I can't believe the outright ignorance of elected officials and the American Media. I say ignorance because I would like to think they aren't merely being deceitful to further their already obvious agenda. While the latter is far more likely, the former can't be discounted. After all, who can be expected to know every bit of US Code there is? Even I had to search it out, but it's there... President Bush's authority to wiretap without "court order".

Here are more than a few opinions on this subject-- none of which will meet BenT's rigorous standards --and a bonus from the US Code.


Thank You for Wiretapping
OpinionJournal.com
Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Clinton Used NSA for Economic Espionage
NewsMax.com
Monday, December 19, 2005

Bush's Spying: Scandalous, or Echo of Clinton-Era "Echelon"?
Newsbusters.org
Monday, December 19, 2005

On the Whole, Well Done
NationalReview.com
Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Clinton Claimed Authority to Order No-Warrant Searches
NationalReview.com
Tuesday, December 20, 2005

And lastly, this from the US Code:

US CODE TITLE 50, CHAPTER 36, SUBCHAPTER I § 1802
...choose "no thanks" on the page that opens..."


Don't bother commenting if you won't bother reading, at the very least, US CODE TITLE 50...

The President is well within his right as President to do what he's done. There's a good reason why the Constitution doesn't give authority to Congress for the prosecution of Wars. There's a good reason why that power is given solely to the Commander in Chief, irrespective of his party affiliation.

The New York Times is in Heap Big Doo doo for revealing National Secrets... yet again. Some dogs can't be taught anything.


UPDATE: HISTORICAL PRECEDENT

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12139
May 23, 1979
President James Earl Carter, Jr.
Key Phrase: "...without a court order,"

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12949
February 9, 1995
President William Jefferson Clinton
Key Phrase: "...without a court order,"

The Hypocrisy of the Left is without bounds; knows no measure; is conceived in hatred of the Right.