James Baker Punches George Bush in the Face with New War Proposal

James Baker has joined his nemesis from the 2000 Bush v Gore battle, Warren Christopher, in recommending a stunning new piece of federal legislation: a law designed to rein in presidents who want to go to war half-cocked.

Gee, anybody we know?

The bipartisan National War Powers Commission, which Baker and Christopher co-chaired, announced their recommendation Tuesday: a law supplanting the War Powers Resolution, passed 35 years ago in the wake of Vietnam.

A principal reason for the resolution in the first place was that while the Constitution gave the legislative branch sole responsibility for declaring war (Article 1, Section 8), presidents over time began considering their own constitutional title of "commander in chief" (Article 2, Section 2) as a de facto right to engage in a foreign military action without congressional declaration.

The existing law, from 1973, allows a president to do so for up to 90 days before any meaningful consultation with Congress -- if that -- and allows them to waffle regardless. Each end of Pennsylvania Avenue has grown to abuse or ignore it.

Proposed replacement legislation, outlined by Baker and Christopher in a July 8 NY Times guest op-ed, cuts the military time down to one week and then requires a congressional "resolution of approval" on the matter, subject to veto and override.

Both men demurred when asked at a press briefing if their plan is in response to the most recent seven years, saying they don't want to judge past history. Yeah, right.

Longtime Bush family consigliere Baker said similar things when the Baker-Hamilton "Iraq Study Group" came up with its recommendations. That exercise was clearly a case of trying to lure George W. Bush back in from the ledge. In some ways it worked; Dick Cheney's influence certainly seems to have waned in the years since the report came out.

Baker has quite a personal history here, of course. He's pulled little George out of the fire on behalf of the Bush family several times before, starting when he cajoled a lifelong college buddy from Princeton into bailing out 35 year-old W's near-worthless oil company in the early 80's.

This beneficence led directly to investors who later purchased the Texas Rangers baseball team. Bush, by now the son of America's new president, was installed as the public face. Although initially just a 2% owner, his marquee role became the launch pad for a governor's race against the incumbent Democrat Ann Richards in 1994.

Little wonder Baker the Rainmaker was tapped by the clan when W found himself behind the Florida eight ball on election night 2000.

The Republican Party's dwindling hardcore fan base can keep their heads buried if they want, but there's no way James Baker would be part of this latest endeavor unless he feels strongly that what's happened with U.S. foreign policy has been a disaster.

After all, Baker was Secretary of State under Bush the Elder, a position first held by Thomas Jefferson. W, as we know, basically beheaded that cabinet post when he came to power, an act Colin Powell would realize too late.

This has to gall a man of such formality as Baker, a man who was deeply involved in American/Middle Eastern geopolitics, a man who remains the very definition of "standing on ceremony."

I say better late than never. Not only for those close to Poppy Bush who are turned off (Baker, Scowcroft, etc.). But also those close to Bush the Lesser's contemporary White House who have felt the pangs of 11th hour honor, like Scott McClellan. Righting wrongs requires admitting wrongs, even if it comes with a book deal.

Bush, Cheney, Rove et al can't and won't admit wrong, so this new proposal speaks volumes. It adds a layer of protection to guard against an unqualified dolt -- regardless of political affiliation -- getting the keys to the Oval Office.

Speaking of admitting: since Congress is apparently unable to admit that the Founders gave it the job of declaring war, will it at least acknowledge that its spine needs surgical enhancement?

What about chief executives? As a breed, they are genetically loathe to cede power that has accrued to their office, even if ill-gotten by a predecessor. Will Barack Obama and John McCain speak out in support of this new idea?

Will they?

Postscript: Timothy Noah has a July 9 piece at slate.com positing that Congress doesn't really want a backbone when it comes to declaring war, and therefore Baker-Christopher is "an empty exercise in high-mindedness for its own sake." That's probably true. Besides, there's no way such a plan would get serious consideration in the heat of an election year. My principal point is that the mere attachment of Jim Baker -- of all people -- is indicative of the massive gulf between the crowd that surrounded the elder Bush, and the son who has so besmirched the nation....not to mention his family name.

Comments

[nunzia]

OK, lemme see now. We got Sandra Day O'Connor, now sorry she PUT W in the White House.
We got James Baker maybe sorry he put W in the WH.

Here's my question: If so many of us knew that W would screw this country royally, did Sandra and James know that too?

James Baker is not to be trusted. He fought like hell to put W and his "experienced" Bushco cronies in charge.

[Vasudeva]

Hell No! neither McIgnorant or Obama will be in favor of this. Anything that impedes greed is a no no.

[dfletcher]

It would take a 2/3 majority in both the house and senate to pass this law, because obviously George W. Bush will veto.

