I would rather fire john boner, excuse me boehner, than fire a cruise missle.

@ hobbies - good for you for posting your comment at work with a raving repub boss - tee hee hee - that's great!

There were some good calls on Thom's show today from people talking about the need for a peaceful revolution. I've always thought we could do it through the party system, but the Obama fiasco has shown that we do indeed need something else. The system is so deeply dysfunctional and corrupt that it simply no longer works (the way it was meant to).

I now say, along with my 21-year-old son, Bring On The Revolution! I'm ready!

RAVI BATRA The Coming Revolution against Political Corruption and Economic Chaos: The New Golden Age. Come on Thom! Revolution is inevitable, when are you going to abandon your dead theory of taking over the Democratic Party?

Where is Ravi Batra? He used to be on regularly!!! WTF, who is running the ship over there? You need more progressive guests on for longer discussions. Derrick Jensen, Noam Chompsky, Chris Hedges, Peter W. Galbraith?
One must always challenge one's own belief system with those who are more progressive than one's self. That is the only way to continue to grow and learn.
PUSH LEFT! not back to the right.....

Thom,

I caught you and John Nichols briefly today. While I appreciate your defense of the US Constitution, at the time the framers created and the states approved this living document, the world of our young country was a much more isolated place.

As Commander in Chief, the President of the United States, certainly has the authority to send members of the armed forces into areas devastated by natural disasters, typically the National Guard but also other armed services members at times. And these people may be sent into harm's way, such as the personnel on US Navy ships now in or near Japan, on humanitarian missions to the people of Japan who were hammered by the recent tsunami and now face radioactive fallout from plants damaged by the natural disasters from the huge earthquake and tsunami.

At the time the Constitution was written and adopted, the framers certainly had no concept of a League of Nations or a United Nations. They were barely past the Revolutionary War, and still not out of the woods with King George and the Redcoats, who would wage war again in 1812. But now, we do have a United Nations. And the US is not only a member nation but also a permanent member of the Security Council. The vote on UN resolution 1973 S/RES/1973 (2011) was 10-0 with 5 absentions (Russia and China expected). That resolution included the following (see BBC link for details): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12783819

What authority does the UN have in this instance?Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of... aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace and security".
Chapter VII also gives the Military Staff Committee responsibility for strategic coordination of forces placed at the disposal of the UN Security Council. It is made up of the chiefs of staff of the five permanent members of the Council.
Should the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.There is nothing in this Chapter which says that any member nation must provide resources to take any action from air, land or sea. Nor is there any reason for any member nation to issue a formal Declaration of War in order to provide those resources to enforce a UN resolution. Yes, the Congress should probably have been advised, and their consent given, but THIS Congress, in particular, is so dysfuntional that by the time that consent had been given, all those in Lybia who actively opposed the regime, one of the most repressive in the world whose leader had said in no uncertain terms that he would seek out those who opposed him and show them no mercy, as well as any other civilians in Lybia from whatever their country of origin would have been slaughtered. That could not be allowed to happen as has happened before in the Balkans, and yes, in several places on the African continent. Timely actions were needed. You yourself made the case for the lack of real significant focus in the Congress when you pointed out the GOP-led House was much more interested in removing a pittance from NPR than in taking an active role in this discussion - wherein in 2 days well over $100M of armaments in the form of missles had been expended.
For me the answer is simple: Muammar al-Gaddafi had to be stopped. His refusal to comply with an earlier UN resolution S/RES/1970 (2011) to among other things implement and honor an immediate cease fire compelled the UN to act. The fact that 5 Security Council members abstained only highlights that they do not want to be involved. That no permanent member vetoed the resolution sends a pretty strong message that they too, knew he had to go.Limited involvement of US forces, notably air and naval (Tomahawks) is all I would support. But, with the support of NATO and Arab League countries who sought a no-fly zone (did anyone think this could be done without military actions?) limited and limited duration engagement of US forces is all that should be needed. That is clearly President Obama's and Secretary Gates' intent, and why they insist that the leadership of the UN actions be undertaken by other member nations. Our extended presence could do more harm than good. The real problem will likely soon become: "who succeeds al-Gaddafi?" And what type of UN Security force will be needed on the ground to provide some stability to give the Libyan people a chance to create their own government and move forward.

"Military officials claim that the crash was caused by mechanical failure and not by anti-aircraft fire – and both pilots have been rescued with only minor injuries."

Another mis-stated fact! In fact, the Pilots were rescued by Pro-Democracy forces, who then brought the pilots into their home, given something to drink, and then handed to friendly pro-democracy forces who then handed them to Coalition forces who in turn whisked them away on an Osprey aircraft!

