Schneier on Security: The Security Threat of Unchecked Presidential Power
James Kellerman
Schneier on Security: The Security Threat of Unchecked Presidential Power:
Fantastic summary of the Bush wiretapping story over on Bruce Schneier's blog. I strongly agree with his viewpoint that this is an example of unchecked Presidential power, specific checks were in place through FISA to prevent exactly this type of action. Furthermore the legal standing of these wiretaps seems to be weaker by the day, certainly a reliance on the constitutional powers of the president during war time is a stretch in so many ways. The President does not and must not have unlimited executive authority this is the purpose of the separation of powers that lies at the heart of American democracy.
Brusce Schneier also points to this quote from Bush on December 18, 2000 which is just plain frightening.
"If this were a dictatorship, it’d be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator."(video and transcript)