Pathways from September 11 to January 6th

Today’s focus is…

…on Barbara Lee (D-CA,) who, in the traumatic immediate aftermath of
September 11, 2001, implored her colleagues to think deeply about how
to respond as a nation to the attacks. The country was still in shock.
She sensed that the Bush administration was moving too fast, was too
rushed in making momentous decisions. She expressed concern that the
expansive powers afforded to the executive branch by the Authorization
to use military force (AUMF), as written, was dangerous in its unlimited
scope. She warned Congress not to surrender its role in declaration
of war to the president. She listened to her inner voice and to the
voice of a clergyman. Hers was the one brave and lonely vote “no” to
the AUMF, one of the key documents that widened the leeway for abuse
of power since 9/11. Senate: 420 to 1 (Sen. Barbara Lee) Congress: 98 to 0

Barbara Lee’s plea: “As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore.”

See more “Recent Posts” in this blog series: Pathways from September 11 to January 6th

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