Democrats Play the Loyal Opposition
The draft resolution President Bush sent to Congress is a open-ended request for military action. Professor Kazin said the language recalls the 1964 Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which he said "was quite sweeping."

"The president was given the power to do whatever he needed to do to repel North Vietnamese aggression against American troops," Professor Kazin said.

With his request, Mr. Bush would be free of strictures involving the United Nations. It establishes no time limits or reporting requirements and does not even confine the president to Iraq, but rather speaks of restoring peace and security "in the region."

"This thing is broad, unchecked authority," said Representative Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat critical of what he says is a rush to war. "This is basically giving the president the authority to start a war, and saying `Don't bother to call me, I'll read about it in the newspaper.' "
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/22/weekinreview/22MARQ.html