Top Capitol Hill Democrats, and a small number of Republicans, watched in alarm Saturday as the US launched a major assault on Iran, decrying Donald Trump’s call for the overthrow of another foreign government without their expressed approval.

Trump ordered the strikes on Tehran just days before the GOP-led House and Senate are each set to formally debate and vote on US military action in Iran. Democrats, along with at least three Republicans, say the president’s decision, with lawmakers scattered across the nation and not planning to return to Washington for days, raises serious questions about the legality of the attack.

“It’s a slap in the face of the United States Congress. The president has launched an illegal war when there is no imminent threat. He did not consult with Congress or allow for a debate in Congress, which even George W. Bush did,” Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California told CNN on Saturday morning.

  • DJKJuicy@sh.itjust.works
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    1 hour ago

    Oh man if this passes it will be a “stunning rebuke”. It won’t actually do anything because the President would still have to sign it.

    Wow. That’ll show 'em.

    • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      33 minutes ago

      So if I read that right it would possibly mean Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a representative from Florida may be the one being manipulated or doing the manipulation.

      The darker side of the article seems to state several Democrats agree that attacking Iran would be a political catastrophe so if Trump did it, it may assist in regaining hold of either the Senate or the House so they would have the numbers to potentially stop future issues.

      Dark Because the sacrifices that are brought to the table, but in truth… they aren’t the ones who put them on the table.

      Basically, do we have the numbers to stop this? No. So should we allow it to fail spectacularly to use it to our advantage? Maybe.

      Every life lost was chosen by the White Houses actions, it’s crazy that representatives have to even debate how us peasants may or may not benefit by their deaths.

    • crusa187@lemmy.ml
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      2 hours ago

      Perfect excuse for why they couldn’t do anything this time - it was simply too late! (Donate here to stop Trump and save democracy!)

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    2 hours ago

    which even George W. Bush did

    Yeah, that’s how a fucking ratchet works…

    When we alternate parties and one party doesn’t fix shit and the other isn’t held responsible, they’re just gonna keep doing what they’re doing. Which isn’t the same behavior, it’s as far across the line as they can geta away with. And every time it works it sets a new line.

    The obvious goal is the dissolution of Congress and that should have been clear to anyone whose paid 10 minutes attention at some point in the last 50 years.

    Authoritarians will always work towards a dictatorship, it doesn’t matter how many different groups pictures themselves in power, they all work towards the consolidation of power which makes it easy for every authortarian group regardless of alignment.

    • Formfiller@lemmy.world
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      11 minutes ago

      Thiel, musk and yarvin have been very clear that this is their goal but our governments keep giving them more of our money and power