Checks and balances are there for a reason (Everett WA Herald)

[struggle4progress]

Americans want their government to protect them from terrorism. Most, we suspect, don't believe the Constitution needs to be suspended in the process.

The debate over the Bush administration's domestic spying program is a critical one that could determine how much the Constitution's separation of powers will be allowed to tilt to the executive branch in the war against terrorism. The president seems to think it already tilts heavily his way. Many in Congress, including some in the president's party, suggests he has taken things too far. The courts have yet to weigh in, but should get the final say.

In the meantime, President Bush asks the American people to trust him, that the highly secretive National Security Agency's program aimed at monitoring terror suspects is "vital" and that only communications involving suspected members of al-Qaida are being targeted. Only communications to a foreign destination are involved, he assures, and it won't go beyond that.

The U.S. Constitution, however, isn't a trusting document. It exists to hold limited government accountable to its citizens. Its framers set up a healthy system of checks and balances that the NSA program ignores ...

http://heraldnet.com/stories/06/01/29/100edi_editorial001.cfm