Are we doing the right thing in Libya?

Mayor Snorkum said:

Actually, yes indeed, the Constitution does reserve the power to declare war to the Congress. The job of the president is to enforce laws and engage in foreign policy... with the advice and consent of the US Senate.

Hmmmm....not one word grants the president co-equal power to declare war.

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Obama isn't claiming a co-equal power and didn't declare war. I'm not even sure who we'd declare war on - Gaddafi?

Yes, it's certainly irksome that Obama had time to consult with the UN in making this decision, but not with Congress (i.e. his own country) -- but declaration or no declaration, Congress always has the ultimate say in these matters. If they don't like it, they can choose not to fund it. Game over.

Whereas I and many others believe Obama is acting within his scope as commander in chief, it's worth noting that Obama the candidate disagreed sharply with Obama the President: "The president does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation"

Mayor Snorkum said:

The little squabble in Libya presents no emergent or even delayed threat to the United States, it doesn't even alter the threats from Libya already in existence. In other words, we have no reason to intervene.

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That certainly seems to be the biggest issue: Why? (followed by 'how do we get out')

There is no obvious US interest. He can claim a moral interest, but if that were true it seems we'd already be in places like the Ivory Coast. And here once again, Obama the candidate disagreed sharply with Obama the President: "Why invade Iraq and not North Korea or Burma? Why intervene in Bosnia and not Darfur?"

Mayor Snorkum said:

And yet, because Obama is doing it, the Left is going to be predictably supportive of this nonsense.

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Not from what I've seen.