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President Bush Blocks NSA Wireless Tapping Probe
scubamage writes "By denying security clearance to federal attorneys from the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) seeking to gather evidence in the NSA illegal surveillance scandal, President Bush has effectively blocked the Justice Department's investigation into the matter of who exactly authorized the illegal actions to take place. The president is apparently able to strictly control who does and does not have security clearance to examine documents regarding the program, citing that giving more people access would endanger national security. His denial is the first of its kind in American history. To quote the article, 'Since its creation some 31 years ago, OPR has conducted many highly sensitive investigations involving Executive Branch programs and has obtained access to information classified at the highest levels,' chief lawyer H. Marshall Jarrett wrote in a memorandum released Tuesday. 'In all those years, OPR has never been prevented from initiating or pursuing an investigation.'"
Once again, Bush declares himself dictator and he and his Executive Branch above the law. Not good for the American people. Additionally, if some major event happens and Bush declares Martial Law, every American is screwed because the Constitution would likely be suspended and everyone would lose their most treasured rights. Removing accountability and oversight is essential to effective government, and the US government is now the most ineffective at allowing oversight than it's ever been.
I'm glad I'm not American...
clinton was impeached because he lied to congress. not for receiving a blow job. (although, the lie was about receiving said blow job.)
I support congress impeaching a president for lying. whether or not he should have had to testify about receiving a blow job is an entirely different subject.
How does that line spoken by Padme in Star Wars go? I think goes something like "So this is how democracy ends - with thunderous applause."
In the 30's and 40's, there was a charismatic (however, very misguided) leader who achieved power in much the same way. Today, that power is achieved and retained through a perpetuation of FUD, granted impunity to do as they please and hidden from scrutiny in the interest of National Security.
In the 80's, I stood behind a president that stood for building this country's military back into greatness (I am former military). Now, I can't wait wait to see the whole lot of them voted out of office - assuming that we have elections in 2008 that aren't rigged to ensure certain people stay in power. That goes for a lot of democrats who don't have the balls to stand for what's right and in the best interest of THIS country. Assuming that our voices are truly heard via open and free elections, we might actually start to see us getting this country back on track and restoring our national dignity after the next round. That, of course, assumes that people aren't put off by the whole process and actually vote their conscience.
RD