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big_dog

(4,144 posts)
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 01:48 PM Jul 2014

House Republicans Vote To Sue President Barack Obama

Source: BBC News

The US House of Representatives is set to pass legislation authorising it to sue President Barack Obama for what Republican leaders describe as his overreach of authority. The resolution is expected to pass the Republican-controlled chamber in a party line vote on Wednesday.

Its sponsors say Mr Obama exceeded his powers when he delayed an insurance deadline in his healthcare law.
The president's aides say the prospective suit is a political stunt. Mr Obama's Democratic allies say it is legally groundless and will cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and has only been devised to rally the Obama-hating Republican base ahead of the November mid-term elections.

The White House says the president has acted within his constitutional authority as chief executive of the US government, and Democrats have sought to raise money off the issue by warning that the suit is a prelude to impeachment proceedings.
"This lawsuit is frivolous on steroids,'' Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida said on Tuesday at a preliminary committee meeting. "It's absolutely insane what you all are doing."

Republicans in Congress have complained that Mr Obama has exceeded his constitutional authority on numerous occasions, in order to bypass Congress by issuing executive orders.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28565772

36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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House Republicans Vote To Sue President Barack Obama (Original Post) big_dog Jul 2014 OP
the party that rails against frivolous lawsuits and people who sue. unblock Jul 2014 #1
time for Baracky Balboa to fight!! big_dog Jul 2014 #4
But see, it is okay if you waste the taxpayers money in the process. Marie Marie Jul 2014 #23
"Frivolous on steroids" says it all. santamargarita Jul 2014 #2
Do you have a source other than a Nigerian online website? DURHAM D Jul 2014 #3
on the BBC News now big_dog Jul 2014 #7
C-Span, CNN, FOX (!!!), etc.....where do you get "Nigerian online website" from? George II Jul 2014 #17
It was the original source in the OP before DURHAM D Jul 2014 #18
Does this idiot bil have to pass in the Senate and then survive a veto in order to allow them to sue jwirr Jul 2014 #5
No, the House can sue on its own. former9thward Jul 2014 #34
Double edged sword. savalez Jul 2014 #6
Boehner just took impeachment off the table yesterday, he is running scared big_dog Jul 2014 #10
That's good to know. savalez Jul 2014 #12
Hoping they impeach the first Black prez based solely on him being Black, cuz I wanna watch randys1 Jul 2014 #26
But, Boner said it was a trick, or trap, or something.... blackspade Jul 2014 #8
To my knowledge there is no constitutional or statutory framework for this.... Swede Atlanta Jul 2014 #9
Anybody can file a lawsuit. savalez Jul 2014 #14
The Conspiracy to Commit Legislative Constipation Botany Jul 2014 #11
They are suing him because he didn't do something they didn't want him to do. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #13
:) savalez Jul 2014 #15
^^^^ That onecaliberal Jul 2014 #16
The 'Weeper of the House' big_dog Jul 2014 #19
That ought to be a clown shoe on his head. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #20
Please proceed house. safeinOhio Jul 2014 #21
Republicans doing what Republicans do; waste time and money because, you know, freedumb. mountain grammy Jul 2014 #22
COUNTER SUE sorefeet Jul 2014 #24
John Boehner, get out your Constitution jmowreader Jul 2014 #25
It is rare but the House can sue. former9thward Jul 2014 #35
And the nation yawned... Shrike47 Jul 2014 #27
and these fing moron repugs would have us believe that they have no samsingh Jul 2014 #28
Oh, well, so much for all that phony "bi-partisanship." This should be fun! BRING. IT. ON. blkmusclmachine Jul 2014 #29
we need some Baracky I! big_dog Jul 2014 #30
Will they add being black in a white house as a cause of action in their suit? aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2014 #31
"While the Constitution does not explicitly state a Nigerian Muslim communist can't be president. .. yurbud Jul 2014 #33
We're all these guys in a coma when Bush was president? yurbud Jul 2014 #32
The Democratic House did sue Bush. former9thward Jul 2014 #36

Marie Marie

(9,999 posts)
23. But see, it is okay if you waste the taxpayers money in the process.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 03:19 PM
Jul 2014

Wait, that made no sense - just like this lawsuit.

DURHAM D

(32,609 posts)
18. It was the original source in the OP before
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:39 PM
Jul 2014

he edited. Click on box in lower left corner that says "Thread Info" and you can see original post.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
5. Does this idiot bil have to pass in the Senate and then survive a veto in order to allow them to sue
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 01:56 PM
Jul 2014

savalez

(3,517 posts)
6. Double edged sword.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 01:58 PM
Jul 2014

This will rally Dem voters to get out and vote too.

Boehner is the worst Speaker of the house in history.

