"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."

That, dear readers, is the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution. Spelled out, neatly and clearly, is the "black letter" law of the land. You and your property can NOT be searched unless the police have a warrant.

Now, the great thing about the law is its flexibility, and 200-some-odd years of court cases have given us about 28 exceptions to that law (there are known as Exigent Circumstances). For example, the police can batter down your door and enter if they think you're flushing that baggie of cocaine down the toilet.

Which brings us to the "War" on terrorism. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court allows a 72-hour window for the authorities to wiretap and eavesdrop on people BEFORE they have to to before the FISA Court with a warrant. That's three whole days, folks.

But that's not good enough, apparently.

So now we have a President whose legal witch doctor John Yoo has told that it's perfectly okay and jim-dandy for him to have the National Security Agency, the CIA and the FBI spy on ordinary Americans (even to dropping cookie programs on people who visit the NSA website - and who here buys that "mistake" argument?) with complete impunity. Because it's all for the good of the country.

Well, one day we might wake up to find that the Congress has been dissolved.

All for the good of the country.

We might find ourselves openly spied upon by the authorities (with no oversight and no leash).

All for the good of the country.

We might find ourselves in a police state.

And the terrorists will have won.

If the President's actions haven't already signaled that they've won already.