Today I had my second debate with Berkeley Law Professor and former Bush official John Yoo. The first debate sponsored by Christopher Newport University was held in Newport News four days ago and the second was sponsored by Hillsdale College at a debate held in Washington, D.C. There is a clear theme emerging to get Americans to embrace war as a continuing reality for American policy. Equally notable is how well-connected Republicans are returning over and over to another theme: Rand Paul must be stopped. In his luncheon speech, Bret Stephens of The Wall Street Journal repeatedly mocked Rand Paul and his opposition to the United States engaging in wars around the globe. It seems that there is a real fear that Paul could gain traction with Republicans in steering the U.S. from an interventionist course. There are many positions of Paul that people of good faith can disagree with. I certainly have such differences with him. However, it is specifically his notion of limited presidential authority and a disinclination toward new wars that is the focus of these attacks.
Today’s even also feature a terrific speech by Kevin Portteus of Hillsdale College on the historical and theoretical foundations for war powers.
As noted earlier, Yoo seemed to struggle to find ways to steer the debate into a slam against Paul as he did at Newport News. At one point, he proclaimed that electing Paul as our next president would be “the same as putting a drug dealer in charge of a police department.” Yoo praised presidents who committed the United States to wars without “weakly” seeking congressional approval. He even discussed how presidents who acted unilaterally in wars were the most popular — a type of “Got War?” bumper sticker for popularity-seeking presidents.
That theme was even more magnified in the remarks of Stephens who seems to have a fundamental problem with the notion of the separation of powers and limitations on presidential power — as well as a host of fundamental legal principles. Stephens directly challenged those who seek to avoid wars as isolationists and repeatedly derided Paul. Indeed, Stephens suggested that Paul, who has praised Eisenhower as someone who resisted the expansion of the war industry, should instead embrace the expansion of the military-industrial complex that occurred while he was president. He insisted that the United States should continue to punish “evil doers” and be “realists.” His definition of realism was to praise Henry Kissinger and offer the example of vaporizing an entire table of people in a U.S. city to get one terrorist. Stephens mocked those who would raise due process questions over such unilateral attacks. It was one of the most extreme views of presidential power that I have heard and actually made John Yoo look like a moderate on the subject.
Both men are articulate and popular speakers who incorporate historical sources into their presentations. It is remarkable however how we view identical historical sources and events in diametrically opposite ways.
However, it was the return to the attacks on Rand Paul that were most striking. At some point, the mainstream GOP voices doth protest too much in these attacks on Paul. There seems a palpable fear that a non-interventionalist movement could arise within the GOP and, perish the thought, a serious challenge to the continual military interventions of the United States around the world. Stephens tried to rally the audience to the model of what he called the United States as “liberator” as opposed to merely a symbol of liberty. What is clear is that many constitutional values have little place in Stephens’ view of “realism.” Indeed, notions of limited powers and due process were portrayed as naive and weak.
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of the speech was Stephens addressing the conflict between liberty and security. Rather than even try to accommodate liberty, Stephens insisted that security is liberty in a rather twisted Orwellian flourish. He suggested that security is the ultimate liberty since it protects your very existence. It is perfectly Putinesque.
Like Yoo, there appears to be an effort to rally Republicans around war as politics by other means, a “just say yes to war” theme . . . and of course the equally prominent “just say no to Paul” theme.
I believe the headline should refer to “Oddly unindicted John Yoo” and “Noted Psychopath Bret Stephens”.
It’s like writing an Appeal in the 6th Circuit…. Form over substance….
What’s interesting is that there are not enough folks left on this blog that have the ability to understand what’s truly going on. They say the emptiest barrel makes the loudest noise. It’s sad, you used to be able to debate here without personal attacks. Today the game is to engage you just enough and then narc you out as Lamont said…. It truly sad. Quantity over quality.
Justice Holmes–think you hit it on the head there. Evidently, we won’t learn. Not until it’s too late.
Corporations are laughing with glee along with the Saudis as the US gets involved in another religion fueled war.
