"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 shall 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." - 4th amendment to the constitution
President Bush is determined to spy on us without a court order. Let's get something straight; neither I nor any other liberal I know of has any serious objection to government eavesdropping in the legitimate pursuit of criminal activity, including potential terror attacks.
Here's the problem. Bush first said that warrants were obtained for all wiretapping; that was false. Now he says that we're at war and he doesn't need a warrant. But why won't he explain his reasons to an appropriate court and get a warrant? How are we to know that he's not spying simply because he has a "gut feeling"? Or for political reasons or even for personal enrichment? Should I trust him? Should anybody? The constitution says that we don't have to; he must satisfy a court that there is probable cause to believe that the person being wire-tapped might be doing something wrong.
I don't trust the government that much - regardless of who the President is - that's why the constitution says what it says.
If a President has that kind of authority over us then the nation the founders created is dead and we are merely feudal vassals. It makes little difference to the serf whether he's enslaved by a domestic tyrant or a foreign one, the revolt will be the same.
Bob is a retired engineer and lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He contributed significantly to the post-Challenger redesign of the solid rocket boosters for the space shuttle. He has taught engineering at several universities and was involved in the design of Offshore platforms. Since retiring his main activity has become writing directed at ridding America of its fascist president and the right-wing corporatism he represents.
