Bush to Assert the Ice-9 of Presidential Powers

George Bush is preparing a broad public push to assert that his illegal wiretapping -- in violation of the FISA act -- is permitted due to his war-powers. Specifically, in a time of war, a President can do what he needs to defend the country.

This claimed power is the Ice-9 of all claimed powers. With it, he can violate any of the Bill of rights, any Congressional law -- there is no limitation to what he could do.

The Senate, in its oversight obligation, has a job to do: (1) continue to point out that the wiretapping continues to be illegal under the FISA act; (2) require that the President immediately end to all activities which violate the FISA act; (3) pass legislation which requires that all previous domestic wiretaps which have not been approved by the FISA court be presented to the FISA court for approval; and (4) because innocent Americans should not be victimized by the US Government, all wiretaps not approved by the FISA court be provided in transcript to the American citizens affected.


Otherwise, if Congress does not check Bush's power, he and members of his administration will abuse it.

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