 

big_dog

(4,144 posts)
10. Boehner just took impeachment off the table yesterday, he is running scared
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:06 PM
Jul 2014

if youre not on offense, you are backpedaling on D. the mid term party preference polling is looking excatly the same as 2012--dems +2 no GOP waves!!

randys1

(16,286 posts)
26. Hoping they impeach the first Black prez based solely on him being Black, cuz I wanna watch
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 05:16 PM
Jul 2014

the shit hitting the fan that will ensue.

I am funny that way, I learned it from Carlin, watching disasters is fun.

Not just a disaster for the R party for their future, but hopefully they will piss off enough people, finally, that all hell breaks loose even if just politically.

Imagine a Black controlled govt for 200 yrs, then the first white Prez is elected, then impeached by the 200 yr old Black establishment, white people would go off their nut, completely.

Oops, i hope that comment doesnt get me in trouble again, a white guy (me) criticizing other white people for being complete assholes, I am speaking of rightwingers by the way.

 

Swede Atlanta

(3,596 posts)
9. To my knowledge there is no constitutional or statutory framework for this....
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:04 PM
Jul 2014

The constitutional remedy for a President (Executive) that does not uphold his or her oath of office to faithfully execute the laws........ is impeachment.

If you recall the House hired counsel and claimed to be defending DOMA when the AG said the administration would no longer defend it in court because they believe it was unconstitutional. I don't know how involved, if at all, the House representative was but I would expect they lacked standing. The suit was by the plaintiffs against the United States government. Authority to defend the U.S. at court is held in the Executive branch. When it fails to defend I am not aware of any constitutional or statutory authority that gives Congress the right to step in.

The same exists here. In order to have standing under our "cases and controversies" requirement, the plaintiff(s) have to have suffered specific injury. This is why a taxpayer that doesn't like the fact the government is giving foreign aid doesn't have standing to sue to stop the practice. The taxpayer is only "generally" injured by the alleged practice.

The same should apply here. Congress is not directly injured by Obama's actions. They are only generally affected. I believe even if the Court accepts the case, it will never be decided on the merits but dismissed on the basis of standing.

savalez

(3,517 posts)
14. Anybody can file a lawsuit.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:15 PM
Jul 2014

He allowed Businesses one extra year to get it together. Oooohhh.

They are hoping it'll be in the news until November. As the congressional Dems say, it's a "political stunt".

Botany

(70,504 posts)
11. The Conspiracy to Commit Legislative Constipation
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:06 PM
Jul 2014
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/wolcott/2012/03/The-Conspiracy-to-Commit-Legislative-Constipation

They can't fund the Highway Trust Fund but they can spend time and money on this crap
that will get tossed out of court for lack of standing* in a heartbeat.


* Assuming it is an honest court.
 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
13. They are suing him because he didn't do something they didn't want him to do.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:14 PM
Jul 2014

These idiots wear their asshats on their feet and their clown shoes on their heads.

sorefeet

(1,241 posts)
24. COUNTER SUE
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 03:47 PM
Jul 2014

Can't someone sue the Republican congress. Can't we the people sue congress for all the corruption. How many billions of tax payer money have they spent on shutting down the government and all the votes to stop Obama care. Plus who knows how much more taxpayer money they wasted on obstruction.

jmowreader

(50,557 posts)
25. John Boehner, get out your Constitution
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 05:09 PM
Jul 2014

The Republicans are in love with the idea that unless Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution specifically says Congress can do something, they can't. So John, get out your Constitution and follow along:

This is the complete list of enumerated powers granted to Congress by 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 Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.


Where is Suing the President in this?

former9thward

(32,003 posts)
35. It is rare but the House can sue.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 08:47 PM
Jul 2014
Congressional lawsuits against presidents are rare. In 2008, a federal judge backed a suit by Democrats who then controlled the House and were trying to force the Bush administration to honor House subpoenas of senior White House officials. Though the House won the first round in court, that decision was under appeal when a settlement was reached and the lawsuit was dropped.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/gop-led-house-ready-lawsuit-obama-24767773

samsingh

(17,598 posts)
28. and these fing moron repugs would have us believe that they have no
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 06:39 PM
Jul 2014

plans to impeach the President - it's a liberal ploy to raise money.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)
33. "While the Constitution does not explicitly state a Nigerian Muslim communist can't be president. ..
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 08:29 PM
Jul 2014

We all knew it was understood among the founding fathers, like the right to bear AK-47s at Walmart.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)
32. We're all these guys in a coma when Bush was president?
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 08:25 PM
Jul 2014

Or do they think we were?

Bush did infinitely worse abuses of presidential power and they didn't let out a peep.

former9thward

(32,003 posts)
36. The Democratic House did sue Bush.
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 08:48 PM
Jul 2014
Congressional lawsuits against presidents are rare. In 2008, a federal judge backed a suit by Democrats who then controlled the House and were trying to force the Bush administration to honor House subpoenas of senior White House officials. Though the House won the first round in court, that decision was under appeal when a settlement was reached and the lawsuit was dropped.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/gop-led-house-ready-lawsuit-obama-24767773
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