Constitutional Showdown

I posted some weeks ago that the president of the United States was in violation of the law. A 1973 statute allows the president, in his capacity as CIC, to commit combat forces for up to 90 days at his discretion, thereafter needing explicit authorization from congress. We are approaching 120 days in Libya. Speaker Boehner is threatening to cut off funding.

THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

Does anyone get the fact that there's more at stake here than funding? The PoTUS actually defended his actions by saying the bombing runs targeting Libyan regulars quote, " does not constitute hostilities." And Harry Reid announced that there's no need to seek congressional authorization because, "This will be over before we know it." Lets set aside the fact that Reid has the IQ of a warm salad, because it has now broke that both Obama's pentagon and Department of Justice advised him he must seek congressional approval to go past the 90 days.

Look, you only have to cross the Rubicon once to fundamentally change your government, forever. If the president is allowed unconditional control of our armed forces with no declaration of war or congressional authority of any kind then what is to stop him from entering us into another Vietnam ... from violating posse comitatus?

Where are you civil libertarians that protested LBJ on the Left? And to the GOP, especially the 90's holdovers, is such a violation not at least AS impeachable as lying about a stained dress? Grow a set already ... this is bigger than you.

The Graduate...

Today, our Katey graduates high school.

With all the preperations for the gathering and as much work as had to be done yesterday, I haven't thought much about the actual fact of her graduation. This morning, though, I have thought about it.

I met her when she was 11 years old, and she has done a lot of growing up since then. She's a little, tiny thing even now... but inside that petite little shape is a tough cookie. She made some plans with her friends yesterday that weren't shared with us, and some confusion resulted right in the middle of several rather large projects. Tempers on both sides got a little hot, but when I had a chance to talk to her, we seemed to have gotten things straightened out to everyone's satisfaction. She got back to the house safe and sound (with her brother in tow) well before the 3AM cerfew we had set.

I'm very proud of you, Katey Jean... very proud indeed. I love you very much, and I am sure you'll have all the luck and fun you can handle in the months ahead.

In-laws and days off...

My mother-in-law and my wife's sister arrived here last night... to my Bund buddies, its Sylvia and Jaquie (famously recalled from their last visit to my humble home). One car, and most of that filled with wine, beer and booze (Jaquie's, not Sylvia's).

I'm now off until Monday, but it is a busy weekend. Party preperations galore as we approach the graduation of our oldest. I've a pool to finish preping, wood for a bonfire to pick up, shopping to do, lawn care to complete, a HUGE tent to get set up... the usual stuff here at the homestead.

I'll post when I can...

6%

Just quickly...

The PoTUS is taking heat for an off the cuff comment he made. Speaking about the economy in general and the latest rise in unemployment in specific, he quipped: "The shovel-ready jobs weren't as shovel-ready as we expected."

So, what percentage of the 830 billion of our stimulus dollars went to projects that actually employed people? See post title.

Too True...

Yes, my math was bad. I have spent entirely too much time in poker lately, I guess. Not sure I'd know a horn high yo from a skinny doogan at this point in my career... but I know what to do when a dealer prematures the river card before action is complete on a 5-10 no limit hold'em game.

Still you'd think 111 minus 77 would equal the same regardless of which pit's calculator you were using, wouldn't you? Hehe... Damn pit clerks and their sheenanigans!

I don't know how they do things in the poker room...

But out here in the dice pit, where Jambo and I make our living, it's 34.

"but because of his mistake in 1977 (fourty three years earlier, mind you... in case your math is bad), he can't work ANYWHERE in the state of PA."

By the way, for someone IN his forties that spell check must be a bastard to operate.

Hehe ... sorry, couldn't resist.

At any rate, I can accept the premise (your point) about the damage wrought by a charter to conduct "boundless investigation" given no one is without skeletons in his closet (although to carry that analogy further, Clinton's closet was full and he was beginning to store them in the living room). So, we can end it on the collective sentiment within our lasts two posts.

