Thomas Massie: How Elections and Congressional Votes Are Stolen

The Stolen Election

• 🗳️ Your election is effectively stolen after you elect your congressmen and senators and they arrive in Washington D.C.
• 🔑 Lobbyists and party leadership then control their voting cards, regardless of constituent wishes.
• 🤝 This process is described as trading the equity of your vote for "magic beans" that never sprout.

War Powers and Congressional Authority

• ⚔️ A War Powers Resolution on Venezuela was blocked in the Senate by a 51-50 vote, with two Republicans succumbing to political pressure.
• 🏛️ Congress is criticized for failing to uphold its constitutional authority to declare war, with lawmakers avoiding votes to avoid blame for potential military actions.
• 📜 Massie and Jim McGovern are teaming up to force another War Powers resolution vote, highlighting the issue of presidents acting without formal congressional authorization.

Accountability and Avoidance

• ⚠️ Colleagues are described as running from votes on military actions, not because they disagree, but to avoid accountability if things go badly.
• 📉 This avoidance allows presidents to act without the explicit consent or fingerprints of lawmakers.
• 🌍 The transcript mentions that since 9/11, many military actions (Libya, Syria) have occurred without a vote, though Iraq and Afghanistan did receive votes (AUMFs).

The Afghanistan AUMF

• 🌐 The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Afghanistan is particularly troubling as it represents a war on terror with no boundaries.
• 🇺🇸 This lack of defined boundaries allows for prolonged and potentially endless military engagements without clear objectives or end dates.