The Theater of Congress’s Iran War Votes: War Powers Resolution Part of the Show

As if our “Much Ado About Nothing” file were not already bursting, the Senate really outdid itself this week . . . before skipping out of town for a nice vacation, hoping nobody notices how the World’s Greatest Deliberative Body comports itself in wartime.

It all started on Tuesday when the Senate narrowly approved a resolution under the War Powers Act, purporting to direct President Trump to either withdraw from the Iran war or seek congressional authorization to continue using military force. Four Republicans — Rand Paul (Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), and Bill Cassidy (La.) — joined 46 Senate Democrats to pass the resolution by a 50–48 margin. One Democrat, John Fetterman (Pa.), voted against the resolution. Two Republicans who have voted against the resolution on previous Democratic attempts to pass it were not present — Mitch McConnell (Ky.), the chamber’s 84-year-old former GOP leader who has recently been hospitalized, and Dave McCormick (Pa.).

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.

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As if our “Much Ado About Nothing” file were not already bursting, the Senate really outdid itself this week . . . before skipping out of town for a nice vacation, hoping nobody notices how the World’s Greatest Deliberative Body comports itself in wartime.

It all started on Tuesday when the Senate narrowly approved a resolution under the War Powers Act, purporting to direct President Trump to either withdraw from the Iran war or seek congressional authorization to continue using military force. Four Republicans — Rand Paul (Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), and Bill Cassidy (La.) — joined 46 Senate Democrats to pass the resolution by a 50–48 margin. One Democrat, John Fetterman (Pa.), voted against the resolution. Two Republicans who have voted against the resolution on previous Democratic attempts to pass it were not present — Mitch McConnell (Ky.), the chamber’s 84-year-old former GOP leader who has recently been hospitalized, and Dave McCormick (Pa.).

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.