Barbara Lee was the lone dissenter in the post-9/11 vote authorizing military force. Many called her a traitor. But her constituents shared her concerns, and history has vindicated them.
I often hear Obama reiterate that his number one duty is to protect the citizens of the US. I wish that he would stop saying that. It's part of his job to protect US citizens, but like all of the duties that he is expected to fulfill, he must work to the best of his abilities within the legal framework that defines his position. Every time he makes such a statement, he is asserting that he has an ability to secure us to an extent that he does not, and he is normalizing the idea that attacks upon US citizens are evidence that the President's powers are too limited. There is a massive, military, security, and intelligence apparatus that works to ensure the safety of US citizens. Obama cannot and should not assume supreme authority in the execution of that objective. He has a role to play, and attacks upon US citizens do not mean that he alone isn't keeping us safe enough.
Brilliant Radiolab about the AUMF. They have readings of several of the letters she received in the wake of her vote, and they pair it with audio from recent Senate hearing where the senators are even surprised to learn the extent of the President's claimed authority. AUMF should be rescinded immediately; it's scope it way too broad, and Mrs. Lee should be commended for being the only member of Congress who was prescient and courageous enough to say no.
I listened to an interview with her on NPR the other night. It's what sparked my interest. I've heard a lot about Radiolab too so I'll have to check it out.
Yeah I was really surprised when I heard it, because they rarely wade into politics. It made me wish they might tread that ground a little more often, because they did such a great job. The last thing we need is more political commentary, but I really appreciated the light they shed on this story, a story which is still being written, and one that they point out is possibly indefinite.
They say hind sight is 20/20, but some can see just fine even when the rest of us are blinded by grief. -Interesting stuff and a brave stance to take at such a harrowing time.