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The Hill
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Is the War Powers Resolution an obsolete necessity?
When I recently asked whose power is the war power, it was not intended to be a trick question. But for the Founders in framing the Constitution, it was a tricky issue to tackle. They concluded the two principal branches should share the war power. Congress was designated as the branch to declare war and make rules for the regulation of the armed forces. The president would be the commander-in-chief when called into the actual service of the United States. The Framers did not want either branch to monopolize war making and envisioned them checking each other against the excessive use of force abroad. The late 20th century complicated that vision with the onset of the Cold War and multilateral treaties like NATO committing us to coming to the assistance of our treaty allies. With the growth of terrorist organizations around the world, our military footprint became larger and challenged Congress on how best to deploy our troops to respond effectively. In the midst of the divisive Vietnam War, Congress sought to modernize and strengthen its check on the imperial presidency by enacting the War Powers Resolution of 1973 over President Richard Nixon's veto. The resolution directed presidents to terminate any military hostilities after 60 days in the absence of a specific congressional authorization to declare war. Congress could terminate a commitment sooner by passing a concurrent resolution, not requiring a presidential signature. It could also extend a military action by enacting a joint resolution known as an authorization for the use of military force. Presidents ever since Nixon have declared the law an unconstitutional intrusion on the president's authority as commander-in-chief. Meanwhile, debates have raged as to how to make the War Powers Resolution more broadly acceptable and workable. One of those efforts was a privately funded National War Powers Commission founded in 2007 by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in partnership with law schools or institutes at Rice, Stanford and William and Mary. The 12-member panel, chaired by former Secretaries of State James A. Baker III and Warren Christopher met seven times over 13 months and heard from over 40 witnesses. In its final report, unveiled in July 2008, it recommended abolishing the War Powers Resolution and replacing it with the War Powers Consultation Act of 2009, and creating in Congress a 20-member joint committee on congressional consultation. The House Speaker and Senate majority leader would alternate as chairs. It would be further comprised of the House and Senate minority leaders, and the chairs and ranking members of key committees: Appropriations, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Relations, and Intelligence. The joint committee would be charged with reviewing, in closed session, a classified report from the president on any proposed commitment of troops to hostilities for more than a week, and, after closed deliberations, recommending to the two chambers either for or against the requested military commitment to hostilities. Under their proposal, if within 30 days after the conflict begins a concurrent resolution approving the commitment is rejected by either house, a joint resolution opposing the president's action is privileged. If passed, the usual two-thirds vote of both houses would be required to override the president's anticipated veto. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the commission's proposed War Powers Consultation Act in 2014 along with co-sponsors Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Angus King (I-Maine). The bill received no further action or co-sponsors. It lacked appeal on the Hill because it was obviously tilted toward the president. That should not be surprising since six of the 12 commission members were former executive branch officials and only three were former members of Congress. The other three were academics. As we have relearned recently, members are reluctant to go against presidents of their own party, and minority party opposition, while expected, seldom has legs. Presidents since Nixon have uniformly ignored or denounced the War Powers Resolution except for its periodic reporting requirements to Congress. Those reports, if taken more seriously by both branches, can be the building blocks for deeper consultation, deliberations and debates in Congress and the broader American public over how to end U.S. involvement in hostilities. The War Powers Resolution may be all but obsolete, but it can still provide some basis for hope in the future bicameral cooperation and agreements. Don Wolfensberger is a 28-year congressional staff veteran culminating as chief of staff of the House Rules Committee in 1995. He is author of, 'Congress and the People: Deliberative Democracy on Trial' (2000), and, 'Changing Cultures in Congress: From Fair Play to Power Plays' (2018).
