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Thank you, Senator McCain, for your latest lunacy in a long line of hysterical support for a failed policy.

Congress's power to fund wars gives it the ability to, as with funding of anything else, set conditions for recieving that funding.

McCain has clearly demonstrated that he is not mentally sound to be POTUS with this ridiculous assertion.

And here I thought a war of choice would be considered unconstitutional; Silly me thinking illegally wire-tapping American citizens would be considered unconstitutional; Slap me with a wet noodle with my hilarious mind-set that suspending habeas corpus is considered unconstitutional ... just to find out from Mad Cow that these things AREN'T unconstitutional but trying to get our troops out of Iraq is ... I guess I missed that part in the Constitution.

Closer to 60 votes?...thats not good enough. the america people have spoken. which part are you guys NOT getting?...Let's get out! NOW!!
You want us to think that the service people want to stay there. You want us to believe we can win the war. Some people just believe any Damn thing.

Alas, Congress has not declared war on Iraq...so why fund an occupation?

Sen. McCain didn't seem too worried about the Constitution when he pushed through his brainchild the BCRA which was a blatant violation of the 1st Amendment and his personal attempts to right the wrongs of his involvement in the Keating Five.

I also didn't see him crying foul about unconstitutional provisions in the Patriot Act that he voted for without reading. When he took office he took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. How can he do that if he can't be bothered to read legislation before he supports it. Barney Frank and Ron Paul voted NO to the Patriot Act specifically for this reason. No one would let them read it first.

He didn't take an oath to treat the Constitution like a Sunday buffet in which you sample the entrees you like and avoid the rest. He didn't take an oath to sidestep or trample the Constitution when it doesn't agree with his personal political agenda. But that's exactly how he and 99% of our elected government treat that document.

It makes me wonder how they square up lying to God. Because that is exactly what McCain and those like him have done. And if they will lie to God, they damn sure will have no problem lying to us.

Well if "Congress has no business mandating the length of tours by servicemen", than the Republican Administration should have enough respect for their military to refrain from burning their military members out due to the current excessive length and numbers of tours.

And I would guess that if the present Administration held this respect for their military, the Democrats wouldn't have to take on the responsibility.

Yoou whoo! Hate to inform you but Senator McCain is NOT kissing the Bush patootie. He is looking out after yours. This country is in deep peril, most of you have no real idea. This terror has been in the planning stages for DECADES. All you brilliant commentators surely know that already. If John McCain isn't running the store, what will the 'good looking, sexy, whatever the heck' in the White House be doing while Rome burns? Oh yeah, getting a hair cut, and cleaning the stains off the fifth wife's Jesus Jammies, and watching the mud wrestling in the Congress. The reason we are in trouble now started way before Clinton. It was just set in motion by Mr. Bush.

Sorry John McCain.

Right after it says Congress writes the paychecks, the Constitution says: "To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces". Article 1, Section 8, Clause 14.

If it wasn't there, how could Congress make laws that bind the military, like the UCMJ? Dumb statement John. I'm sure it sounds great on radio, but it is dead wrong and as a Senator and an Officer you should know it.

Way to shoot yourself in the foot McCain. Do I even need to say anything?

The pro-war people have done so much more that could be construed as unconstitutional than those on the other side. Flaunting words like 'unconstitutional' and 'patriotic' about in the ways his party uses them is shameful.

"Something can be deemed unconstitutional if the supreme court decides that the constitution prohibits such an action."

Well, since Bush got to place his appointees on the Supreme Court now, and shift the balance, my guess is they'd vote his way...

Well, I still respect and appreciate your service to our country, Mr. McCain; thank you. However, increasingly I find I have diminishing respect for your political positions.

McCain is a joke. We don't want a president with a sagging face.

Hold on, MH in Alexandria, you just referred to the Constitution of the United States as "legal minutia." It's the document that this nation is BUILT on and the only thing that defines us as a nation. If the United States doesn't have the Constitution, we have nothing else. There is clearly the right for Congress to make war policy, as noted by so many others that took the time to read our nations greatest masterpiece. We are a country of ideas, and the greatest idea this nation has come up with so far is this document. Don't defile it. McCain had his facts wrong and used a lie to manipulate his listeners into sympathizing with him. Where is the honor there?

