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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLawmakers move to limit Trump authority to launch nuke after nuclear button size tweet
https://www.militarytimes.com/congress/2018/01/03/lawmakers-move-to-limit-trump-authority-to-launch-nuke-after-nuclear-button-size-tweet/Lawmakers move to limit Trump authority to launch nuke after nuclear button size tweet
By: Joe Gould ? 16 hours ago
WASHINGTON U.S. lawmakers are offering legislation to limit President Donald Trumps ability to launch a nuclear first strike after he heckled North Koreas leader about the comparative size of his nuclear button. Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, of Massachusetts, and Rep. Ted Lieu, of California, have sponsored legislation that would require the president to receive congressional approval before initiating a first-use nuclear strike from the United States.
The two took to Twitter to rally support for their legislation after Trump bragged in a tweet Tuesday evening that he had a much bigger button than North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. No one person should have the power to decide when the U.S. will be the first to use nuclear weapons, Markeys tweet reads in part. Retweet, if you agree, he asked; and as of Wednesday morning, more than 3,800 had.
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A handful of congressional Democrats had earlier in the day taken to Twitter to decry Trumps saber rattling, in somewhat stronger terms. House Armed Services Committee member Ro Khanna, D-Calif., tweeted the Markey-Lieu legislation urgently needs to pass this Monday, the day the House returns. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a U.S. Army veteran who lost both her legs in the Iraq war, dissed Trump as Cadet Bone Spurs a reference to his draft deferment during the Vietnam War and urged him to worry more about mass U.S. military casualties in such a conflict. Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee called Trumps tweet reckless beyond words.
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murielm99
(30,785 posts)legislation. They need to get off their butts and do this. Both parties.
Do repiggies think they are immune to what happens when nuclear weapons are used? Do they think only lib'ruls get killed?
Perseus
(4,341 posts)all the stupidity and corruption that affects the country will not affect them, that somehow the nuclear explosion will "know" they voted republican and just curve out of their way making sure not to harm them.
That is how stupid they are...Tax Bill? Hooray, let the libs suffer...Repeal Obamacare with no real substitute? No problem, it will only affect the libs, I voted for Trump, I am immune...Unfortunately, that is the reality.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,217 posts)Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)The President is the Commander in Chief, even when its a person with the IQ of a scrambled egg and impulse control of a juvenile chimp, and Congress cant legislate away his power or authority and assign it to themselves. That would be a pretty blatant violation of the separation of powers.
Kentonio
(4,377 posts)..that grants the President the right to wage war without Congressional approval. Congress has allowed Presidents to use military force on their own volition, but I can't see any constitutional reason why they couldn't take it away.
ProfessorGAC
(65,427 posts)By definition, a first strike nuke is a declaration of war. Hence, i think it's actually a demonstration and cementing of the separation of powers.
Only Congress can authorize war. It's in the Constitution. Look it up. They can set any limits they want...or give free rein. As they did in the War Powers Act. As stupid and cowardly as that act was.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)will fight this. He is all for war.
patricia92243
(12,607 posts)not get done. If they will, remain to be seen.
groundloop
(11,537 posts)Repubs will never get behind this, it would be admission that their party screwed up. They'll never put country before party.