Sydney Morning Herald
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Like a cockroach that can't be killed, Mark Latham has crawled around public life for too long. He must go
Gough Whitlam commands a legacy the scale of which few prime ministers have matched. In three short years, his government extricated Australia from the Vietnam War and abolished conscription, recognised China, established Medibank and Australia Post, did away with the death penalty for Commonwealth offences, and replaced God Save the Queen with Advance Australia Fair. Regrettably, Australia is stuck with one of Whitlam's less desirable achievements: Mark Latham. Few did more to build Latham up as a potential prime minister than Whitlam, and it is still remarkable that he and other Labor types saw fit to think this toxic political figure could lead our country. In fairness to the then caucus, Latham's behaviour has deteriorated with time. But there were plenty of early warning signs when, in December 2003, Labor MPs voted 47-45 to replace Simon Crean with the fiercely bright but deeply flawed then member for Werriwa. As the Herald 's Deborah Snow and Damien Murphy reported at the time, many around Latham knew he was an erratic loner fundamentally unsuited to the role his party had entrusted him with. Voters saw through the charade and thoroughly rejected him at that year's poll. But like a cockroach that can't be killed, Latham has crawled around public life ever since, surviving or succumbing to various scandals during stints at Sky News and The Australian Financial Review, and political flirtations with the Liberal Democrats and then One Nation. Each scandal had common threads, chief among them Latham's extreme nastiness, disrespect for women and sense of superiority over all others. It was on the platform of One Nation that Latham was elected to the NSW Legislative Council in 2019. Ever the opportunist, Latham quit ahead of the 2023 election so he could run again and secure a fresh term on Macquarie Street. Latham and Pauline Hanson's awkward match detonated later that year, and Latham is now an independent on the crossbench. That said, Latham has not always been alone in parliament: he's been repeatedly wined, dined and courted by Liberals who should have known better than to mix with this stain on public life. Because upper house MPs are given eight-year terms, Latham is entitled to stay in NSW Parliament until 2031. This would be a bad outcome even if Latham had been on his best behaviour. But given his deplorable conduct in parliament over recent years, NSW MPs may need to contemplate a difficult, complex change in the rules. Should Latham remain an elected representative? The Herald strongly believes he should not. In our view, Latham disqualified himself from office long before allegations this week by his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, of a 'sustained pattern' of abuse, including emotional, psychological and financial manipulation. An apprehended violence order application lodged by Matthews in the NSW Local Court claims Latham pressured her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts, and drove his car at her. The Daily Telegraph also revealed sordid WhatsApp messages Latham and Matthews exchanged while the MP was sitting in the parliamentary chamber. The Herald then reported that Latham's Parliament House office was allegedly used as the scene of 'sordid' sexual trysts captured on video. In the latest instalment, the Telegraph on Thursday reported that Latham allegedly took photos of female colleagues in the chamber without their knowledge and made disparaging comments about their appearances in text messages.
The Age
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Like a cockroach that can't be killed, Mark Latham has crawled around public life for too long. He must go
Gough Whitlam commands a legacy the scale of which few prime ministers have matched. In three short years, his government extricated Australia from the Vietnam War and abolished conscription, recognised China, established Medibank and Australia Post, did away with the death penalty for Commonwealth offences, and replaced God Save the Queen with Advance Australia Fair. Regrettably, Australia is stuck with one of Whitlam's less desirable achievements: Mark Latham. Few did more to build Latham up as a potential prime minister than Whitlam, and it is still remarkable that he and other Labor types saw fit to think this toxic political figure could lead our country. In fairness to the then caucus, Latham's behaviour has deteriorated with time. But there were plenty of early warning signs when, in December 2003, Labor MPs voted 47-45 to replace Simon Crean with the fiercely bright but deeply flawed then member for Werriwa. As the Herald 's Deborah Snow and Damien Murphy reported at the time, many around Latham knew he was an erratic loner fundamentally unsuited to the role his party had entrusted him with. Voters saw through the charade and thoroughly rejected him at that year's poll. But like a cockroach that can't be killed, Latham has crawled around public life ever since, surviving or succumbing to various scandals during stints at Sky News and The Australian Financial Review, and political flirtations with the Liberal Democrats and then One Nation. Each scandal had common threads, chief among them Latham's