On August 9, President Obama began launching U.S. airstrikes on ISIS targets in Iraq. This past week, as the President worked to form an international coalition to join the U.S. efforts, the mission was expanded to include Islamic State targets in Syria.
In the seven weeks between these events, the House finished one vacation, came back to Washington for eight work days over a two week period and then closed down early to go home for 54 days of campaigning. No action was taken on authorizing military involvement in the Middle East.
When questioned about the House's lack of commitment and when the country could expect the House to take up the issue, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) indicated that he would wait until January to schedule a vote.
what eye thynk: John Boehner has become the poster child for poor leadership, a classic example of a man on a mission but without a clue what that mission is.
At this point, you have to wonder just how serious is he about that anti-Obama lawsuit. I mean, either you're going to insist that the President rely on congressional input into national issues--like war-- or you're not.
Boehner says he is convinced that Congress should debate granting the President authority to use military force. He just doesn't want to bother THIS House with the issue. And, while the House Speaker can't really expect the President to wait patiently as ISIS proliferates and more headless Americans appear on YouTube, he is willing to allow his party to decline to take a public stand for now. This is his idea of "leadership?"
As MSNBC's Steve Benen wrote, "For all the chatter about the president being an out-of-control, lawless tyrant, here's an instance in which Obama really is acting without any congressional authority, only to find congressional leaders saying 'No big deal. We'll think about doing something in a few months, maybe.'"
I'll be the first one to say I do not want us involved in any further military actions in the Middle East. I am sickened by the senseless deaths caused by ISIS and their agents. I just don't believe that putting thousands of additional American men and women in harm's way is the answer.
But that is not the issue here. The issue is that a decision has to be made. Making decisions is Congress' JOB; and if John Boehner doesn't want to insist that that happens--no matter how inconvenient--then maybe he should abdicate his position to make room for someone who understands what it means to actually lead.
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