OK, the IWR issue is always being brought up by people who want to blame the Democrats who voted for the IWR for giving Bush a blank check and also to pit Democrats against each other. Byrd made the "blank check" statement back in 2002. Well, here is a recent statement Byrd made regarding another resolution:
December 19, 2005
No President Is Above the Law
Snip...
The President claims a boundless authority through the resolution that authorized the war on those who perpetrated the September 11th attacks. But that resolution does not give the President unchecked power to spy on our own people. That resolution does not give the Administration the power to create covert prisons for secret prisoners. That resolution does not authorize the torture of prisoners to extract information from them. That resolution does not authorize running black-hole secret prisons in foreign countries to get around U.S. law. That resolution does not give the President the powers reserved only for kings and potentates.
http://byrd.senate.gov/newsroom/news_dec/law_for_all.htmlHere is the resolution he was referring to:
S.J.RES.23
Title: A joint resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the recent attacks launched against the United States.
Sponsor: Sen Daschle, Thomas A. (introduced 9/14/2001) Cosponsors (1)
Related Bills: H.J.RES.64
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 107-40
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SUMMARY AS OF:
9/14/2001--Passed House, without amendment. (There is 1 other summary)
Authorization for Use of Military Force - Authorizes the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons.
States that this Act is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution.
This is how Congress voted:
By the logic the detractors attach to the IWR, and based on the content of Byrd's statement, a vote for the above resolution gave Bush authorization and made it easier for him to:
spy on Americans, create covert prisons for secret prisoners, authorize the torture of prisoners to extract information from them, authorize running black-hole secret prisons in foreign countries to get around U.S. law.
Clearly, Byrd's statement smacks down that logic. Each of these resolutions granted Bush powers with specific restrictions. Bush has established a pattern of defying Congress and breaking the law.