Just a week or so ago, the Bush adminsitration was claiming they did not. That is, they claimed they were not monitoring the phone calls of American Citizens, only "suspected Terrorists".
Now, they admit that they in fact ARE monitoring the phone calls of tens of millions of Americans, but are not "listening" to them. Right.
Yet again, the Bush Administration institutes an extra-legal effort that evades the US Constitution, claims that effort does not exist, then claims that it is only aimed at "enemies", then claims it is legal, then claims it has "inherent authority" to do it. All the while attacking those patriots who would stand up against such abuse.
These tactics and their grand strategy are in lock step with those used over the centuries by those who would seize power from lawful governments, or subvert them, to gain power for themselves.
When will Americans find their voice and take action?
We now hear that officials of the Department Agriculture have been ordered to include postive "talking points" about President Bush and his handling of the US war in Iraq.
This was recently revealed by Washington Post columnist Al Kamen.
Further, they have been ordered to keep records of their efforts and to submit them to the White House.
With apology to whatever comedian uttered the orginal line.
So, a fellow who claims that one of the most fundamental Consitutional rights, does not exist, is nominated to run the CIA.
What else would you expect from this class of clowns, who seem to think the law is what they say it is, rather than what plain English and the Constitution says it is.
In January, Knight-Ridder's Jonathan Landay questioned Gen. Michael Hayden at the National Press Club:
Here begins borrowed text
Landay: "...the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution specifies that you must have probable cause to violate an American's right against unreasonable searches and seizures..."
Gen. Hayden: "No, actually - the Fourth Amendment actually protects all of us against unreasonable search and seizure."
Landay: "But the --"
Gen. Hayden: "That's what it says."
Landay: "The legal measure is probable cause, it says."
Gen. Hayden: "The Amendment says: unreasonable search and seizure."
Landay: "But does it not say 'probable cause'?"
Gen. Hayden [exasperated, scowling]: "No! The Amendment says unreasonable search and seizure."
Landay: "The legal standard is probable cause, General -- "
Gen. Hayden [indignant]: "Just to be very clear ... mmkay... and believe me, if there's any Amendment to the Constitution that employees of the National Security Agency are familiar with, it's the Fourth. Alright? And it is a reasonableness standard in the Fourth Amendment. The constitutional standard is 'reasonable'"
here we end the borrowed text
So, apparently the General cannot read, or, maybe, it is early Alzheimers.
Quoting the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
It's "BAD" for people to "leak" classified items of National Security concern, to expose the lies and distortions of an Administration bent on dragging us into a war without end.
But . . .
It's "GOOD" for a President to "de-classify" cherry picked items in order to release this selected information, in order to discredit critics of his administration.
Now, Bush claims to have done this to bring "the truth" to the American people. And he claims that is fine and good.
But, somehow, it is Bad, and "political" for his critics to use unclassified information to expose his lies and distortions.