extreme nastiness, disrespect for women and sense of superiority over all others. It was on the platform of One Nation that Latham was elected to the NSW Legislative Council in 2019. Ever the opportunist, Latham quit ahead of the 2023 election so he could run again and secure a fresh term on Macquarie Street. Latham and Pauline Hanson's awkward match detonated later that year, and Latham is now an independent on the crossbench. That said, Latham has not always been alone in parliament: he's been repeatedly wined, dined and courted by Liberals who should have known better than to mix with this stain on public life. Because upper house MPs are given eight-year terms, Latham is entitled to stay in NSW Parliament until 2031. This would be a bad outcome even if Latham had been on his best behaviour. But given his deplorable conduct in parliament over recent years, NSW MPs may need to contemplate a difficult, complex change in the rules. Should Latham remain an elected representative? The Herald strongly believes he should not. In our view, Latham disqualified himself from office long before allegations this week by his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, of a 'sustained pattern' of abuse, including emotional, psychological and financial manipulation. An apprehended violence order application lodged by Matthews in the NSW Local Court claims Latham pressured her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts, and drove his car at her. The Daily Telegraph also revealed sordid WhatsApp messages Latham and Matthews exchanged while the MP was sitting in the parliamentary chamber. The Herald then reported that Latham's Parliament House office was allegedly used as the scene of 'sordid' sexual trysts captured on video. In the latest instalment, the Telegraph on Thursday reported that Latham allegedly took photos of female colleagues in the chamber without their knowledge and made disparaging comments about their appearances in text messages.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Marty Herman: Building a Legacy of Art and Integrity in Sedona
In today's art market, commercialism often overshadows creativity. Gallery owners must walk a tightrope between business and creativity. For Marty Herman, that balance is more than strategy; it's philosophy. As owner, founder and manager of Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art in Sedona, Arizona, Mr. Herman has created a space that celebrates honesty, artistic excellence and human connection. With more than 50 years of experience in marketing the visual arts, he has shaped not just a gallery but a community rooted in integrity. Before stepping into the world of art, Mr. Herman made a name for himself in marketing. He worked for major companies, including Pacific Stereo and University Stereo, and later founded JAM Advertising in Los Angeles. 'We worked with brands like Coca-Cola, Fred Segal and Guitar Center,' he says. 'We even worked with major movie studios and record companies.' That early success allowed Mr. Herman to retire at 35. 'I made my first million and spent the next six years sailing the world as a sea captain,' he recalls. 'Those years changed my perspective completely.' After returning from his travels, Mr. Herman realized something was missing in the art world. 'I visited more than 250 galleries and I just wasn't impressed,' he says. 'There was a lack of honesty and connection between the artist and the client. That didn't sit right with me.' In 1996, Mr. Herman opened Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art in Sedona. From the beginning, the gallery was built on a simple principle: 'It was all based on integrity and a handshake,' he explains. 'With us, the artist and the client are the most important. The gallery is just the facilitator.' Now one of the largest and unique fine art galleries in the country, Exposures spans over 20,000 square feet and works with nearly 100 top-tier artists, including painters, sculptors, glass artists and jewelry designers. Visitors can explore the collection at Under Mr. Herman's leadership, the gallery has earned international acclaim. It was named Best Gallery in Arizona and one of the 25 Best Galleries and Museums in America. Exposures was also recognized as one of the 20 Best Galleries in the World. Locally, the gallery has been voted Best Art Gallery in Sedona and Best Jewelry Gallery in Sedona by readers' choice. In 2022, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce honored Mr. Herman with a Cultural Achievement Award. 'The entire staff and I worked hard and I'm proud of what we've built,' he notes. Mr. Herman's career spans far beyond art. He served in the Vietnam War as a combat photographer and expert in photo intelligence. He's also volunteered as a head swim coach for the Special Olympics. 'Helping others brings me a lot of satisfaction. I rarely say no when someone asks for help.' Outside of work, Mr. Herman enjoys the natural red rock beauty of Sedona and working on community projects. He is currently collaborating on a new initiative: 'Because of my AI background, I'm working with a group to create an AI learning center for religious studies. It will be based in Arizona but open to people from all over the world.' After more than two decades in Sedona, Mr. Herman is still dreaming big. He is now working on moving to a larger city and building a gallery that's even larger than Exposures. 'The goal is always to give more artists the platform and more people a place to connect with art.' When asked what advice he offers aspiring gallerists or entrepreneurs, Mr. Herman keeps it simple: 'It's not about the money. It's about working with honesty and integrity. If you enjoy what you do and treat people with kindness, the money will follow.' About Marquis Who's Who®: Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website,
