Blabber mouths and Congress

ONLY Congress has the power to declare war and raise the armed forces. It should be consulted as full partner when the president places U.S. troops in harm's way, preferably ahead of time. Though he committed no egregious sins, President Obama could have done a better job in this regard with respect to Libya. That said, here's the problem. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) attended a classified briefing on Libya today. Let me repeat: A classified briefing - as in you cannot discuss what was said. Afterward, he picks up a phone and talks to TPM, the big political blog. Other than sharing what was said about the War Powers Act, "the lawmaker said he learned nothing new during the classified briefing by Clinton, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," wrote the TPM reporter. Hmm. And if he had learned anything new, would Sherman have shared? I wonder. I'll presume the good congressman wouldn't actually divulge secrets, but his actions do not exactly inspire confidence. And people wonder why presidents hesitate to deal with the 535 "secretaries of states" in Congress on matters of war. Just sayin'.