To: tejek who wrote (184036 ) 3/3/2004 5:18:10 PM From: hmaly Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 1575424 Ted Re....The separation of powers was a provision of the checks and balances system provided for in the Constitution. They were put into place to insure that no one branch gained control over the entire gov't. Whether we say control over the entire gov. or control over any other branch, the definition for the separation of powers act is essentually the same. Its the most important principle in our Constitution. Our founding father were extremely protective our democracy. To subvert it in any way is very dangerous IMO. Whether it is the most important, or one of the most important, I won't quibble over. Nonetheless, because of its importance, it is imperative, that the separation of powers be maintained, and therefore, you can understand the importance of the lawyers getting the ground rules correct, so GW can make an appearance, without violating those principles; because the principles are more important, than any inquiry,. Bush usurped one of the responsibilities given to Congress.......declaring war. Congress gave GW the right to declare war, in the case of Iraq. Congress usurped itself. Whether its lies or they were intimidated......what does it matter....the end result was same. It matters a lot. Kerry was one of those who you claimed was intimidated. Would you want a person with his hand on the button, who can be intimidated easily; or lied to for that matter. And btw I am not holding Congress guiltless. They were too weak to stand up to dubya and let him bamboozle them. There is a WA senator who voted for the war.......she will never get my vote again. If you want to say that, then why are you going to vote for Kerry? The simple truth is that there were many reasons for the Iraq war; WMD was only one of them. In its totality, congress and GW had no choice. The fact that there weren't any WMD there doesn't change the facts present, when they made the decision.