Reply #2: I suspect that The BG did not watch the second hearing

[karynnj]

Kerry, Durbin and Cardin ALL supported Lugar's amendment - all strongly saying that this should trigger the War Powers Act. (start around 46 minutes - they are speaking of two amendments - a contentious Corker one - asking the President to certify either that we are in hostilities (which Obama does not believe) OR that the WPA is unconstitutional (which Obama also does not believe) and the straight forward Lugar amendment that essentially says that we are under "hostilities", thus under the WPA. They were both co-sponsors of Kerry/McCain. (Corker said that his amendment was because Obama's response was "too cute" and sets a very bad precedent.) This amendment seemed to be universally voted for.

The second hearing was interesting. Lugar did get his amendments, but still voted against the overall authorization because he does not think we should be there.

(I am watching the hearing now.) Here is a Lugar press release:
http://foreign.senate.gov/press/ranking/release/?id=9d1f91fe-02f5-434e-85fd-c71edd1931c1

Senator Coons made a good point that they need to work on a better definition on hostilities - things like drones and cyper war require it - Kerry agreed and said that there was high spread agreement that this is something they need to do for fiuture situations.

The next amendment was a Lugar amendment to prevent any troops on the ground - Kerry and Boxer were cosponsors and Webb expanded it in a second degree amendment that Lugar supported to ad that this means as peacekeepers after Gaddafi falls and no contractors - except for rescue of NATO forces and protecting our people at the embassy. Requires the administration to come if they want to do anything. This was unanimous.

This set of hearings really are very good.