The Senate just passed the defense bill by a vote of 85 to 13. The lopsided nature of the vote is key because this is a bill that president Obama has threatened to veto. The bill, you see, has provisions that Obama does not like. First, the bill prohibits the closing of the facility at Guantanamo that houses terrorist detainees. Second, the bill also limits what can be done with the prisoners at that Gitmo. Third, another provision limits the size of the staff of the White House National Security Advisor; this provision is intended by Congress to stop the attempts by the National Security Advisor to circumvent the Pentagon and to deal directly with military units in the field.
It is a major slap in the face for Obama that the Democrats in the Senate voted by more than two thirds against the president's position. It is, perhaps, a warning to Obama that he had better not veto the bill. Surely, such a veto would be over-ridden by the required two-thirds majority.
Especially since it comes right after the Orlando terror attack, this vote makes clear that the country is rejecting a big part of Obama's strategy for defense (assuming Obama actually has a strategy).
It is a major slap in the face for Obama that the Democrats in the Senate voted by more than two thirds against the president's position. It is, perhaps, a warning to Obama that he had better not veto the bill. Surely, such a veto would be over-ridden by the required two-thirds majority.
Especially since it comes right after the Orlando terror attack, this vote makes clear that the country is rejecting a big part of Obama's strategy for defense (assuming Obama actually has a strategy).
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