The Muslins in the ME want the killing to end? Let them take on ISIS. They won’t because a. They agree with them and b. they are cowards. Don’t let those ceremonial daggers they wear fool you they only attack women and other humans who cannot defend themselves. For real wars they get the Western countries to do it for them and then attack us for killing Muslims. When will we ever learn?
Free e-book:
Killing Hope-US Military and CIA Interventions Since WWII-William Blum
https://archive.org/details/fp_Killing_Hope-US_Military_and_CIA_Interventions_Since_WWII-William_Blum
and to ‘shaking’ my head’ i’ll tell you they are told to lie….while they are the minority they will play along to get along. The dayfterthat off with your head. Itls in the quran. Our goal as peaceful beings is no day after. And I am sorry to tell you america will never wake up. Have the ppl closest to the whistle blowers woke up? It will never happen. I had a ts clearance someone told me about 911 three years out. Today dad says ‘no one believes you” . And I thot I was an officer with balls. America will never wake up ….cuz they donlt want to wake up. Theyld rather bury their heads in the sand than listen to their own kids. It is what it is. It is no longer a war of facts….but principalities. All you can do is pick your savior. I guarantee america not even a percent of it will never wake up. You are pissing up a rope ….farting into the wind….you just ask yourself….what you believe and try to live it half sober. I feel for you. God I do. But short of a miracle it is just you and me…and life is to short for that. We got to press on in faith…to whatwoke us up. But in the end all we got is facts to our faith. They got plausible deniability till the day is long. Let it go.
whatever that is all too much for me. But we can have paulls liberberty along side yoo’s war. But that would require us to identify the enemy…..and my pastor could do that. But we don’t have the balls to say who our enemy is…i am pretty sure it isn’t the guy I shake hands with on sunday. And my kids know it too. Until we get unpolotically correct and identify the enemy….we won’t have freedom. The rand paul kind. We come to grips with reality….not only will we be rand paul constitutionally free….we’ll declare the appropriate wars. The only thing holding america back….is politcal correctness. Unshackle that and we are free. Totally free.
everyday it gets funnier and funnier to read about how the muslims are trying to take over the world. little do the sheeple realize. whats the matter are you scared to understand and accept the truth? apparently many are because they continue to blame the muslims despite all the evidence to the contrary and please with the videos etc i mean the corporation fooled all of you for 10 yrs with phony videos of osama bin laden who died in 2003 but hey lets not let the truth be known. so as usual im going to ask the same questions as always
who benefits the most from these wars?
who owns everything from the banks to hollywood ?
the middle east is poor and supposedly backwards so where are they getting the money to fund these so called wars?
who owns all of the so called main stream media? and why exactly do they need to own all of it?
there are millions of muslims here in the states and yet they only seem to cut fool in the middle east why arent all the muslims here cutting fool? why no riots? no attacks save for a couple ?
why does the usa insist on sticking their nose in other peoples business all the time?
and last but not least
how is it the corporation doesnt have money to take care of the usa but has money for specialized military weapons , wars , and to build ugly ass glass buildings all over the place?
theres no money for education but billions for weapons, theres no money for housing but billions for weapons, no money for jobs but billions for ugly glass buildings, no money for youth and senior centers but billions for thieving consultants, weapons, ugly glass buildings and israel? i personally dont care who doesnt like what i said or say lets get that out there right now its time for the people to wake up and stop living the lie of history and society
why are we forced to pay taxes for food, clothing, working, literally breathing? our taxes supposedly pay cops salaries and when they get sued for abuse we have to pay for the lawsuits ?
i bet many of you has never taken the time to wonder about the practices of banks of how you have to jump thru hoops to get a loan the purpose of getting loans is because you dont have the necessary money to accomplish what you want and yet you go the the bank and get a loan and they put taxes on that in the cover of fees and penalties how many of you have overdrawn your account by mere pennies and yet had to pay in dollars ex. i overdrew in the amount of 49 cent one time and my penalty was i had to pay them 28 dollars for that 49 cent. and its now at a point which was written about right here on the blog how you now have to tell the banks why you want to withdraw ex amount of money and give them proof and thats if they give you your money because they might have emptied your account to pay off their debt and in return they give you worthless stock in the bank which doesnt mean crap since the upper management , owners and their cohorts will get paid first..
