King George

Dubya said the following today in his radio address:

"In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on our nation, I authorized the National Security Agency, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations. Before we intercept these communications, the government must have information that establishes a clear link to these terrorist networks.

"This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security. Its purpose is to detect and prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, our friends and allies. Yesterday the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports, after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk. Revealing classified information is illegal, alerts our enemies, and endangers our country.

...

"The American people expect me to do everything in my power under our laws and Constitution to protect them and their civil liberties and that is exactly what I will continue to do, so long as I'm the president of the United States."

Here are a few comments as swiped from a My Way News post of this AP story:

"I didn't hear him specify any legal right, except his right as president, which in a democracy doesn't make much sense. Today, what Bush said is he went around the law, which is a violation of the law - which is illegal."

James Bamford, author of two books on the NSA

"I tell you, he's President George Bush, not King George Bush. This is not the system of government we have and that we fought for"

Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis.

"The Bush administration seems to believe it is above the law."

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

Former Senator Bob Barr, R-Ga., had the following exchange with Representative Dana Rohrabacher, R-Ca. on CNN:

ROHRABACHER: And by the way, how do we know who wasn't deterred from blowing up other targets. The fact is --

BARR: Well, gee, I guess then the president should be able to ignore whatever provision in the Constitution as long as there's something after the fact that justifies it.

BARR: Bob, during wartime, you give some powers to the presidency you wouldn't give in peace time.

BARR: Do we have a declaration of war, Dana?

ROHRABACHER: You don't have to do that.

BARR: We don't? That makes it even much easier for a president.

Multiple people, different parties, same opinion.

(Keyboard tip to John Aravosis and Atrios)