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A senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee says President Obama should seek congressional authorization to extend airstrikes against Islamic terrorists to locations in Syria.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also says Obama should seek authorization to prolong airstrikes in Iraq against fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

However, if the president intends to prolong the military campaign in Iraq or extend it into Syria, he needs to make the case directly to the American people and secure authorization from Congress, he said in a statementTuesday.

Lawmakers are divided over whether Obama should seek authorization. Several bills have been suggested to grant authorization, but other members say that if Obama presents a good strategy for tackling the terrorists, there is no need for a vote.

Schiff acknowledged that Americans are repulsed and enraged by ISISs murder of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and the horrors committed against the people of Iraq and Syria.

But Congress must carefully consider what it is being asked to approve regarding a military campaign that will extend from this presidency to the next, he said.Since the actions contemplated by the president go well beyond the immediate imperative of protecting Americans at risk, Congress is required to act."

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Democrat: Get Congress's permission

edit Origin of the Democratic and Republican parties

The Democratic Party traces its origins to the anti-federalist factions around the time of Americas independence from British rule. These factions were organized into the Democrat Republican party by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other influential opponents of the Federalists in 1792.

The Republican party is the younger of the two parties. Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists and modernizers, the Republican Party rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president.

Since the division of the Republican Party in the election of 1912, the Democratic party has consistently positioned itself to the left of the Republican Party in economic as well as social matters. The economically left-leaning activist philosophy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which has strongly influenced American liberalism, has shaped much of the party's economic agenda since 1932. Roosevelt's New Deal coalition usually controlled the national government until 1964.

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists and modernizers, it rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president. The party presided over the American Civil War and Reconstruction and was harried by internal factions and scandals towards the end of the 19th century. Today, the Republican Party supports a pro-business platform, with further foundations in economic libertarianism and a brand of social conservatism increasingly based on the viewpoints of the Religious Right.

While there may be several differences in opinion between individual Democrats and Republicans on certain issues, what follows is a generalization of their stand on several of these issues. A Democrat is typically known as a supporter of a broader range of social services in America than those advocated by Republicans. Republican philosophy is based on a limited influence of government and a dominant foreign policy.

Republicans are considered on the "right" end of the political spectrum while Democrats are on the "left." The far right generally is pro-religion, anti-bureaucracy, pro-military, pro-business and pro-personal responsibility.

Republicans, are usually considered conservative (fiscally as well as socially), maybe a little pious, pro-business and against the bureaucracy often associated with big government. They see big governments as wasteful and an obstacle to getting things done. Their approach is Darwinian in that the strong shall survive, cream rises to the top, etc.

To the far left of the spectrum are the extreme liberal, or the most extreme democrats. Democrats are considered more liberal. Democrats tend to favor an active role for government in society and believe that such involvement be it environmental regulations against polluting or anti-discrimination laws can improve the quality of peoples lives and help achieve the larger goals of opportunity and equality. On the other hand, Republicans tend to favor a limited role for government in society and believe that such reliance on the private sector (businesses and individuals) be it avoiding unnecessary environmental regulations or heavy-handed anti-discrimination laws can improve economic productivity and help achieve the larger goals of freedom and self-reliance

Republican philosophy leans more towards individual freedoms, rights and responsibilities. In contrast, Democrats attach greater importance to equality and social/community responsibility.

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Democrat vs Republican - Difference and Comparison | Diffen

YAKIMA These are hard times for Democrats in Central Washington state.

For the first time in state history, the general election for a U.S. House seat features two Republicans and no Democrat. Thats because the two Republicans in the 4th Congressional District received the most votes in the August primary under the states system in which the top two vote-getters advance, regardless of party.

The state and national GOP are not taking sides in the race between Clint Didier, a tea-party activist, and Dan Newhouse, a mainstream Republican.

We are pleased that seat is going to remain in Republican hands, said Steve Beren, spokesman for the Washington State Republican Party. It would be great if that happened in all the districts.

The 4th District covers Central Washington, the states agricultural powerhouse. The district grows apples, cherries, wine grapes and dozens of other high-value cash crops, and relies on thousands of migrant farmworkers who toil in fields and warehouses. The districts population centers are in Yakima and the Tri-Cities.

The district historically votes solidly for the GOP, going overwhelmingly for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney over President Obama in 2012. Republican U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, who has held the seat since 1994, beat Democrat Mary Baechler 66 to 33 percent in 2012. The last time a Democrat won the seat was 1992.

With Hastings retiring, the primary election featured eight Republicans, two Democrats and two independents.

Didier, a former NFL player, got 31 percent of the vote, and Newhouse, a farmer and politician, got 25 percent. The two Democrats, Estakio Beltran and Tony Sandoval, combined for just 18 percent of the vote in what is considered the states most conservative House district.

Democrats had figured to draw some 30 percent of the primary vote but ended up far short.

Im not sure why, said Mary Stephenson, a longtime Democratic leader in Yakima.

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U.S. House race in Central Washington lacks a Democrat

Democrat #39;s withdrawal upends Kansas Senate race
Democrat #39;s withdrawal upends Kansas Senate race Democrat #39;s withdrawal upends Kansas Senate race.

By: USA Todays

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Democrat's withdrawal upends Kansas Senate race - Video

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has welcomed as a victory for fairness todays House of Commons vote in favour of a Liberal Democrat bill to expand exemptions to the spare room subsidy provisions included in the housing benefit bill.

MPs backed the Affordable Homes Bill, introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George at second reading by 306 votes to 231.

The bill aims to afford exemptions to those who cannot find a smaller home as well as disabled people who need a spare boardroom or who have adapted homes.

It will be another step to strengthen protections to those affected by the spare room subsidy, following on from Liberal Democrat-led moves earlier in the year to lift the cap from Discretionary Housing Payments in Scotland, which is allowing the abolition of the measure in Scotland. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie led calls to the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government to deliver change to the policy.

Commenting, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Willie Rennie said:

Scottish Liberal Democrats have always been clear that we should actively seek to address any unintended consequences of this legislation. This Liberal Democrat-led initiative is a significant and welcome step forward in our efforts to build the fairer society we all wish to see, and votes from MPs across the United Kingdom are ensuring progress towards a fair outcome in all parts of the UK.

"It is a victory for fairness. It shows that Liberal Democrat efforts to keep this policy under constant review can deliver meaningful change to those affected by any unintended consequences."

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Lib Dems back affordable homes Bill