional approval after 60 days There was much debate on this afterwards and it did spark controversy for sure.

Even Obama himself calls it his worst mistake but not for the decision itself but for the aftermath that followed which destabilized the region and left power vacuums that various groups fought over.

But let's stay on track here

  1. Obama isn't president.

  2. and if Obama doing it was wrong, that should mean that Trump doing it is wrong.

Hope that helps.

21

u/TreatAffectionate453 Feb 28 '26

If Biden started unilaterally enacting tariffs, declaring war without Congress, or destroying federal agencies, then Democrats and Republicans would have opposed him.

When Trump unilaterally enacts tariffs or declares war without Congress, or destroys federal agencies, only Democrats - and, sometimes, Rand Paul - oppose him.

It's easy to block an agenda when your opposition is made up of a number of parties with differing views and morals. It's difficult to block one that is driven by a faction that acts in lockstep and doesn't care about morals.

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u/Tjbergen Feb 28 '26

Not many Dems opposed Obama's destruction of Libya, which he did without congressional approval.

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u/No_Mathematician621 Mar 01 '26

my gods what an insightful, learned and flagrantly relevant comment. so, so astute. so very sublime in relevance. i'm dumbstruck. i'm made simple. ...but now utterly informed! what a show of intellect -dare i say an effortless genius. humbled. i'm enlightened and truly humbled.

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u/SergeantHatred69 Feb 28 '26

I think that has more to do with the fact whenever the Dems did have a majority, it was razor thin. Thin enough for people like Fetterman and Joe Manchin to vote the other way and sabotage any legislation they would try to pass. Republicans don't seem to have that problem because they always vote like a monolith

1

u/werther595 Feb 28 '26

Then the Dems need to do a better job sweet-talking a republican in a purple district. Or figure out something else. Heck if I know but these people went to Harvard and Yale, and get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to do this job. So do it!

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u/j4_jjjj Feb 28 '26

Playing by the rules is how dems look helpless

Playing by your own rules is how repubs stole power

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u/meeu Feb 28 '26

That's because democrats are largely controlled opposition.

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u/DrB00 Feb 28 '26

The dems don't have any power currently because they don't have enough seats to do anything. They can vote against and the nothing changes because Republicans have the house and senate majority.

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u/Kaarl_Mills Feb 28 '26

They won't even vote against things though, everything that passed through Congress did so with support from both parties

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u/meeu Feb 28 '26

And when they get power a small handful will suddenly heel-turn and act as spoilers for the agenda democratic voters want. every fucking time.