Checks and balances..

George W. Bush and his lieutenants are vigorously asserting the importance of U.S. Government covert monitoring of the international communications of suspected terrorists, including conversations with persons inside the United States, including U.S. citizens.

Who will step up to the cameras and microphones--what person with a reputation that commands attention--will stand up and say that wiretapping possible terrorists is not the issue--the issue is whether the President may decide whether he will obey a federal law? The NSA issue isn't the only time the President has stretched, or stated that he reserves the right to stretch, the limits of his Constitutional authority.

The 2006 Congressional campaign has begun, and the Republican Party is calling anyone who objects to the President's preemption of the very heart of our Constitution--checks and balances of power--in effect, a traitor. This is not a partisan issue. Who'll speak up?