Carte Blanche: The Bush/Cheney Calling Card

Good article in Sunday's Washington Post that looks at the myriad ways in which the Bush administration is invoking its perceived executive powers to institute all manner of surveillance on American citizens. Whether it's the NSA, the DoD or the FBI, our government has turned on its own citizens by violating our right to privacy.

Clearly, Bush's belief that this is a "global war on terror" is used by his administration and its proxies (DoD, Justice, etc.) to justify almost any action that the President deems necessary. That is, he can pretty much do anything he wants, anytime he wants, anywhere he wants, regardless of what the statutes say or what the Constitution says.

But the kicker is that he doesn't have to tell the American people what he's doing. Is this responsible government? Is this what we want from our elected officials? When we elect someone to office, are we giving them carte blanche to do as they please when it comes to fundamental civil rights? I don't think so.

We've seen plenty of scandalous episodes from the Bush administration and its supporters over the last few years. But this is one that has immense implications for our future as a democracy.

I just hope this isn't something that gets swept under the rug like so many scandals.