Congress Is a Safeguard Against ‘Stupid Ideas’ | The Ezra Klein Show
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The problem with the Iran war is not The problem with the Iran war is not that Trump failed to file the that Trump failed to file the that Trump failed to file the appropriate paperwork. It is a appropriate paperwork. It is a appropriate paperwork. It is a manifestly stupid idea. We need leaders manifestly stupid idea. We need leaders manifestly stupid idea. We need leaders out there articulating why this is just out there articulating why this is just out there articulating why this is just a horrible idea. a horrible idea. a horrible idea. >> that we need leaders articulating why >> that we need leaders articulating why >> that we need leaders articulating why it's a horrible idea. But sometimes it's a horrible idea. But sometimes it's a horrible idea. But sometimes you're going to have stupid ideas. you're going to have stupid ideas. you're going to have stupid ideas. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And sometimes you're going to have >> And sometimes you're going to have >> And sometimes you're going to have stupid leaders. stupid leaders. stupid leaders. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And the point of having rules and >> And the point of having rules and >> And the point of having rules and processes is because you don't believe processes is because you don't believe processes is because you don't believe you will always be governed by the you will always be governed by the you will always be governed by the wisest of philosopher kings. wisest of philosopher kings. wisest of philosopher kings. >> Absolutely. And I think that gets to a >> Absolutely. And I think that gets to a >> Absolutely. And I think that gets to a lot of what we're seeing right now in lot of what we're seeing right now in lot of what we're seeing right now in terms of Congress taking control and terms of Congress taking control and terms of Congress taking control and taking responsibility. I mean they have taking responsibility. I mean they have taking responsibility. I mean they have had multiple opportunities to vote for had multiple opportunities to vote for had multiple opportunities to vote for war powers resolutions, whether it's on war powers resolutions, whether it's on war powers resolutions, whether it's on Venezuela, whether it's on Iran, whether Venezuela, whether it's on Iran, whether Venezuela, whether it's on Iran, whether it's now on Cuba. And they are choosing it's now on Cuba. And they are choosing it's now on Cuba. And they are choosing not to take ownership. And I think this not to take ownership. And I think this not to take ownership. And I think this goes to a much deeper problem. The use goes to a much deeper problem. The use goes to a much deeper problem. The use of military violence has become just of military violence has become just of military violence has become just such a regular occurrence. And I and and such a regular occurrence. And I and and such a regular occurrence. And I and and I think people do have an a kind of I I think people do have an a kind of I I think people do have an a kind of I think an innate understanding that it is think an innate understanding that it is think an innate understanding that it is not supposed to be this way because it not supposed to be this way because it not supposed to be this way because it is not.
Summary
The discussion centers on the inherent foolishness of wars like the one in Iran, underscoring the need for leaders to articulate opposition to such disastrous ideas. It highlights that established rules and processes exist precisely because we cannot always rely on wise leadership, referencing the role of Congress in war powers resolutions for conflicts like Iran and Venezuela. The core takeaway is that military violence has become too normalized, and a deeper issue lies in the lack of political courage to rein it in.