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.
There is a lot of doomsday talk about the death of our Constitution and such regarding the new
Terrorist Surveillance Act. While I can see what all the fuss is about, the truth is it doesn't matter what the Congress does to make legal the presidents illegal actions. "A rose by any other name" and all that. Read the above again. There is no ambiguous language there. None.
Our founding fathers knew that this could happen. That is why we have three co-equal branches of government. The courts are still there, and they still work.
Now I know what a lot of you will say. "ScAliThomasRoberts are on the bench. The Republic is doomed." Take another look. Those are only four names. Four. It takes five to make a descision. And who knows? Roberts might actually turn out to be a moderate and not prescribe to the Unitary Executive theory.
The Terrorist Surveillance Act is unconstitutional on its face. Given the current makeup of the court, or even if (God forbid) Bush gets to pick another one, it doesn't change that fact.
So let the congress pass this act. It won't last. At least I hope not.