The Coffeespy

In an Early Birded story from the Washington Times, we learn that Senator Jim Webb is proposing legislation that, well, doesn’t address any problem.  It’s more of a statement Webb wants to make:

The Webb amendment as drafted outlines that no funds may be “obligated or expended for military operations or activities within or above the territory of Iran, or within the territorial waters of Iran, except pursuant to a specific authorization of Congress.”

A note for the slow among us: both Afghanistan and Iraq were voted on by Congress.  According to the Constitution:

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States

…

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water

So what’s the purpose?  It seems symbolic to me.  It’s another move by a spineless Congress.

Aides for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky did not respond to calls for comment, but House Minority Leader John A. Boehner labeled Mr. Webb’s measure as “a solution in search of a problem.”

“We should continue to work with responsible members of the international community to put pressure on the Iranians to dismantle their nuclear-weapons programs and to halt their support for terrorism,” the Ohio Republican said. “I don’t think it is productive or responsible to place arbitrary restrictions on what is now a hypothetical national security scenario, especially since the language — if not carefully worked — could hamstring our efforts against insurgents and terrorists in Iraq.”

I think Mr. Boehner gives the idea too much credit.  It’s not requesting anything not already granted by the Constitution.  It wouldn’t have stopped any of the things Webb is complaining about now.  It’s paper posturing.

• Jules Crittendon says his piece, short and sweet: “Bar funding for the White House.  Blair House, also. Then, Pelosi will be defacto funded president of the United States.”  I still don’t think the proposal does anything.  It’s a public statement of support for the Constitution disguised as anti-Bush propaganda (which gets you political currency these days).