What We Need to See Tonight

So the Commander Guy will likely want his use of force resolution passed by the GOP, er, House, regardless of any international doves flying around the Middle East at the moment.

OK fine, it's not a bad idea.  Some of us have been saying they need to take the international route for weeks now.  Of course the administration is acting as if they've had this in the hip pocket since September 1st or sooner.  Thing is, if President Peace Prize had this worked out with Putey Poot weeks ago why did he go to Congress at all?   What would be the need to go to Congress when they could just push it in the UN and get the resolution?  Obama says he doesn't feel he even needs to get their approval.

Which leaves the question of whether the move to Congress was entirely political.  Think of the possible perks for sabre-rattling then trying to pull the Tea Party and RINOs into a vote on war designed to weaken both before 1) the debt showdown, 2) coming Obamacare rollout, and 3) immigration reform.   Throw in old mentions of Bush and Iraq and it's tempting to believe in their conspiracy.

Not only that, but such wild theatrical hysterics would take the focus off the myriad of scandals and the 9/11 anniversary (just ask someone from the administration a question about Benghazi and marvel as their mouth clenches up and the subdued vitriol pours out).  The ultimate distraction.  

Of course, to believe this administration tale takes some faith.  For instance, Kerry would have to be in on it, requiring a willing suspension of disbelief.  And we would also have to wonder what kind of parting gifts Putin might get for his role in such a screenplay.  Obama did promise to be more flexible.  

Oh yeah, the post title: what we need to see tonight.  Well, the president says he needs the support of the GOP in this mess to get authorization for bombing.  At the same time his administration has in the past called conservatives 'enemies' and 'terrorists'.  He's called a previous war to hold a chemical weapons user accountable 'dumb'. He's demonized the conservatives on the Supreme Court and harped on big business while jamming his unilateral finger in the Constitution's eye in a host of ways.

So maybe he can start tonight with an apology for being such a divisive ahole thus far.  Maybe then some progress can be made.  And make no mistake, not everybody wants that moon faced Putin to punk the USA or win on the international stage, regardless of who's in the Oval Office.  But Obama could at least make it little easier to root for him. He could start the healing tonight.

POST ANALYSIS  9/10/13

He had a chance to mend some fences but it was just too tempting to toss in a Bush bash by claiming we didn't go through congressional channels in taking down Saddam.

But I’m also the president of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy. So even though I possessed the authority to order military strikes, I believed it was right, in the absence of a direct or imminent threat to our security, to take this debate to Congress. I believe our democracy is stronger when the president acts with the support of Congress, and I believe that America acts more effectively abroad when we stand together.

This is especially true after a decade that put more and more war-making power in the hands of the president, and more and more burdens on the shoulders of our troops, while sidelining the people’s representatives from the critical decisions about when we use force.

That's just complete bullshit.  He also airbrushed Iraq out of the brief history of chemical weapons users.  Why?  Is everything politics and finger pointing?

Overall the speech provided nothing new except that he wants the Congress to hold off on a vote while they consider John Kerry's rhetorical mistake.   Looks like Peggy Noonan was right.