Great journalism by Barry Piatt, right after the U.S. dropped the bombs on Iran Saturday night, to produce this analysis and raise the questions that we all should be asking. And he did it on deadline, as we used to say. Barry is an invaluable resource in Washington D.C. for all of us in Iowa. Turns out he is a better representative for us than any members of our state’s congressional delegation are.
Tonight’s local evening news included a full screen shot of Kim Reynolds and her full endorsement of Trump’s illegal actions. Along with confirmation of agreement of our congressional delegation. No counterpoint. No condemnation. No explanation. No evidence. No justification. Barry Piatt rightfully stated this is an illegal act under our constitution our elected representatives are complicit with the perpetrator. They have broken their oath of office and allegiance to the constitution and people. We’re being governed by criminals.
The president's actions are illegal. Our "representatives" collective inactions are shameful. Can they do better? After all of this time watching them do nothing to stop this man and his people I do not think they are capable of doing better. They are failures at their jobs. Full Stop.
The last 'declared war' approved by Congress was WWII. That said, the President has broad powers, that his cadre of lawyers are well aware, to attack an enemy if, in his view, it's to repel an invasion. Remember during his first term how he got Conservatives ginned up about the invaders at our Southern Border? That was deliberate, setting the stage for what's happening now. I needed to look the following up as my memory isn't what it once was: The 1973 War Powers Clause sets out rules for sending our military into action, an invasion being one of them. The President must inform Congress of this within a short time, which he did. Now, it's up to Congress to rein in his power, which it doesn't seem inclined to do, which violates that, causing a Constitutional Crisis.
Jim's view: Iowa's Congressional members seem quite content to abdicate their responsibilities to the whims of POTUS 47; they are as negligent and out of touch with the Constitution and democracy as is #47. Iowa's D.C. politicians are "tin horn" hacks —everyone of them; they collect their pay & benefits, while believing that it's folks like us, that disagree, who don't care. Will that be true come 2026 & 2028???
Great journalism by Barry Piatt, right after the U.S. dropped the bombs on Iran Saturday night, to produce this analysis and raise the questions that we all should be asking. And he did it on deadline, as we used to say. Barry is an invaluable resource in Washington D.C. for all of us in Iowa. Turns out he is a better representative for us than any members of our state’s congressional delegation are.
Thank you, Chuck, for verbalizing what many of us are feeling.
In the land where wars never end. . . Well worth repeating, Barry! Our elected representatives should have learned this lesson!
Iran will respond, it will be tragic, and martial law will follow.
Tonight’s local evening news included a full screen shot of Kim Reynolds and her full endorsement of Trump’s illegal actions. Along with confirmation of agreement of our congressional delegation. No counterpoint. No condemnation. No explanation. No evidence. No justification. Barry Piatt rightfully stated this is an illegal act under our constitution our elected representatives are complicit with the perpetrator. They have broken their oath of office and allegiance to the constitution and people. We’re being governed by criminals.
Another paver on Trump’s road to authoritarianism. Thank you, Barry, for your reporting.
The president's actions are illegal. Our "representatives" collective inactions are shameful. Can they do better? After all of this time watching them do nothing to stop this man and his people I do not think they are capable of doing better. They are failures at their jobs. Full Stop.
Congress is dead .
The last 'declared war' approved by Congress was WWII. That said, the President has broad powers, that his cadre of lawyers are well aware, to attack an enemy if, in his view, it's to repel an invasion. Remember during his first term how he got Conservatives ginned up about the invaders at our Southern Border? That was deliberate, setting the stage for what's happening now. I needed to look the following up as my memory isn't what it once was: The 1973 War Powers Clause sets out rules for sending our military into action, an invasion being one of them. The President must inform Congress of this within a short time, which he did. Now, it's up to Congress to rein in his power, which it doesn't seem inclined to do, which violates that, causing a Constitutional Crisis.
Jim's view: Iowa's Congressional members seem quite content to abdicate their responsibilities to the whims of POTUS 47; they are as negligent and out of touch with the Constitution and democracy as is #47. Iowa's D.C. politicians are "tin horn" hacks —everyone of them; they collect their pay & benefits, while believing that it's folks like us, that disagree, who don't care. Will that be true come 2026 & 2028???