If Congress Doesn't Approve Use of Force in Syria, Should Obama Go Ahead With It Anyway?

If Congress does not approve a resolution to use force in Syria, should the president go ahead without lawmakers' approval?

DEMOCRATS (94 VOTES)

Yes: 20%
No: 80%

Yes

"It's the only way he avoids being totally feckless."

"If Congress does nothing and tries to call it leadership, POTUS should leave all options open to protect U.S. values and interests abroad."

"He has no good options, but he must act unilaterally if the Syrian chemical weapons can't be taken away from Assad."

"Yes. He should have done it Aug. 22."

"It is the right thing to do."

No

"The Russian deal could save Obama from a vote, and that is his best hope to get out of this mess."

"You can't ask Congress for authorization and then disregard their vote."

"If Congress turns the president down, the legislative branch is just doing its job, and the only way for President Obama to do his is to stand down."

"He could, but he shouldn't. He can't ask Congress for permission he didn't even need and then just ignore it."

"Once he has asked for approval, he is acknowledging legally he needs it."

"It is not clear that he legally could do it, but it is clear that he cannot politically do it."

"Why the hell do you ask for a vote if you can't win it? If he loses, forget it."

"Can't ask for permission first, then for forgiveness."

"It would be political suicide."

"He turned his fate over to them. He needs to live with it."

If Congress does not approve a resolution to use force in Syria, should the president go ahead without lawmakers' approval?

REPUBLICANS (104 VOTES)

Yes: 26%
No: 74%

Yes

"Politically, yes. This thing has been so amateurishly handled his only saving play is to not weaken presidential power for his successors."

"The institution of the presidency demands he take some action at this point."

"Yes, but for a different reason than it's the right thing to do. Obama tried to juke Syria on the international court and sprained his ankle. Now he needs SOMEONE to help him up."

"He should have never asked."

"Politics aside, he set a line and OUR credibility is on the line."

"Yes, I'd like to watch him commit political suicide."

No

"An impeachable event."

"He passed the buck with no intention of taking it back. Enemies of this country have learned much from this episode — and none of it is good for our international interests."

"Not a chance with such high public-disapproval rates."

"He has boxed himself in. Without approval, he risks huge backlash."

"It will bust his brand, as well as go against a solid majority of Americans."

"If Congress votes this down, it is because of overwhelming opposition from the American public."

"Once you ask Dad for permission to borrow the car and he says no, it's too late to just take it."

"It would make a mockery of the presidency and Congress."

"In this case, only a fool would rush in where Congress fears to tread."

"It's one thing to just do. It's another to ask permission, fail to get it, and do it anyway."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O'Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.

If Congress does not approve a resolution to use force in Syria, should the president go ahead without lawmakers' approval?

DEMOCRATS (94 VOTES)

Yes: 20%
No: 80%

Yes

"It's the only way he avoids being totally feckless."

"If Congress does nothing and tries to call it leadership, POTUS should leave all options open to protect U.S. values and interests abroad."

"He has no good options, but he must act unilaterally if the Syrian chemical weapons can't be taken away from Assad."

"Yes. He should have done it Aug. 22."

"It is the right thing to do."

No

"The Russian deal could save Obama from a vote, and that is his best hope to get out of this mess."

"You can't ask Congress for authorization and then disregard their vote."

"If Congress turns the president down, the legislative branch is just doing its job, and the only way for President Obama to do his is to stand down."

"He could, but he shouldn't. He can't ask Congress for permission he didn't even need and then just ignore it."

"Once he has asked for approval, he is acknowledging legally he needs it."

"It is not clear that he legally could do it, but it is clear that he cannot politically do it."

"Why the hell do you ask for a vote if you can't win it? If he loses, forget it."

"Can't ask for permission first, then for forgiveness."

"It would be political suicide."

"He turned his fate over to them. He needs to live with it."

If Congress does not approve a resolution to use force in Syria, should the president go ahead without lawmakers' approval?

REPUBLICANS (104 VOTES)

Yes: 26%
No: 74%

Yes

"Politically, yes. This thing has been so amateurishly handled his only saving play is to not weaken presidential power for his successors."

"The institution of the presidency demands he take some action at this point."

"Yes, but for a different reason than it's the right thing to do. Obama tried to juke Syria on the international court and sprained his ankle. Now he needs SOMEONE to help him up."

"He should have never asked."

"Politics aside, he set a line and OUR credibility is on the line."

"Yes, I'd like to watch him commit political suicide."

No

"An impeachable event."

"He passed the buck with no intention of taking it back. Enemies of this country have learned much from this episode — and none of it is good for our international interests."

"Not a chance with such high public-disapproval rates."

"He has boxed himself in. Without approval, he risks huge backlash."

"It will bust his brand, as well as go against a solid majority of Americans."

"If Congress votes this down, it is because of overwhelming opposition from the American public."

"Once you ask Dad for permission to borrow the car and he says no, it's too late to just take it."

"It would make a mockery of the presidency and Congress."

"In this case, only a fool would rush in where Congress fears to tread."

"It's one thing to just do. It's another to ask permission, fail to get it, and do it anyway."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O'Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.