Chaining the president

Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton:

Last October, a majority of Members of the 107th Congress...gave the President the authority to use whatever means necessary, including the use of force, against Iraq.

We use such clever euphemisms here--words which disguise the meaning of our intentions. Use whatever means necessary...deadly, ear-splitting, earth-shaking, people-maiming, death-dealing bombs. The most devastating, overwhelming, terrifying, death-dealing "force" the world has ever known. Coming from us. The good guys. The protectors. The preservers of world peace.

The United States of America.

What foresight the Founders of this great nation had in not wanting a decision that enormous, that earth-shaping or earth-shattering to be made by one person. Not by this President. Not by any President. Instead this President asked for--and Congress acquiesced to give complete, unrestricted authority--no conditions, no restraints.

"Don't tie my hands," the President said. Don't tie the President's hands. What did the Founders think of that? Thomas Jefferson in 1798 said, "In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution." Bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution. Tie his hands? That is not enough. We should chain him to the Constitution. We in Congress are supposed to be chained to the Constitution.