And I'll add only this... Nixon got at least one thing right at the close of Watergate, and it applies to every elected official from county commissioner to the president of the United States - if you hand your enemies a sword, they will run you through with glee. And while Titus may find Starr's level of glee more distasteful and/or unnecessary than I, I''m comfortable with the notion that we both agree that Clinton forged that sword in the fires of his own indiscretions and presented it to Starr on bend and knee, atop a golden pillow.

All I can say is...

That was a great post... and I mean that.

I know we are never going to agree on this topic 100%... much like New Deal or Andrew Jackson, there is too much baggage between us to see the full picture through the other's eyes. However...

I want to say that the ultimate responsibility for the entire Lewinsky debacle is Clinton's fault... no question. He cheated, he lied and he got caught. No getting around it, and your OJ reference did NOT go unnoticed or unappreciated. Ken Starr is not now, nor was he ever, considered (by me) as "guilty" of creating any of the mess he uncovered... that was Bill's doing entirely.

I only want to make two small points to illustrate, if not explain fully, my point of view on the whole mess:

1) I REALLY did like the OJ reference... and it was more than a little apropos, believe me. OJ's trial was even more of a circus than the Clinton impeachment and the investigative drama leading up to it... with parallels running between them left and right. One huge difference, though (besides the nature of the crime, of course) is that the "trial" of OJ was directly related to the crime being investigated by the LAPD.

I still think that Starr took the investigation far beyond the scope it was intended to take (and YES, I know he was authorized to do so by Clinton's own AG... sheesh), not because he suspected that Clinton WOULD lie about the affair, or that the affair was in some way tied to the Whitewater real estate dealings... but because his "job" was to find out anything that might make the President look bad.

Now, Ryan is going to scoff about "conspiracies and black helicopters" and crap like that... I can hear him already... but that is my gut feeling. Starr was a political "pit bull" and he'd been sicked on Clinton by people who wanted him discredited (at the very least).

2) For my last point, I have to give you an analogy from my place of employment... please, bear with me.

When we opened the joint last June, I was working with a pit boss whom we'll call Carmine. Carmine had worked in AC all his life... in fact, he'd spent 26 years working just at the Sands Casino in AC, from its first day to its last. He had mountains of experience in the gaming industry, and he had mastered a way with people (employees and public) that is not only rare in the casino industry, but valuable beyond price, too.

Now, Carmine had a clean record according to the New Jersey Gaming Commission (a tough crowd to please, believe me), and had NEVER had an issue with licensing before in his life... until he took this job in PA.

Seems he got arrested in 1977 (yes, 1977, folks) for possession of a joint. A single marijuana cigarette found in his pocket in 1977 got the man arrested. He was booked, charged, and given a day in front of the bench where he pled "no contest" and was released without fine or further sentence. Seemingly innocent enough for the NJGC for him to work another 33 years in Atlantic City without issue or question... but the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board felt differently, and last month the man was officially and finally (meaning no further appeals would be heard) denied a license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that had anything to do with gaming.

THIS is the sort of microscopic analysis that is detrimental to the cause. Carmine was the sort of employee that would have worked day and night to keep the games he was watching that the people he was managing operating smoothly and legally within the requirements of the Commonwealth and the PGCB... but because of his mistake in 1977 (fourty three years earlier, mind you... in case your math is bad), he can't work ANYWHERE in the state of PA.

Clinton could have been guilty as sin of the affair with Lewinsky (which I feel he was)... and it was his own decision and determination that led him to perjure himself in front of the courts and the public... but the ever-growing scope of the Starr investigation would have eventually found a fault with anyone that happened to be under its eye... GOP, Dem or otherwise. Unrestricted and boundless investigative license is enough to find fault with any politician... ever. What good came of it anyway? What justice was served? How was the course of American history bettered by what Starr spent months and millions digging up?

I can't blame Starr for any of the mess... Ryan is right there. You'll never hear me credit him with doing a service to the nation, either, though.