Yet more evidence that McCain is painfully out of touch and uninformed. Maybe next weekend he can take an Intro to the Constitution seminar at Phoenix College and get a little bit more of an understand of what IS and ISN'T stated in the Constitution. But beyond that, this guy has some nerve talking about actions being unconstitutional. I mean, in the past six years when have the Republicans given a rat's hiney about the Constitution? Apparently Senator McCain sees the Constitution as as document that has a certain pick-and-choose quality when it comes to honoring and enforcing the many protections afforded by that masterpiece document. John, you're out of money and you've been out of ideas for a long time. It's time to pack up the tent and head home.

I find it refreshing that McCain is willing to bring up the constitution. He's quite right that Congress has no business dictating troop movements. However, he'll also have to concede that our intervention in Iraq is unconstitutional and illegal in the first place. As constitution champion Ron Paul has noted, this war was declared by the President. Only Congress is give the constitutional permission to declare war.

What a pitiful old man McCain has turned out to be. He wanted to be president too much.

Honor over legality? That's not an endorsement you know.I think McCain is a few marbles short.

Democratic Move on Iraq, not Democrat Move on Iraq.
Only Fox, obnoxious Republicans and WorldNet Daily should use that slur.

Wait, Congress wants to give the troops more time at home and McCain wants to keep them in harm's way. And who's accused of not supporting the troops?

TO all Iraq war supporters: the best way to support the troops is to not make them fight in an unjust and unnecessary war. At least the Democrats realize this.

As a soldier deployed to Iraq I would be remiss if I didn't applaude the Democrats efforts to do the "right thing." I believe that the attempts of certain politicians to label such an effort as "unconstitutional" are the same one who erroneously claim that wanting our military to return from Iraq is "unpatriotic." For the first time there is a glimmer of hope that Congress may be able to do something to "support" the troops and their families. How can asking for more time home and less time deployed be seen as the wrong move? I can say one thing: it is what the troops want and need.

Thank you McCain, I know it's incovenient for anti-war supporters to be faced with something like the constitution but sometimes you just have to tell it like it is. McCain remains the only candidate who will tell the American people the truth no matter how much they don't want to hear it.

Also for those of you who continually accuse Bush of defying the constitution please tell me EXACTLY what he has done that is specifically forbidden in the constitution. Chances are you can't, you can only state things he has done that either aren't mentioned in the document or only mention part of what he has done. This has become a popular thing to say for those who oppose Bush but most who use this argument fail to mention what exactly he has done that is so wrong.

Americans... The problem I see is that no one asked you to sacrifice for the effort, and I bet that if it would have that many would not have the intestinal fortitude to due so.

McCain has... he knows what it takes to win, and what it means to have honor doing so.

Legal minutia and sound bites are what most politicians brag about and McCain puts honor above politics… I just wished others did too.

When did he become such a manipulative gasbag? This is the same man who was touted as a Republican Democrats could vote for, and now he's just a shill for Bush's failed policies. Pathetic.

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war. –James Madison (Source: Consitution of the USA)

Found it somewhat funny that he would mention how unconstitutional he believes this to be....ignorant of what the constitution states though. This administration has done more to damage our constitutional rights than any other. Regulating the war is not unconsitutional, but representative of congress' responsibilities.

It seems to me that McCain wants vendeta for what happened to him in Viet Nam. I am really very tired of the whole war thing. I support our troops, but feel we were manipulated into this war for oil. Our children will be paying for it for MANY years to come.

You're a soldier and Senator, but as a lawyer, Sir, you're wrong on constitutionality until the Court says you're right. If Congress can defund, it can maintain readiness by granting leave.

MCCAIN IS JUST ANOTHER BUSH, HE HAS BEEN RANTING AND RAVING FOR MORE TROOPS WE HAVE TO FIGHT ETC,ETC, HE NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT TO PASTURE. THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH OUR COUNTRY NOW, THE INMATES ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM.

Senator McCain should take the gun and go himself to the Iraq battle and become a martyr. What a good riddance that would be.

It's certainly clear who gives a rats ass for the well being of the proud Americans in uniform and who does not. Seems to me that another possible "Commander in Chief has just eliminated himself from anyones serious consideration for that job.

Has Senator McCain ever addressed the issue of how many actions George Bush has taken that are "unconstitutional?"

Posted By Bill, Streamwood, IL : September 15, 2007 8:31 pm

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There would not be enough air time for Senator McCain to speak if he did this. All George Bush does is walk all over the constitution every time he gets the chance.

