This week, the President asked Congress for a war authorization to use military force in the global fight against ISIS.  Let's break it down:

The Good

• The President is finally (maybe) taking ISIS seriously.

• According to the Constitution, it's Congress that authorizes whether or not to go to war, and the President is supposed to seek Congressional approval before using military force.  Obama's neglected to consult Congress in the past, so credit where due.

The Bad

• The President's actually asking for retroactive authorization.  We've been bombing ISIS for months already.  Better late than never, yeah?

• Democrats aren't inclined to support the President's call for military force.  How many more have to die before they do?

The Ugly

• The President's request actually limits American power.  While the President may not like deploying ground troops, this resolution essentially prohibits him from doing so!  Political expediency much?

• The timetable.  This resolution limits the President to three years for a successful completion of elimination of ISIS or his authorization expires.  Which begs the question, does the President care about winning?  Isn't it best for our commanders on the ground to tell us when the mission's accomplished, rather than tie our hands and essentially say to ISIS, "Hey, if you could just chill for three years, then come back, you won't be my problem anymore and that'd be great"?