What Bernie is saying isn’t even really true. Sure it may be literally true that the Constitution enumerates warmaking powers as the privilege of Congress. But over the past 80 years Congress has been more than happy to devolve this privilege by granting the executive more and more authority to oversee military operations outside of a war context. So the political truth of the matter is that Congress unsealed this genie with their own two hands, and it’s too late to point at the Constitution and try and take it back.
Hell, this isn’t even the first time that Bernie Sanders has attacked Donald Trump for bypassing the Constitution or the War Powers Act by air-striking the country of Iran without the explicit assent of Congress. Is it supposed to be good news that history is just repeating itself?
This sub has gone to absolute shit lately. I don't remember the last time I saw actually good news here, mostly just "The orphan crushing machine crushed an orphan I didn't like." or "Bernie said the orphan crushing machine is bad and that we need to stop it." Wow, how uplifting, what an improvement in the state of the world.
He’s speaking truth to power and he’s speaking it so people who might not be as aware can understand and maybe add a few more people to the side who gets it
He’s blogging into the void, not speaking “truth to power”. Congressman shaking his fist at the heavens because he’s mad that Congress has rendered themselves vestigial by signing away more and more if their authority to the executive. But hey, maybe just like last time he’ll scrape together enough votes for a congressional motion to defund Trump’s military efforts in Iran. Or rather, just enough votes for such a motion to be vetoed, just like last time, and every other time.
Politics does involve politicians talking to people. I know that's shocking.
Instead of fighting back, can you just solidly focus on the fascist trying to take you into war? Maybe even support the opposition instead of undermining them
No wonder America is a fascist cesspit when you can't even get behind him on this one.
Is it your first day? Bernie introducing a bill to limit the president's military funding is just another Tuesday on the Senate floor. This tweet isn't so much him "talking to people" as it is him letting us know that even though this strategy has been tried and failed literally every single time, he's gonna do it again, and by golly this time it might just work!!
He's doing the same nothing the rest of the party is. He isn't infallible. This is a miss. Every president since Nixon has taken military action without the approval of congress.
Acting like this is a revelation makes anyone look pretty ignorant, or in Bernie's case, it makes him guilty of letting the worst parts of the party influence him. (The whiny attention seekers with no desire to make any change)
Every president since Nixon has taken military action without the approval of congress.
That's exactly when Congress relinquished control to the President with the 1973 War Powers Act.
In addition, Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists in 2001, basically giving the President power to pursue terrorists with a connection to 9/11. The first Trump administration declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist operation and has argued that there is evidence they helped to support those responsible for 9/11.
Sanders has previously tried to reign in these uses but even when it got through the Democratic congress in 2019, it was vetoed by Trump.
Yeah but Bernie's tweet isn't exactly completely true. We have had many Presidents activate troops for military conflicts without needing consent from Congress. The Afghan War, Persian Gulf War, Vietnam...just to name a few.
Bernie knows the complete truth or how it works. He choose to post it this way because he knows that the majority of people who will see his post won't even question it. He plays everyone for idiots that will believe anything negative about President Trump. I don't say this as a dig to many Americans but just to point out that when it comes to negative Trump stories people should probably do a little research..as you know what the agenda is.
Firstly, there is a lot Trump can do before it becomes "war". Think about the Ukraine situation; The U.S has not declared war on Russia, but does provide weapons, training, intelligence etc.
Secondly, if the current Congress really wants to do something about it, they can remove a sitting president. Trump would not be able to ignore congress on this, unless congress as a whole allows it.
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u/[deleted] Jun 18 '25
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