FISA "Reform:" In Memoriam 4th Amendment, R.I.P.

The Democratic-controlled (allegedly) Congress has capitulated to the Bush White House's demand that they abrogate the 4th Amendment by passing of Administration bill to legalize Warrantless Wiretapping. This is bad news, folks, even though the Mainstream Media has scarcely mentioned it.

Greenwald, of course, has written extensively on this subject, which is the main topic of his book How Would a Partiot Act? He has often pointed out that by giving in to fear-mongering over the potential for terrorism, we have repudiated the basic bargain Franklin referred to when he said "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either." And what ever happened to the American society that heard another Franklin (FDR) remind us that fear is itself to be feared, for it can defeat us more easily than external enemies.

One more nail in the coffin of American representative government, a sick puppy indeed by this time.

At one time, I would have been confident that the Courts would not let this obviously unconstitutional legislation stand, but now, I feel no such confidence.

Requiescat in pace, O Constitution. Maybe someday a reformed court will say no to this. Otherwise, a basic bill-of-rights principle of the constitution will have been scrapped for good.