It is this reporter's opinion that President George W. Bush has it all upside down when he says that he is the final decider, he makes the decisions.
Mr. Bush, as president you have great influence, force, and authority. But in a democracy, the final arbitrator is: We the people.
Webster's dictionary describes your power as special authority assigned to a person holding high office.
Tragically, power carries with it an arrogant almost dictatorial authority. But who decides?
Since World War II, our presidents have illegally taken our nation to war in Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia, and Iraq, to name a few cases.
And always with disastrous results.
Founding father James Madison wrote in our law of the land, "It has accordingly with studied care, vested the question of war in the legislature."
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Alexander Hamilton noted that the president's war powers, "would amount to nothing more than the supreme command and direction of the military and naval forces, as first general and admiral."
Both of these agreed that the main power would rest with Congress.
The Constitution grants to Congress alone the power to "declare war, to raise and support armies, to provide and maintain a navy, to make rules for the government, and regulation of the land and naval forces."
Both Madison and Hamilton agreed that we the people must not allow presidents to usurp these powers.