# Obama passing the ball to Congress for now - predictions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 1, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710 "2013-09-01T03:42:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/221 "2013-09-06T16:54:53Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > I wouldn’t mind betting HRC is just a little pleased to be out of this one, and chuckling about it too - a hard line Democrat President in a second term … picture perfect for her so far. > **[Meet the Press: Inside Takes on the Latest Stories with Kristen Welker](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press?lite)** > > Follow Kristen Welker as she uncovers breaking news events with the experts on NBCNews.com. Find coverage on the latest in politics, news, business, and more. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/222 "2013-09-06T16:59:30Z")
How is BHO looking incompetent a good thing for HRC? ---
**Author:** ![Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lion)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/223 "2013-09-06T17:27:20Z")
If Congress gives authorization to attack Syria then it’s sealed for me: our representative democracy is a farce; gathering votes and holding debates is pure theater done in the hopes that the will of the public aligns with the predetermined course of the government and whatever private interests are manipulating it. The majority of our public is dramatically opposed to this war, yet here we see politicians quickly joining forces with one another to try and ram this through; no doubt banking that American apathy will let them get away with it. I must give him credit though, through his bumbling politics Obama has successfully torn away the veil and revealed the true nature of politics in this country. Indeed, there is no feeling of “left versus right” present in this event, but an overwhelming feeling of “rulers versus the ruled” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/224 "2013-09-06T17:46:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Is anybody _following_ the House leadership? Well, Obama has done a piss-poor job selling this to the American people, so it’s not too surprising that the House is not jumping on the war wagon. But then, maybe Obama really is looking for away out of this mess, and figures he’s just as well off getting a “no” vote from Congress. This thing just doesn’t feel like it’s going to pass, based on what I’m seeing in the polls and the way the press is reporting it. It’s not like Obama can come out with his double-secret intel and convince Americans that we need to bomb another country. And he’s not getting any support from the “international community”, either. Not enough American support, no allies other than the French, and this thing smells like a skunk run over by a campaign bus. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/225 "2013-09-06T18:10:02Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, Obama has done a piss-poor job selling this to the American people, so it’s not too surprising that the House is not jumping on the war wagon. But then, maybe Obama really is looking for away out of this mess, and figures he’s just as well off getting a “no” vote from Congress. This thing just doesn’t feel like it’s going to pass, based on what I’m seeing in the polls and the way the press is reporting it. It’s not like Obama can come out with his double-secret intel and convince Americans that we need to bomb another country. And he’s not getting any support from the “international community”, either. Not enough American support, no allies other than the French, and this thing smells like a skunk run over by a campaign bus. Would that you were right, John. But if I’ve seen once I’ve seen a dozen times. For all the current opposition, once the missiles start flying, I’m afraid it’ll all become about waving American flags and supporting the troops. Pretty sure Obama knows this. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/226 "2013-09-06T18:16:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, Obama has done a piss-poor job selling this to the American people, He has done a piss-poor job selling anything to the American people. He has yet to make a coherent case for Obamacare, the only person capable of doing so seems to be Bill Clinton. Why should Syria be any different? If he can’t tell us what he wants to do and what good it would do, he deserves to be shot down. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/227 "2013-09-06T18:18:58Z")
> [@Lion](#): > > If Congress gives authorization to attack Syria then it’s sealed for me: our representative democracy is a farce How will you feel if Congress doesn’t give authorization, and Obama attacks Syria anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lion)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/228 "2013-09-06T18:26:22Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > How will you feel if Congress doesn’t give authorization, and Obama attacks Syria anyway? This is the most unlikely outcome, but also the best one. Obama has already shown his willingness to trample the Constitution by stating that he doesn’t think he needs Congressional approval to strike (apparently a CW attack in another country is an “immediate and imminent danger” to the US). It would lead to his impeachment. Yet still he continues to talk himself into corners. If Congress denies the authorization then the question immediately becomes: “If Obama doesn’t believe he needs Congressional approval, and he truly believes that Syria poses an imminent danger to the US, then why doesn’t he strike anyway?” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/229 "2013-09-06T19:07:55Z")
