Home By Marquel Death by Numbers. Number One

Death by Numbers. Number One

Marquel, TPVs NYTimes War Power and Other Ignored Constitutional Provisions Section correspondent, was watching War and Peace, on TCM, when he stopped to sob for a moment and he read Obama Sees Iraq Resolution as a Legal Basis for Airstrikes, Official Says.  The president has cited an earlier authorization by Congress as a basis for his campaign against ISIS. The problem is that the provision is one that Obama has been trying to have rescinded by Congress. Another provision allows us to attack those who were responsible for 9 11. Marquel thought it bizarre that Obama, the author of the “don’t do stupid things” doctrine, found a way to do two stupid things at once.

Marquel once again took the Acela to Washington to see his State Department contact. He waited a half hour at Penn, then the conductors showed up. Somehow the conductors know for sure how late the Acela is, but no one else. Well, probably the engineer.
In Washington Marquel had to go through the by-now habitual ritual of going to the hot dog vendor who talked to his wrist, then wait outside a bare wall until a door opened and he was in the cafeteria.
We sat down and I asked my contact, “I understand there are two resolutions. One from 2001 authorizing force against al Qaeda and those who caused 9 11, and one from 2002 authorizing force in Iraq to get rid of Saddam because of atomic weapons he didn’t have. Which one of those says we can go into Syria to get Isis?”
“Obama says both. The first one because Isis reminds us of al Qaeda, and the second because Iraq is really close to Syria.” he said.
“That’s like saying to a New York cop that my Canadian license is good here because Toronto is close to Rochester.” I said.
“I guess so, and Obama wouldn’t give you the ticket.” He said.
“But the second one from 2002 is the one Obama asked Congress to rescind because it’s outdated.” I observed.
“That’s true. I think that’s because he was a con law professor.” He said.
“But you know he wasn’t a real law professor. He was a part time instructor asked to teach one class so the real professors would have time to write their books.” I insisted.
“Well maybe everybody calling him a law professor made him feel like one.” Said my State Department contact.
“Who’s everyone?” I asked.
“Obama.” He answered.
“So how does POTUS, or POCLAW, justify the use of such old and irrelevant documents?” I asked’
“POCLAW?”
“Phony of Con Law.” I explained.
“Oh sure. Well, he says that the first one allows us to go after those who caused 9 11 such as Al Qaeda.” He said.
“But Isis didn’t exist in 9 11.” I protested.
“Yes but Isis is an outgrowth of Al Qaeda.” He tried.
“But it is an outgrowth ten years after 9 11. How could they have caused it?” I questioned.
“Al Qaeda caused it and Isis came from Al Qaeda.” He said.
“But it doesn’t authorize force against groups that came from those that caused 9 11. It authorized force against those that caused it. Period. Also, didn’t Al Qaeda throw Isis out because they were too nuts?”
“Yes, that’s a problem. But every time somebody raises any problems, Obama says in the third person, ‘the law professor can distinguish it.’  That’s apparently what law professors do.” He said.
“Well what about the 2002 resolution that only authorized force in Iraq and which Obama has been saying should be rescinded because it’s outdated and dangerous?” I asked.
“Obama presented a statement from Sarah Palin that said she could see Syria from Iraq.” He said.
“That’s it? Sarah Palin?” I wondered.
“He was sure he’d get Republican support. That was before she got into that fight and hit four guys with what they call a redneck club.” He said.
“A redneck club?”
“That’s the handle of a shotgun or rifle.” He said.
“So aside from Palin, what else?” I questioned.
Obama added that the two countries are right next to each other.” He said.
“So when we declared war on Germany in WWII, it was also good against Switzerland?” I asked.
“I guess according to POCLAW, that would make sense.” He said.
“And since he’d be relying on the Iraq resolution, that would mean that he didn’t ever end the Iraq war and it’s still going on?” I wondered.
“That was a big issue that he couldn’t distinguish. He got really mad. His eyes were bulging. He said, ‘I did end the Iraq war. This is different.’ “
“Different how?” I wondered.
“According to Obama, he ended the war, but not the resolution. He sat there with a big fucking grin on his face and looked each person at the meeting in the face, one after the other.  Nobody knew what to say. Obama was still smiling like a clown when he left the meeting.” He said.
I went home. The Acela gave me time to collect my notes as well as my thoughts and wonder what sickness law professors suffer from. Something obviously shared with Sarah Palin. But I couldn’t pin it down.
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BY MARQUEL: Death by Numbers. Number One.

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