The Curious Tale of Illinois' Shifting Senators

Illinois two senators are in the midst of a chameleon act.

To review: Mark Kirk is the Republican Senator from Illinois. Dick Durbin is the Democrat, and a Barack Obama ally. 

So why, then, is Durbin siding with a group of lawmakers who admonished Obama for his continued military action in Libya, when Kirk is not?

Durbin agrees with a group of lawmakers who believe Obama may have overstepped his bounds, according to Pilotonline.

“There are others among us who have — for more than 25 years — held the position that the War Powers Act is the law of the land," Durbin said Wednesday in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of lawmakers that challenged the president's authority to carry out military actions.  "When we are engaged in military activity that is not defensive in nature, … congressional approval is essential.”

And this according to The Hill.

“It is the responsibility of Congress to step forward, speaking for American people, to make a decision on whether or not we will go forward with a military commitment,” said Durbin. “We have an awesome responsibility under the Constitution.”

Kirk, who has a military background, however, takes a different approach. He contends that getting congress involved will lead to unnecessary gridlock, according to the Rollcall.com

Sen. Mark Kirk, who follows foreign policy military matters, said the situation could soon be moot given the success of U.S. forces. The U.S., primarily through NATO, has acted to protect the rebels and civilians targeted by Gadhafi.

“I think the president is increasingly likely to win this war and not in the too-distant future. So any action by the Congress is increasingly likely to be irrelevant,” the Illinois Republican said. Asked what was likely to happen in the Senate, Kirk said, “Gridlock, because I think the U.S. victory is impending.”

Obama's White House contends Congressional approval is not necessary because Libya is not an American war, a view that lines up more closely with the Republican from Illinois that its Democrat senator?

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