> [@Lion](#): > > It would lead to his impeachment. No, it won’t. Obama is perfectly within his Constitutional powers to bomb the Syrians without asking Congress first. When he said he didn’t have the authority, he was wrong. He will look pretty stupid, but he won’t be impeached. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > How is BHO looking incompetent a good thing for HRC? Because she can point to the stupid stuff BHO gets into the minute she leaves him as Secretary of State. And come 2016 when she gears up to run for the White House, she can say ‘I would never have done (whatever). I would have done (whatever sounds good in retrospect).’ Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/230 "2013-09-06T19:31:05Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Because she can point to the stupid stuff BHO gets into the minute she leaves him as Secretary of State. And come 2016 when she gears up to run for the White House, she can say ‘I would never have done (whatever). I would have done (whatever sounds good in retrospect).’ John Kerry tried the same approach … ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/231 "2013-09-06T19:38:05Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > John Kerry tried the same approach … When he ran for President? I don’t know what you mean. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/232 "2013-09-06T19:46:06Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > He will look pretty stupid, but he won’t be impeached. He may not be impeached, but I think articles of impeachment will pass the House, and be handed over to the Senate. And the Senate will have to debate them. There probably won’t be the two-thirds required in the Senate to remove Obama but the spectacle will consume the rest of his presidency. That’s IF he attacks Syria after the House votes “no”. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/233 "2013-09-06T19:53:52Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > How will you feel if Congress doesn’t give authorization, and Obama attacks Syria anyway? Astonished. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/234 "2013-09-06T20:41:59Z")
Look, even with his “read line” comment, Obama never said he was going to use the military to punish Assad until just recently. Everyone assumed that, of course, and that’s probably what he meant. He can still save face wrt the “red line” comment, sort of, if Congress votes no on the AUMF. He comes out with some sort of non-military punishment for Assad and calls it a day. Exactly what that punishment is, I don’t know, but Obama’s got plenty of clever people working for him who can figure something out. **Red** : I’m not making a firm prediction, but I’m thinking less than 50% chance of passing in the House. Keeping my fingers crossed, but anything could happen. And yes, Americans have a tendency to rally once the wars begin, but I think that has more to do with “support the troops”. Maybe we won’t be so jubilant about missiles lobbed form afar. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/235 "2013-09-06T20:51:46Z")
I think a big part of the general disapproval of action against Syria is due to 90% of the country just flat-out being misinformed about it in one way or another. I’m not saying that everybody is going to line up behind the President on this after he lays out his case on TV Tuesday night, but once people here it broken down exactly what he wants to do and why he wants to do it - I think you’ll see public opinion change pretty dramatically. Most people just like to be included. ---
**Author:** ![Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lion)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/236 "2013-09-06T20:54:52Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I think a big part of the general disapproval of action against Syria is due to 90% of the country just flat-out being misinformed about it in one way or another. I’m not saying that everybody is going to line up behind the President on this after he lays out his case on TV Tuesday night, but once people here it broken down exactly what he wants to do and why he wants to do it - I think you’ll see public opinion change pretty dramatically. Most people just like to be included. Ah, the majority of Americans are simply too _dumb and ignorant_ to understand why we need to attack Syria. It couldn’t possibly be because it’s a poorly conceived plan that accomplishes nothing. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/237 "2013-09-06T20:55:54Z")
People know we are thinking about bombing a country that is no threat to the US, and that we don’t have any real international support. It’s going to be extremely hard to get past that, but Obama needs to do a LOT more selling if wants Americans to buy something. I don’t envy him his mission, but he chose it himself. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/238 "2013-09-06T21:05:18Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Is anybody _following_ the House leadership? Good question. And as far I can tell, other than his staff and acolytes, no. Hate to say it but the US seems like a rudderless ship ATM. Fer Christ sake, the same super-secret evidence that Feinstein claims turned her against most of her constituents – and in an insulting way I might add – hasn’t done a thing to “turn” those that are against this attack from the start. So, is she reading tea-leafs? Or drinking Obama’s grape-flavored ‘democratic’ agitprop? ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/239 "2013-09-06T21:16:36Z")
[It just keeps getting worse](http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/06/20361940-white-house-asks-pentagon-for-expanded-syria-target-list-officials-say?lite) What the hell? I’m beginning to think that Obama is losing it. It’s way too late for bluffing Mr. President. Your credibility is shot and you just guaranteed a no vote in Congress. I guess he can go ahead despite Congress but oh man he can kiss whatever agenda he had for his second term goodbye. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710/240 "2013-09-06T21:21:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > … **Red** : I’m not making a firm prediction, but I’m thinking less than 50% chance of passing in the House. Keeping my fingers crossed, but anything could happen. And yes, Americans have a tendency to rally once the wars begin, but I think that has more to do with “support the troops”. Maybe we won’t be so jubilant about missiles lobbed form afar. I’ll keep it simple. Hope you are right and history doesn’t repeat itself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-passing-the-ball-to-congress-for-now-predictions/667710.md?page=13)