Guess what Americans. You no longer enjoy protection from

[leeroysphitz]

UNLAWFUL SEARCH AND SEIZURE. Your heritage and status as a free people is ended.

This congress has, in no uncertain terms, during the last two days officially ceded it's authority over the executive branch of our government.

By not subpoenaing Attorney General Gonzales and REQUIRING him to give truthful and complete answers regarding the NSA domestic SPYING
program the congress has given it's consent to the administration argument that the president can break any law and violate any constitutional amendment and give NO reason more specific than national security.

The precedent has been set. We now have an executive branch with virtually UNLIMITED and UNCHECKED power in this country.

Ain't this boogy a MESS?

[HereSince1628]

1. Like mice we don't notice the trap until it's sprung.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I've been trying to decide exactly how long democracy existed in

the USA, but since we can only guess the date Bush decided to ignore the Constitution and rule of law, it's hard to tell if it was 225 years or 230.

[Dhalgren]

3. I was telling a person just yesterday about how we were no

longer a free country and she said that the spying didn't really effect her and that innocent folks were not harmed in any way (or something like that). I was shocked because this woman is usually fairly liberal in her views. I remembered something I read here on DU and asked if I could go through her purse? Could I go outside and ransack her car? Would it be ok if the cops set up road blocks and searched everyones car "just to be on the safe side"? She thought I was going "over the top". But this is exactly what this loss of personal freedom means. We are all subject to search and seizure at any time for any reason - or for no reason, at all...

I can remember being an American. I am trying to work up a good description of what it was like, for the kids coming up who will never know...

[Leopolds Ghost]

4. Did you explain to her that she's being wiretapped already?

Did you explain to her that THAT's what the whole issue is about? That she and all other Americans who make phone calls are already being wiretapped? Her phone calls and 100 million others only take up 500 gigs a minute on the NSA hard drive. But she probably doesn't mind right?

Or does she think the whole NSA issue is about a few "likely terrorists and other malcontents" being spyed on by guys dressed as telephone workers with tool boxes alligator clips? Really, most "liberals" I know in real life are terribly misinformed.

Explain to her that the issue that the hearings are about is the fact that the NSA is recording the phone conversations of all Americans, and then retrieving thousands at a time without warrant based on key words and phrases like "bomb", "President Bush", etc.

Doesn't help to be liberal if she's terribly missinformed.

[leeroysphitz]

5. For me this goes way beyond wiretaps...

I might be PARANOID but the fact of the matter is that I expect governmental organizations that wield unimaginable power to abuse that power from time to time. I'm not ok with it but I'm enough of a realist to understand that those given power are tempted to abuse it.

This of course is why we have things set up the way we do. Checks and balances. OVERSIGHT. I used to count on those who abused power would eventually be exposed, reprimanded or maybe even punished and the loophole that allowed the abuse would be CLOSED (the original FISA laws are a perfect example). Not a perfect system by any means but good enough to hold things together.

Now we see an administration admitting to breaking the law and practically DARING anyone to do anything about it. No one has or seems likely to. This sets a precedent. If the congress won't act to uphold this amendment they won't act on ANYTHING and the president has carte blanche. That's the bottom line for me and I would love it if anyone could demonstrate that I am misinterpreting the situation...

[DELUSIONAL]

6. America is like a military base

where the C.O. (Commanding Officer) and do just about anything he wants to -- including a search of homes on his base.

Bush has taken for himself the role of COMMANDER of the military base formally known as the United States.

I clearly remember homes being searched without a warrant when I was living on base. There were "inspections" of homes etc.

In high School when I took Government class and learned all about the Constitution and Bill of Rights -- and then crossed the "line" and entered the Naval Air Station -- the guards informed me that the the only law on base that mattered was the C.O.'s law.

And in fact the C.O. ordered that NO female would be allowed to enter the base if she was wearing pants or shorts. Women could ONLY wear skirts or dresses -- per the order of the C.O.

I was so glad to leave the military culture forever -- and now that crap I had to deal with growing up is seeping into the civilian realm -- thanks to the "war time" prez by virtue of his claim to being "commander in Chief" -- and he does say to the American public that he is "our" commander in chief with the statement, "As your Commander in Chief. . . ". But I am NOT in the military and by damned he is NOT my commander in Chief -- the creep isn't even my President. I only recognize the real elected Presidents which were Al Gore and John Kerry.

In my opinion a leader has to EARN respect and there is no way in hell that bushie has earned my respect. The damned idiot is still AWOL.