Reply #1: And another letter writer responds to Heidi Simmons ...

[Larkspur]

Don't Blame The U.S. Constitution For War

It was very touching for Heidi Simmons, Rob Simmons' loyal wife, to write a letter to the editor of The Day defending her husband regarding his alleged positions and actions related to the Iraq debacle. (“Don't even think that Simmons is pro-war,” April 4.)

However, the next time she considers publicly expressing her opinion or defending her husband's actions, I respectfully suggest she does some basic fact checking.

Ms. Simmons says, “Congress cannot, by virtue of constitutional stipulations, decide whether to go to war.” I'd like to ask Ms. Simmons which Constitution she's referring to. An early draft that was rejected? A proposed, revised Constitution that President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney wrote after a rough day of falling off bikes and shooting old lawyers in the face?

Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitutions says, in part, “The Congress shall have the power ... to declare war ...” Where is the stipulation that Ms. Simmons sees in the Constitution? I looked for an hour and couldn't find anything remotely resembling such language.

I admit there's lot of blame that can be apportioned for the illegal, immoral Iraq war. But it's not the Constitution that's responsible.