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Family, friends remember Gabriel House fire victims as strong elders with a knack for storytelling
Eleanor Willett and her great-great grandson, Jamison, hug at Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility, just hours before a deadly fire struck the facility on Sunday, July 13. Holly Mallowes Eleanor Willett At 86, the oldest victim was known by her doctors as an anomaly — seemingly becoming healthier with age and retaining a sharp memory, Willett's granddaughter told the Globe on Tuesday. 'She was a fighter, her long term memory was on point,' Holly Mallowes of Dartmouth said. Advertisement Willett raised five children, two of whom had already passed away, according to Mallowes. The former longtime Wareham resident also survived two husbands, her granddaughter said. 'Anything she went through, any tragedy, she came back even stronger,' Mallowes, 45, said. In her late 40s, Willett earned a college degree to advance her career at the local health department, Mallowes said. 'She had been too busy raising the kids when she was younger, and she went back to college just for herself,' she said. Just hours before the fire on Sunday, Willett had enjoyed a visit from her 5-year-old great-great grandson, Jamison. 'She had lived such a long time in life, she had a lot of experience,' Mallowes said. Eleanor Willett (far right) stands at a family member's home. Holly Mallowes Willett came from a large, loving family, according to her daughter-in-law, Deborah Dixon. Advertisement 'She was a lovely lady, and that's all. She loved everybody, she was easy going. She'd do anything for anybody,' Dixon said in a brief phone interview. Willett had lived with Dixon and her husband — Willett's son — for about 20 years before moving to Gabriel House a little over a year ago. 'She made friends, and she enjoyed it,' Dixon said, referring to Gabriel House. 'They were good to her.' Richard Rochon 'He was a tough cookie,' Stephanie Johnson said of her uncle, 78, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. " but he always made you laugh and smile, Her mother, Judy, was Rochon's sister, Johnson said. 'I know my mom is taking it pretty hard,' Johnson said. She and her family appreciated the work of first responders. 'I want to thank all of the firefighters and the ambulances and everybody who did show up to help,' Johnson said. 'It is unfortunate that it happened the way it happened.' Rui Albernaz, 64, one of the victims of the Fall River fire. Alda Albernaz Robert King and Kim Mackin Fall River resident Russell Silvia said he loved chatting with King and Mackin beneath a canopy that was often set up on the Gabriel House property. Silvia, 42, who works at the A&M Driving School, said residents considered him a connection to the outside world, like a 'little light that came by and said hello.' King, a Vietnam War veteran, shared stories of the conflict with an intrigued Silvia. He would would often complain about Advertisement He also said the 78-year-old was good at reading people's emotions and had a knack for using conversation to brighten their moods. 'If you weren't in the right mood, you could have a conversation with the man and get in the right mood,' Silvia said. Mackin, much more quiet, would greet Silvia by saying, 'I was just thinking about you.' The 71-year-old liked to give him gifts, including sweaters and recently, a brand new Boston Bruins cap with a Superman patch she'd attached. 'She was a good-hearted woman, she'd just come and sit and listen to my stories,' Silvia said. Besides King, a few other Gabriel House residents were Vietnam War veterans, Silvia sai. Silvia said King always wanted to raise awareness about the 'If it took nine people for the rest of those people to get saved, God works in mysterious ways,' Silvia said. Rui Albernaz , He was 64, one of five brothers. Their only sister, Alda Albernaz, and brother Robert looked up at the third floor of Gabriel House around 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the corner room where Rui lived for three years. 'It's just depressing looking at his room.' Robert said as he shook his head at the third floor walk up. 'Everybody still can't process all this. It's a lot to take in.' Rui loved to travel, dance, and never missed the chance to get his scratch tickets, the two said. Alda described him as a happy person who loved music. She said he was 'very good with numbers' like Raymond Babbitt in the movie 'Rain Man.' Advertisement 'He loved being around people,' Alda said. 'He was a good person, a very very outgoing person.' Alda worked at the facility about five years ago and said she had 'no complaints.' 'It was just a shock,' she said of hearing about Rui's death. 'I feel like I'm in a nightmare. I feel like it's a nightmare that I haven't woken up from yet.' Claire Thornton can be reached at
