Self explanatory.

Please explain why or why not.

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"If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is."

-Ronald Reagan

Yes, it was their duty via the Constitution, problem is this usurpation goes back a long ways. Then again, GW should have asked for one, just like FDR did.

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"We are fighting today for our life, for our liberty, for our all, we cannot go on being led as we are. Somehow or other, we must get into the Government men who can match our enemies in fighting spirit, in daring, in resolution and in thirst for victory."~Leo Amery 1940, while staring at Chamberlain

Yes Congress should have declared war. It was completely irresponsible behavior for Congress to pass its authority off to the President. It removed one of the checks and balances of power by doing so.

The President is the Commander in Chief of the military. He is not the King of the US. Bush has been one of the worst in recent times at grabbing and consolidating power within the Executive Branch. At the same time, Congress has let him do it. The current Democrat-controlled Congress, regardless their boasts, has done little if anything to reverse it.

I don't remember the last time in my lifetime Congress was worth a shit, regardless which party is in control. I sure as Hell don't recall the last time they actually represented the people of the United States.

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You can't always be first .... but you CAN be NEXT

Okay. At first, I didn’t grasp the meaning of the question.

On the one hand, Congress should not declare war in this case because I don’t see that war was warranted. On the other hand, if we are debating proper procedure, then, if congressmen wanted to have us really go to war, then the answer is: yes.

At first, I thought that this was a question about whether or not we should have gone to war. If that is the case, congress should not have authorized the president. Nor should it have declared war. Now I see the point. Yes, it was irresponsible for congress to “pass the buck” as it did. If there is a question about going to war, congress should either declare war or not declare war – not pass off the decision to the president.

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"Extremes to the right and left of any political dispute are always wrong."
—Dwight D. Eisenhower

Come on dude, it really wasn't a tough question. We're not debating whether or not the war should have happened here. The war happened. All I'm asking is, especially since congress was overwhelmingly in support of it, should they have issued an official declaration.

Are you the "no" vote?

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"If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is."

-Ronald Reagan

Yes, but I want to change my vote. Yes yes yes yes yes - a thousand times yes

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"Extremes to the right and left of any political dispute are always wrong."
—Dwight D. Eisenhower

Heh ... this isn't a Democrat primary so you can only vote once.

However, you should feel all better now.

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You can't always be first .... but you CAN be NEXT

(LOL) Okay, but on the flip-side, thanks for understanding this voter’s intent and letting his vote count.

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"Extremes to the right and left of any political dispute are always wrong."
—Dwight D. Eisenhower

When Congress issued the resolution giving President Bush the power to use any and all means necessary to enforce the UN resolutions, they in effect, declared President Bush could declare war when he felt it was needed. So this whole poll is a moot point. Congress did pass a resolution authorizing the war and it passed with an overwhelming majority. And it has not been repealed by anyone in Congress because no one wants to go on record as being against a total victory.

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The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.

Genghis Khan

Leroy Green: The truth will be revealed only to eyes unclouded by desire.
Sho'nuff: It's mumbo jumbo like that and skinny little lizards like you thinkin' they the Last Dragon that gives kung-fu a bad name.

Against who, Saddam or terrorism?

Obviously, Congress ceded their power, the executive picked it up, like for the past 50 years. Still wrong and there may come a price in time.

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"We are fighting today for our life, for our liberty, for our all, we cannot go on being led as we are. Somehow or other, we must get into the Government men who can match our enemies in fighting spirit, in daring, in resolution and in thirst for victory."~Leo Amery 1940, while staring at Chamberlain

Congress can't say that the president can declare war whenever its needed. The Constitution specifically says only Congress can declare war and to change that they need to change the Constitution, not just wish it away.

Interpret it for yourself:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...=f:publ243.107

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"Extremes to the right and left of any political dispute are always wrong."
—Dwight D. Eisenhower

I thought it being in the "Iraq" forum was enough indication. I'm talking about the Iraq War.

Terrorism is a tactic, or an idea if you will. You can't declare war on an idea. That makes no sense.

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"If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is."

-Ronald Reagan

I don't think Congress can legally cede the authority to declare war in the name of the United States, and it would seem foolish to me for COngress to do so. The authority and responsibilities of each branch of government are specifically spelled out in the Constitution.

Congress authorized Bush to use whatever force necessary. That is not an official and legal declaration of war, and it is basically IMO shirking their responsibility to carry out the duties of their appointed officees.

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You can't always be first .... but you CAN be NEXT