Back in 2016, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) was the only sitting member of the Senate to endorse socialist Bernie Sanders for president, so there’s little doubt that Merkley is a hardcore “progressive,” with all the baggage that goes along with that: an elitism masked as a concern for ordinary folk, a supercilious contempt for America and all that this nation has stood for, and an uncritical embrace of all of the left’s most damaging delusions, fantasies, and obsessions. In the wake of President Donald Trump’s defanging of Iran’s nuclear program, however, Merkley has suddenly become a strict constructionist, a Constitutional loyalist who is outraged over Trump’s alleged violation of our founding document’s sacred principles.
Yeah, I don’t believe him, either. But on Saturday, Merkley issued a statement noting piously that “the Constitution is clear: Congress has the power to declare war, not the President.” That’s true. And when did the U.S. Congress last declare war? On June 4, 1942, when it declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, which were among the Axis powers during World War II. Since then, the U.S. has engaged in costly military incursions into Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and elsewhere, all without any formal declarations of war, and no one was raising Constitutional issues. All those conflicts, however, were before the advent of Orange Man Bad.
Merkley continued: “To prevent another disastrous forever war, Congress must reassert its constitutional authority. The Senate once again failed that test. Let’s be clear: Trump’s unconstitutional strikes on Iran were wrong on all counts—undermining regional stability and diplomatic efforts at a critical moment and risking a regional war that would have put American troops, diplomats, and civilians in danger.” That “would have” is all Merkley has at this point, since it doesn’t look at this point as if World War III is going to break out over the strikes, and so rage over hypotheticals and a newfound love for the Constitution is all the left has.
Merkley is not alone in shedding crocodile tears for the Constitution and Trump’s alleged exceeding of his Constitutionally mandated powers, either. Not long after the strikes on Iran took place, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Mogadishu) wrote: “The strikes on Iran, ordered by President Trump and executed without congressional authorization, mark a dangerous and reckless escalation of an already volatile conflict in the Middle East.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Swizzle Stick) sounded a similar note: “The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers.” Another staunch defender of the Constitution, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Ramallah), chimed in with this: “President Trump sending U.S. troops to bomb Iran without the consent of Congress is a blatant violation of our Constitution.”
The three founding members of the Squad were joined by their Squadmate Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Race Hate), who also expressed profound concern for the Constitution: “This is a violation of the Constitution that is risking innocent lives. We do not need another deadly, endless war. Congress must act immediately to rein in Trump.”
The Constitutional chorus also included Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Orange Man Bad), who had this to say: “The authority to declare war belongs solely to Congress. Trump’s unconstitutional and escalatory strikes risk drawing US troops and the American people—who are overwhelmingly opposed—into another forever war. Congress must immediately exercise our duty to restrain this President.” And Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Extensions) said: “Here is yet another reminder that the Constitution is not optional… Congress must authorize military force before any president—including Trump—launches a strike.”
Related: He-Man Tim Walz Tells Dems How to Deal with Donald Trump, and Yeah, I’m Cracking Up
Actually, Trump’s strike has its authorization in the War Powers Resolution, which “requires that the president notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying American troops if a formal declaration of war has not already been declared. The resolution also requires that the president withdraw any forces deployed in a conflict within 60 days if Congress has not formally declared war.”
One thing is certain: If Barack Obama or Old Joe Biden had been the president who carried out the strikes against Iran (which they would never have done), Merkley and his House colleagues would have been lining up to applaud him. The real problem here is that it was Trump who acted, and of course, all these furiously partisan socialists will oppose whatever he does. Oh, and the Iran nuclear threat is neutralized? Impeach him!