Funny how facts presented IN-CORRECTLY, colors the tone of the discussion! Rebel pro-democracy forces fighting gadaffi who rescues AMERICAN pilots, but then the media makes it look like they were rescued just in time by un-stated rescuers!

Much different than stating they were rescued by the Pro-Democracy rebels who showed hospitality! This is how Propaganda works folks - so whose side is Thom really on here?

Thom has been telling us to take over the democratic party for some time now. To this I say why waste our time. Thom does not seem insane yet he would have us do the very definition of insanity "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I personnally have tried this in up state New York, Seattle WA and now from abroad for better then thirty years. It's always the same thing with the democrats they say one thing to their supports and do the exact opposite when in power. At every party meeting I have ever gone to they always take a populist stance with over whelming support by the crowd. Then they stab us in the back when they go back to work. Just like only Nixon could go to China only a democrat could get rid of Glass Segal (Clinton). Only a democrat can destroy social security (Obama cuts SS tax). Thereby starving it. I am a Black man born and raised in upstate New York (getto) not someone raised by a bank president. When I was a kid I was told by my grandfathers to beware what he called house slaves they always side with the master over their own. From what I can see of this president we have a house slave and he is more dangerous then any republican because he pretends to be one of us. lets look at what this man has done since in office. 1 To big to fail caused the banking crisis. Now the big banks are even bigger. 2 He promised investigations into crimes of the Bush administration and since being elected he has given a present to Bush on the day he was sworn in and his wife has made public appearances with Mrs. Bush. 3 We were presented with a public option that could have broken the backs of insurance companies instead he makes us pay taxes to private insurance companies with a mandate he promised would not happen if we elected him. Mix this with behind close door deals with drug companies and you tell me who he's working for. Even Nancy Polosy ignored her duties in the 2006 campaign by refusing to investigate the Bush administration. Obama speaks out against corporations being people under the law in state of the union and nowing since if he really beleaved in what hes said where is the push for a constitional amendment again they say one thing and do the opposite "Obama's largest contributor Goldman Sacks.

If we are ever to see the country we all hope for we must start fighting a long term battle against the economic royalist and not just the next election were we choose the lesser of two right wing parties. The money interst and too powerful in the democratic party we need to take over a party like the greens and set up a party constitution that calls for the things we believe in. We also need to ask people like Thom who they work for when they keep giving us the same old tried and failed strategies of staying with a party that has better fulfilled the corporate agenda then even the Republican's and why is he so condensending to any one that speaks agains his approach. I was always taught that to be a good liberal (progressive) you must have an open mind Thom clearly does not posses this.

Please excuse any spelling errors had to do this quickly I am at work and my boss is a raving republican

Prisoners are privatized, but escapees are externalized. Texas threatened to charge CCA for expenses of capture. I don't remember the outcome. I do remember that in the one instance I heard of that there was no law against walking away from a corporation, but the two escapees beat up a guard and stole his car, both crimes in Texas. They had been sent to Texas for sentences handed down in the Northwest.

bicyclingjroad Amazing! You forget one SMALL fact! The Democrats INHERITED the Wars! Either directly, Iran and Afganistan (Bush/Cheney), or indirectly, like the 1st and 2nd World Wars which happened due to the economic mismanagement of REPUBLICAN Presidents and administrations!

Here is a classic case in point where sweeping statements are made without the least compunction to state the facts correctly!

We are all NOT that misinformed or that stupid - sorry. Read a bit more American history, my friend.

And while we are at it, The American Revolutionary War, and The War of 1812: Started by Democrats, Republicans? The fact is that these wars of Independence were fought by all Americans who wanted Democracy and freedom from England. How about those wars?

It also amazing how most Americans are ignorant and mis-informed about their own history. But then again, this may be a case of selective editing to foster a certain point of view paid for by certain lobbyists – who knows!

But war mongers Democrats are Not! Democrats only clean up the mess left behind.

A draft would be a wake up call to america...........the fact itself would 'scare straight' our youth and their parents.

I think when the congress requires the US to belong to the United Nation it is implied that the president will use war department at his discression UNTIL congress acts to follow his lead or change direction.

Lots and lots of action.... Very little in the way of actual well thought-out plans.

Our President has once again chosen to pursue the path of corporate expedience as opposed to that of fundamental morality and his constitutional duty to the citizens of America.

Reinstate the draft with zero exemptions and see how long these three adventures last.