[smokinandvotin]

I am not trying to speak for Rep Paul, but I think he mentions it because that argument can be used to get around Congress voting on the declaration of war.

He is showing the lack of authority Bush is preparing to act on. Even though the UN thing is bs, it is still an option on the table.

[AzJP]

IMHO your interpretation matches mine. A number of POTUS scoundrels have come up with all sorts of vehicles to circumvent a Constitutional declaration of war.
Tonkin Gulf, Bosnia, etc. etc.
Without even the flimsy excuse of NATO says it's OK, or the UN, or whatever, it's not right.
I believe Paul is pointing out that Bush doesn't even have any of those.
T