The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee is working on a bill that would
renew the Patriot Act and expand government powers in the name of fighting
terrorism, letting the FBI subpoena records without permission from a judge or
grand jury.
We humans are generally compliant creatures. We follow the path of least
resistance, even if it's not to our advantage. We halt at stop signs even when
there are no other cars around for miles. We unquestioningly accept the small
"service fee" tacked on to our bills without knowing exactly what they are for. We
are sheep who follow the herd -- most of us, most of the time.
This is the story of one rogue sheep.
Post-9/11 Order Bypassed Special Court
President Bush signed a secret order in 2002 authorizing the National Security
Agency to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens and foreign nationals in the United States,
despite previous legal prohibitions against such domestic spying, sources with
knowledge of the program said last night.
The rebuff to Bush comes amid news that he authorized wiretaps of Americans
without court clearance. Fate of post-9/11 law is unclear.
There comes a time when the nakedness of the emperor can no longer be denied.
Such a time is now.
George Bush’s policy of eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without a warrant proves
he has placed himself above the law. Add this to the long list of other impeachable
offenses—lying the country into war, torturing prisoners, exporting detainees for
torture, paying columnists to propagandize the American public—that George W.
Bush has committed, and put it at the top.