This just isn't going to happen.

Great idea though.

[BADEN]

"Baker has quite a personal history here, of course. He's pulled W's ass out of the fire on behalf of the Bush family many times before, going all the way back to when he got a lifelong college buddy from Princeton to buy into 35 year-old W's failing oil company Arbusto in the early 80's."

Surrogate Father tries to get Georgie of the 43rd of the BushCos to read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". Sadly, it was not available on Audio-Ipod.

Surrogate Father tries to get Georgie of the 43rd of the BushCos to look out the window at the mobs forming with the tar, feathers, and citizen arrest orders for him in hand.

Sadly, the window had a curtain in front of it.

James Baker - the best paid Gannon-Based "Friend of the Family" ever.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m9JPi7XJhG0

[nunzia]

James Baker is tainted goods.
He is suspect.

[sufi66]

Baker- as everyone knows- helped install Bush into office, and was mainly responsible for giving us Thomas on the Supreme Court.

It's impossible for me to imagine this man proposing anything worthwhile. It's probably a way for him to protect his investments.

I simply don't trust the guy.

[nunzia]

I agree.

[westcoastsc]

Not only should the presidential powers be lessened, but there has to be a punishment suitable with all the crimes that will put the fear of God in future politicians every time they even think of conspiring of pulling the wool over the public's eyes again. Would we really be here right now in the situation we are in if Nixon had been prosecuted? Not punishing public officials does a disservice for this country and its future. Remember that nobody went to jail for undermining the Carter presidency by promising to sell weapons to Iran if they would just hold the hostages, whom they already agreed to release, until after the election against Reagan. Reagan's lead was about one percent. Reagan would have been defeated if this treasonous act had not happened. Remember, Bush Sr. was head of the CIA. Nobody went to jail for selling cocaine in America in black neighborhoods in order to raise money against the democratically elected government of the Sandinistas. How could there be no prosecution of these crimes without collusion between the Clintons and the Bushes? Invasion of Panama was just to shut Noriega up about the drug connections with the Bushes.

[bennofs]

Sorry, but I'm not buying any of it from someone who has been an apologist, given cover to and profited from the actions and misdeeds of the Bush mafia. I hope they all burn in hell.

[bennofs]

that should read "actions, misdeeds and CRIMES..."

[Miss Mamselle Hepzibah]

I fear it is too little, too late.

However, I somehow had managed to miss this bit of info and do indeed appreciate the headsup, Mr W! As always, GREAT POST!

MMH

[JennyJay]

Who would have thunk it would be coming from James Baker? A deeply embedded Bushiel!
And without a book deal to spur it on? I am mighty proud of you Mr. Baker, keep up the good work.

[Vinca]

I'm glad James Baker saw the light, although mighty LATE,

[Diana]

"...Dick Cheney's influence certainly seems to have waned in the years since the report came out."

Really? How's that? He's as powerful as ever, as powerful as an American vice president's ever been, as powerful as any sociopath has ever been, baring a select few. Most people of his ilk are in jail or mental institutions, yet he's been able, largely through empowering himself, to plunder and destroy at will.

He is about to get us into WWIII. Nothing else matters.

[egal]

Are they adding in a requirement for impeachment by non-partisan authorities when impeachable crimes have been committed? Because relying on a prtisan organization to do the right thing instead of covering their economic and politicla futures just isn't cutting it.

[deadscout]

It makes me sick every time I see congress propose a new law. A law means nothing if people are not held accountable to them. This is so useless.

[ouroborous]

Only problem with this bill is the same as the problem with the FISA "revamp" now being steamrollered through Congress (sadly, with Obama's support): it has no teeth.

In other words, it says that the Prez has to go talk to Congress after a short time of military action. Or else... or else what?

Well, Congress will disapprove. Strongly. Vehemently!

Obviously, this is no way to run a nation; checks and balances are only effective as long as they are a deterrent, and a deterrent with no legal teeth is no deterrent at all.

I support the general idea, but they need to give it some brass knuckles if they want it to be effective.

[scooperss]

That's right!
waxman or his replacement will send them a VERY nasty letter as punishment.

[keeplookin]

The barn's crisped...­. the horse is LONG gone... oh, well, nice gesture...

You all do realize, I hope, that even IF Pres. Obama turns into Ghandi/Mother Theresa, that the 1% of 1% fringe loonies will still hate us with a white heat (y'know, the guys working on their destruction projects 24/7/365), and by my lay estimate, we're gonna have to be lookin' over our shoulder for ABC weapons (atomic-bi­ological-c­hemical) for at LEAST the next THIRTY years....

But, nice effort.