More on Bush's Illegal Spying Scandal

Today's New York Times reports that the Deputy Attorney General refused to approve the reauthorization of Bush's illegal spying order. I assume that it was the first time somebody at the Justice Department other than John Ashcroft had even seen it.

Then Andrew Card and Alberto Gonzales went to Ashcroft for approval who was in critical condition in the hospital after having his gallbladder removed. Apparently, even Ashcroft had reservations about the legality of Bush's domestic spying program.

Despite this, Bush has repeatedly said that his executive order was repeatedly approved at the highest levels of the Justice Department. No mention of any questions about its legality. Hmmm.

It seems that President Bush is very willing not only to "read the Constitution extremely broadly", but to fail to mention to the American People that the highest officials at the Justice Department had serious reservations about the program itself. So much for straight talk. The program is illegal. Everybody knows it - including the President.

The amazing thing now is that Alberto Gonzales' Justice Department is investigating who leaked the story to the New York Times. Maybe it is not so surprising since Mr. Gonzales' fingerprints are all over the illegal spying scandal. You would think the Justice Department should be investigating the illegality of spying on US Citizens without a warrant.

Very good analysis in The Daily Kos.

According to John Dean - "There can be no serious question that warrantless wiretapping, in violation of the law, is impeachable. After all, Nixon was charged in Article II of his bill of impeachment with illegal wiretapping for what he, too, claimed were national security reasons."

So when do we start the impeachment proceedings?