May I ask the good Senator,

Where does it say in the Constitution that the President can conduct a war for half a decade, wasting billions of dollars of the people's money and allowing the deaths of thousands of Americans for a war that is only compromising national security? Especially when 2/3 of the country is against the war.

Of course the congress has the authority, McCain is pandering to the
pro-war base of the republican party.
McCain like all the other republican canidates except for Ron Paul are pandering to the right wing, pro-war, and religious zealots in the republican party.

In response to Senator McCain's comment regarding the constitutionality of the congressional regulation of tours of service: the constitution clearly deliniates the connection between taxation and representation. This was, in fact, a primary cause for the American War of Independence. If the American electorate pay taxes, and are REQUIRED to pay taxes, then their opinion on the actions of congress CANNOT be dismissed. Because the war in Iraq is being funded by taxes paid by the American electorate, then the constitution clearly allows for the elected representatives of those taxpaying citizens to regulate war expenditure in Iraq or elsewhere. I am sorry, Senator, but you are incorrect. Congress IS imbued with the power to regulate all things that impact federal expenditure as funded by U.S. taypayer dollars – including military expenditure. The constitution does NOT state that the president has sole power over the purposes to which tax proceeds will go.

I feel like perhaps the answer to McCain's question is Article I Section 8 "The Congress shall have power...To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces"

Interesting idea, Senator McCain! I've opposed reductions of troops in Iraq on purely moral grounds–I don't think we should abandon the many innocent people of that country to a life of fear and suffering at the hands of the terrorists. I didn't even think to look at how the troop reduction plans are illegal and unconstitutional!

Senator McCain, the free world thanks you for your support of America's mission in Iraq, no matter how "politically incorrect" that support may be!

No need to be concerned about a bumbling gasbag.

Yeaaahhh...about that. Isn't this in regards to the war that Bush went ahead with without his own needed approval from others? Last I know we haven't declared war since WWII. What does McCain have to say about the constitutionality of THAT?

Regardless of constitutionality, a gov't is supposed to represent the people and right now what the people want is to pull out.

McCain is completely wrong.

Congress has the express power, under Article 1, Section 8, paragraph 14, "[t] make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces."

Therefore, Congress - and not the president - therefore has the right to regulate tours of duty. McCain's contrary suggestion reflects a lack of knowledge with the Constitution and will not fool anyone.

Has Senator McCain ever addressed the issue of how many actions George Bush has taken that are "unconstitutional?"

Jeez, the silence is overwhelming.

LOL go to google and type in "checks and balance constitution"

IT is congress job to keep the president in check.

"democracies i dont like em they always get in the way of doing wars"

boo hooo hooo
BUSH CLONE HYPED ON STEROIDS

BONE HEAD
here is a web site
http://senatorhill.com/articles/constitution.htm scrol down and find BALANCE OF POWERS

here is a better site http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_cnb.html
CHECKS AND BALANCES

How did you get elected and be so ignorant on the constitution.

Who constitution are you referring to?
The Nazis constitution because in AMERICA that is the JOB of CONGRESS.

"Dang blasted democracies always get in the way to keep a war going"

Who ever district elected him. May god give you strenth in getting some education.

after reading this This guy is scarier then bush. I use to call him a clone. but he a BUSH CLONE ON STERIODS.

I can't find anything that says that the current length of tours of duty (15 months for Army, Marines, whose standard tour is seven months, or the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, which serve 12-month tours.) are set based on anything other than tradition, necessity and or the whims of the dept. of defense, which is why they could make the standard tour increase to 15 months, from 12, which is double what combat tours once were.
Why McCain is railing against giving the troops, some who are on their THIRD or 4th tours, adequate rest, as a former soldier himself, because it is the only way that the current force levels can be maintained, is despicable.
That he's saying that Webb's bill is unconstitutional is kind of crazy, as the constitution doesn't FORBID the idea, and the length of a tour of combat, like the other aspects of the military, are subject to congressional oversight.
The bill is a political ploy, and so is McCain's ranting. The war is his issue and he's going to sink or swim with it.
Glug, glug, senator McCain.

McCain's arguement may convince a lot of stupid people. No the Constitution does not express that power to the congress, however we all know that the almost all of what the government does are outside the powers expressed in the constitution.

Something can be deemed unconstitutional if the supreme court decides that the constitution prohibits such an action.

This is another example of how politicians take advantage of average people. It sounds good to a lot of people but it is absolutely invalid.
Honestly I expected more out of John McCain. So much for straight talk.