Political Quotes

“I have heard this debate. I have sat here for a few hours, and I can say that I understand the passion that has been expressed because I have a passion about this as well. The Constitution of the United States says that only Congress has the war power. I think all of us have read the Founders. We have read Washington, who talks about that; we have read Madison, who talks about the power to declare war being vested in the legislature; we are familiar with Thomas Jefferson, who has spoke often about that in messages to Congress and in various letters. This Congress has actually voted against the declaration of war. That has been stated today. Yet today Congress will pay for the continuation of an undeclared war. Congress voted against bombing, yet this vote will pay for future bombs. Congress has voted against sending ground troops. We have had the assurance of the White House that ground troops would not be sent without the President asking for it. Yet this vote would, in effect, pay for ground troops. Now, I believe that we can best support our young men and women in uniform by not sending them off to advance a speculative ground war which cannot be imposed without massive loss of life.”