That term “authorise” provided a little cover for Dem legislators like this (along with one of my own at the time, the junior Senator from NY), but the result was that every “yea” vote helped send American troops to a war of choice based on what most actual liberals strongly suspected were false pretexts (suspicions that were borne out).
On that particular and famous vote, it is fair to equate “voted for the war” and “voted to authorise the war” – especially in a BBS comment or joyfully silly video spot, and certainly in a time when it can be confirmed instantly by reputable sources.