WAKE UP PEOPLE YOU ALL KNOW SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG BUT NO ONE WANT TO ATTEMPT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT because they have you afraid to fight back by keeping you distracted by the muslim boogeymen
ISIS gets $3 Million a day on black market selling stolen war. Bush was able to freeze bank funds. Obama?
Berkeley Law Professor John Yoo – 40 Years Of Asian Overpopulation, Expatriation, Invasion and Rapid American Population Growth
“They will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave…to throw them off,…will be in exchange for an unbounded licentiousness, passing,…from one extreme to another…a miracle…were they to stop…at…temperate liberty.”
Thomas Jefferson –
“[Is] rapid population [growth] by as great importations of foreigners as possible… founded in good policy?… They will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw them off, it will be in exchange for an unbounded licentiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to another. It would be a miracle were they to stop precisely at the point of temperate liberty. These principles, with their language, they will transmit to their children. In proportion to their number, they will share with us the legislation. They will infuse into it their spirit, warp and bias its direction, and render it a heterogeneous, incoherent, distracted mass… If they come of themselves, they are entitled to all the rights of citizenship: but I doubt the expediency of inviting them by extraordinary encouragements.” –Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.VIII, 1782. ME 2:118
_______________________________________________________________
Deliberate environmental destruction and Asian overpopulation does not award the right to occupy large sections of America and, in deed, should preclude Asian emigration. Abetting environmental criminals and boarding an overflowing population is not the American taxpayer’s burden.
Does anyone know the true Asian understanding of freedom, individualism, self-reliance and republican governance?
The government of China is undiluted, pure communist. The Chinese history of political ideology with resultant death is described here:
“Great Leap Forward”
“In 1958, in an attempt to introduce a more ‘Chinese’ form of communism, Mao launched the ‘Great Leap Forward’. This aimed at mass mobilisation of labour to improve agricultural and industrial production. The result, instead, was a massive decline in agricultural output, which, together with poor harvests, led to famine and the deaths of millions. The policy was abandoned and Mao’s position weakened.”
“Cultural Revolution”
“In an attempt to re-assert his authority, Mao launched the ‘Cultural Revolution’ in 1966, aiming to purge the country of ‘impure’ elements and revive the revolutionary spirit. One-and-a-half million people died and much of the country’s cultural heritage was destroyed. In September 1967, with many cities on the verge of anarchy, Mao sent in the army to restore order.”
Jefferson’s fear “[Is] rapid population [growth] by as great importations of foreigners as possible… founded in good policy?…
…may manifest as “an unbounded licentiousness, passing,…from one extreme to another…a miracle…were they to stop…at…temperate liberty.”
Article I.
Section 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repeal Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of Particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and other needful Buildings;–And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
As I said to You all yesterday. The piracy clause found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, provides the more appropriate grounding for authorization by Congress to the President as Commander in Chief, to go after these terrorists. The terrorists in these pirate territories of Syria and Iraq and the adjoining territories are operating against the Laws of Nations. They are what the piracy clause was meant to deal with. The Declaration of War clause is applicable where there is a legitimate nation state. No such thing exists in Syria, Iraq and adjoining areas. Let us discuss what the Framers intended when they drafted these provisions.
My boomerang wont come back.
My boomerang wont come back.
I am the biggest disgrace to the bloggers race….
My boomerang wont come back.
I …. can… ride a Kangaroo.
yeah, man.
Raise hell too.
Biggest disgrace to the blogger race.
My boomerang wont come back.
—
Hands Up!
Don’t shoot!
I just wanna comment!
Where is my comment? My second request? Who is in charge of censorship on this free press blog?
BarkinDog :
♫ Where have all the comments gone, long time passing. ♫
♫ Where have all the comments gone, long time ago. ♫
♫ Where have all the comments gone? ♫
♫ Word Press got them, every one. ♫
♫ When will it ever learn. When will it ever learn. ♫
Where is my comment?
