Warrant-less Searches-Letter to Congressman Jim Davis

I sent the following letter to my Congressman:

Hon. Jim Davis
United States House of Representatives
409 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515

Dear Congressman Davis:

For your reference, I am providing the exact wording of the Fourth Amendment to U.S. Constitution (perhaps you remember that, as the Attorney General likes to call it, “quaint document.”)

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I am certainly not a legal nor Constitutional scholar, but I don’t think it takes a law degree to understand this provision of the Constitution and know that the recent revelations of George W. Bush’s authorization of warrant-less wiretaps is a clear violation.

You heard the President say it today: He’s above the law. He needs to move fast to fight terrorism and so he doesn’t bother to apply for a wiretap–even though the law clearly says that he doesn’t need to apply to the courts for a warrant until after the wiretap in place.

In a real democracy, the word "impeachment" would be in the first paragraph of most media discussing these latest revelations. Indeed, if Bill Clinton committed even one of the criminal acts that this President authorizes on a daily basis, Republicans and their media operatives would be choosing the tree for his hanging.

So here’s my holiday prayer: that the Angel of Intelligence drop in on our leaders as they sleep, and deposit copies of the Constitution under your trees, and that you read it–apparently for the first time–and fall in love with America again and return this country to the rule of law.

I realize that sexual activity in the White House is a very serious issue, but for me, this Constitutional crisis rises well above sex in severity, and I think this might actually qualify as a “high crime.”

Recently, you have been taking the Republican line on major issues, so I’m probably barking up the wrong tree, but I am expecting you to hold this Administration fully accountable for these illegal activities. If you really want to be Governor of Florida, you will have show some semblance of backbone if you want me to vote for you.