The American Spectator

Tom O’Reilly br> South Portland, Maine /p> p> Ben has done it again. His common sense and insight are wonderful. Maybe we all needed a little slap in the head to bring us back to our senses, Ben slapped us. Good load of ammunition here to toss at our other enemies. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all and God Bless us, everyone. br> — Pete Chagnon /p> p> If the RATS are willing to torpedo 300 million Americans should they ever regain power, what are 25 million Iraqis to them? br> — Andrew J. Macfadyen, M.D. br> Omaha, Nebraska /p>

You miss the point, friend. We should not have to wait until someone is harmed before calling for some really hard questions regarding the Patriot Act. You see, Ben, the U.S. Constitution may be at stake here, and we should be asking some questions about all this. Asking questions, challenging the President is good American-ism. That your article appears on the same internet page that carries an ad equating the ACLU with communism suggests that a broad understanding of American history — including vigorous dissent — is missing here. Freedom was gained at a hell of a price, Ben, and while previous presidential actions have undercut those freedoms for periods of time, they were so stated by the Presidents doing the curtailing! But, Ben, “this President” denies he is undercutting the Constitution, even for the duration of the war. Yet, your argument in defense of Bush’s moves admits we are chipping away at the Constitution. We can’t debate this both ways: either the President is correct in saying that his actions do NOT undermine the Constitution, or YOU are correct in saying they do, and we can justify doing so by referring to past actions by presidents. So, which way is it? Is Bush correct? Or are you correct? You’re defending Bush with an argument he denies!

That one justice, appointed to his post by a Republican says there are serious legal questions in Bush’s moves, and in light of that question resigned his post, suggests there may be something afoot here, Ben, that needs airing. After all, we are all in it together.

Has anyone been hurt by the Patriot Act and wire-tapping? That is NOT the point here, Ben. The point is one of constitutional philosophy, as well as freedom. That officials have admitted they have gone beyond what the Patriot Act intended, that the agencies, by law, directed to spy on foreign sources have spied ON AMERICANS, is a strong indication the law has been broken. Are you willing to wait until someone is “hurt” by Bush’s actions before taking a different stance? Is that your criteria? Someone being hurt? Ben, by the time someone is hurt, history tells us it’s too late.