I have explained the BarkinDog Doctrine on this blog in recent days. In essence, we in America must view the world in territorial segments which are on a sliding scale of civilized people and law. It goes from civilized nation state which adhere to laws of human respect and protection. Then the organized nation states which are falling apart but not dedicated to terrorism. Then the organized nation states dedicated to terrorism. Then the unorganized pirate and terrorist territories with little or no government.
Right now Secretary Kerry and Secretary Hagel are seeking a new Congressional authorization for use of force. We folks out here on the sidelines need to understand that the Congressional authority for giving the Commander in Chief the power to use war force is not solely predicated on one clause of Article I, Section 8. The one always yakked about in Congress and on this blog is the Declaration of War clause. But there is the piracy clause as well. Pirates on sea and those on land who do not respect the Laws of Nations. These terrorists whom we dubbed al Qaeda after 9/11 have morphed into Islamic State terrorists and they claim to be a nation state. We need to authorize the President to send land, sea or air forces to the giant pirate territory known as Syria and Iraq and neighboring territories without declaring war on Syria, Iraq, Iran, or neighboring states. We may authorize the President under the piracy clause to go after the terrorists. If they move to France then we have another problem for France is a civilized nation state.
Folks: Look at the various clauses of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. I will publish the relevant terms in my next comment.
Maybe Mr. Yoo, as well as Stephens are on the defense industry under-the-table payment plan. Our way of life may be doomed, but it won’t be at the hands of those desert wackos. Look into the sale of Smithfield to Shuanghui. MPT did some investigation, and it was uncovered that the Chinese plan to finance any takeover bid of any American food operation. When the big inflation starts, we’ll watch our high-priced protein go to China. The enabler in all of this?? The Treasury! There is a struggle, and the middle east is just like a big leech dragging us down, making China’s domination of the world that much easier. Yes… that’s all just conspiracy…
How does a clown like this become a law professor at Berkeley?
I read the Wall Street Journal (Bret Sephens’ paper) every day and I read Mr. Stephens every week.
Unfortunately, both the WSJ editorial board and Mr. Stephens seem to live in a state of perpetual fear. They endorse every violation of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments on the grounds that those violations make us safer.
I like their economic writings, but I wish that they would grow a pair – we are not in sufficient danger to warrant gutting the Constitution.
One other point. Mr. Stephens is an unabashed Israel supporter – to the point that he seems to confuse Israeli interests with U.S. interests (he could be PM Netanyahu’s press spokesman). I like his writings, but I take them with a large dose of salt.
As to Mr. Yoo. We have all heard about his moral flexibility on torture. Enough said – he has no standing.
Annie,
I haven’t looked at the reasons stated for the “strange bedfellows” to vote No – or Yes for that matter – to increase support for ‘moderate’ Syrian rebels.
If I were a Congressman, I might vote No because Obama seems to be conflating ‘moderate’ and anti-ISIS.
If the model for anti-ISIS Iraq is Operation Enduring Freedom I, then the model for anti-ISIS Syria is Charlie Wilson’s War.
Problem is, the Syrian rebels are not like the Afghan mujahideen, who were local and included actual ‘moderate’ factions that were also effective fighters, eg, the later-Northern Alliance factions we favored. In Charlie Wilson’s War, we didn’t support foreign jihadists like bin Laden. Instead, like us, the Arabs were outside actors with their own streams of support for and favorites among the Afghan mujahideen.
Even so, the rise of the Taliban who then hosted AQ was lesson learned about the risks of war by proxy-only and the vital importance of securing the peace.
Unlike the Afghan mujahideen, the anti-Assad forces are dominated by jihadists. Just because AQ affiliates are in conflict with ISIS doesn’t make them not-AQ. It’s not clear at this point which, if any, anti-Assad factions are both non-Islamist and effective fighters. It’s also not clear whether Obama is using that criteria, if that criteria is even realistic, or whether (by necessity) he’s conflating ‘moderate’ and anti-ISIS.
If we hadn’t left Iraq in 2011, we at least could have firewalled the problem in Syria as the Arab Spring degenerated. At this point, there’s no easy choice for us. We don’t want to help Syria and Iran, but we do want to destroy ISIS. Anti-ISIS and anti-Assad factions include AQ affiliates. There are only so many ways to navigate that course.