I like Dennis Kucinich. I think he is an invaluable part of the Progressive Caucus in the house. Early in the campaign for the 2008 Democratic nomination, I ranked the Democrats in the order of Edwards (oops), Kucinich, Clinton, and Obama. I loked Obama too, but I did not think he could overcome American racism. I sure called that wrong! Then Dennis had what I call his Ron Paul moment, a lapse that prevents me from ever supporting Dennis beyond his current role. Sadly, he just had another one.

In Dennis’ original Ron Paul moment, he endorsed Ron Paul as his potential running mate, solely because Paul opposed war. For Dennis to ignore Paul’s lifetime history of racism, both overt and covert, and his intent to completely undo the safety net for America’s most needy citizens showed me that he is not capable of seeing the landscape beyond his antiwar sentiment.

When Barack Obama decided to commit troops to protecting Libyan citizens, I decided to endorse the decision, but not without reservations. I respect the opinions that differ from mine, and do not believe that people that oppose that decision should stifle their views to support Obama, because he is our commander in chief. However, for Kucinich to suggest that Obama’s decision is an impeachable offense is over the top, a second Ron Paul moment. And to go on the Republican Ministry of Propaganda, to be interviewed by arch liar, Bill O’Reilly, is an unconscionable act on his part.

First, military action has been undertaken on multiple occasions by Presidents of both parties, but Congress has not declared war since 1941. The Constitutionality of such actions is a matter for legal scholars, but one cannot say that Obama did so without precedent. If Congress wants to demand that no military action be exercised by the Commander in Chief, in the absence of a formal declaration of war, they should replace the War Powers Resolution with legislation to that effect.

At the time that the Obama administration made the decision, after the UN Resolution, mandating action against Gaddafi, Congress was not in session, Obama did notify the leadership of both the House and the Senate. He gave the formal notification required on Sunday. Therefore he must withdraw US troops within 60 days in the absence of Congressional approval.

Obama may be right about the Constitutionality of his actions, because the action is based on the UN Charter, and the Constitution gives Treaties the power of law. And he may be wrong. I’ll leave that to those more knowledgeable than I, but under no circumstances does his action rise to the level of High Crimes and Misdemeanors required for impeachment.