On December 17th, 2005 President George W. Bush told the nation that he had authorized, some 30 times, the NSA to conduct domestic surveillance operations against US citizens without a warrant,  and  that he would continue to do so. This was nothing less than a confession that he had violated federal law, in the form of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act, the constitutional separation of powers and of the fourth Amendment of the US Constitution and that he would contiue to do so. Contrary to any claims made by the White House or the Justice Department, the President has no inherent authority to violate federal law or the Constitution in these matters.

These actions by the President pose a direct threat to the rule of law in this nation. If the President can take any action he sees fit under the guise of "national security", what need do we have of legislative or judicail branches of government?

In the face of the violations of federal law and the Constitution, it is the duty of the House of Representatives to submit a Resolution of Inquiry to determine if criminal acts have indeed been committed by the President and other members of his administration. Representative Deborah Pryce and her Republican colleagues in the House must remember that their first loyalty lies not with their political party nor even to the President, but rather it lies with the Constitution which they swore to "...uphold and defend, against all enemies both foreign and domestic...". If they are not willing to live up to responsibilities their office demands of them and do their duty in this matter, then they should pack their bags and come home. The President will be a law unto himself and their will be no need of a legilature or judiciary. The Republic will have died with nary a whimper from those whose duty it is to oversee the Presidency and provide a check on unbridled presidential power.

Mark Schrider
Columbus, Ohio