King George - Above the Law

White House invokes privilege in spy cases
By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press Write


NEW YORK - The Bush administration has asked federal judges in New York and Michigan to dismiss a pair of lawsuits filed over the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping program, saying litigating them would jeopardize state secrets.

So here we have it. Not only can George Bush side step the laws passed by the congress to prevent him from illegally wiretapping your phone but now he claims that the one remaining check on his abuse of power, the courts, should be prevented from examining the suspected abuse.

In papers filed late Friday, Justice Department lawyers said it would be impossible to defend the legality of the spying program without disclosing classified information that could be of value to suspected terrorists.
National Intelligence Director John Negroponte invoked the state secrets privilege on behalf of the administration, writing that disclosure of such information would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to national security...

...Shayana Kadidal, an attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights, called the administration's motion "undemocratic."

"The Bush administration is trying to crush a very strong case against domestic spying without any evidence or argument," Kadidal said in a written statement. "Can the president tell the courts which cases they can rule on? If so, the courts will never be able to hold the president accountable for breaking the law."

Oh sure, the courts could reject King George's argument but that would simply lead to an appeal to the Bush appointed US Supreme Court. The congress could still make an effort in exercising the oversight they are granted by the constitution but I would not hold my breath. In an election year where the republicans are already accusing the Democrats of running for the sole purpose of impeaching the Commander in Chief during time of war; and when the majority of Democrats in the senate have just voted to confirm the architect of the NSA wiretapping program being challenged we are much more likely to see gay marriages in Georgia.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue