We don't elect Kings

Nothing seems to surprise me about President Bush. His declaration that he has the right and duty to ignore laws about spying on his fellow citizens is just his way of thumbing his nose at Congress. He reminds me of an old Texas sheriff, belly hanging over his belt, tooth pick in his mouth and a hat two sizes too large. " Listen here son, this is the law and I am the law ".
When Congress authorized President Bush to use all necessary force after 9/11, little did congress know that Bush would tap innocent citizens communications without probable cause. Had he said that is what he wanted to do, Congress would have said no.
President Nixon used the same excuse when he wanted to bomb Cambodia and break into his opponets headquarters. Nixon said " It's legal when the president says it is ". Neither Nixon nor Bush liked to talk to Congress because they might let slip what was really going on in the war and the real reason our troops were there in the first place. Like Nixon who preferred a small circle of advisors, Bush can't stand the ideal of government slowed by checks and balances. Those checks and balances are there for a reason even if the president says his deception has saved the lives of thousand of Americans threatened by acts of terrorism. Many a bank robber has insisted that he robed a bank for the best of reasons. Even so if you rob a bank to feed your family you are still a bank robber.
The dividing line between a true statesman and a politician is thin. Principle is the only thing that defines that line. When it comes to law and war everything seems to get blurred. These are times that try men's souls and times that are changing at light speed. Terrorism is just as real as it is frightening. This is a different kind of war and has to be fought in different ways. The United States can not win this war and still preseve the individual freedoms that made this a great nation by relying on one man or a few dozen men. We need more than a King and a court full of jesters easedroping on law abiding citizens to win the war on terrorism. There needs to be a robust debate on checks and balances necessary to fight a war without giving up freedoms we are trying to protect. Without that debate the United States of America will drift toward becoming a lawless police state with meaningless elections.