My LTTE of the NYT

NYT: New WH organ?

In the article "Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts" (Dec. 17), James Risen and Eric Lichtblau wrote "The White House asked The New York Times not to publish this article, arguing that it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny. After meeting with senior administration officials to hear their concerns, the newspaper delayed publication for a year to conduct additional reporting."

Is my thinking skewed or did Bush unequivocally violate the fourth amendment when he secretly authorized NSA employees to spy on American citizens without court-approved warrants?

The Fourth Amendment states:

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.

I am one American who feels deeply betrayed by the Times' decision to withhold knowledge that the president was abusing his presidential powers and trampling on rights guaranteed by our Constitution. I am dismayed that this decision may have influenced the results of a U.S. Presidential election. This is an impeachable offense and I hope Americans, including Sen. Feingold, can rouse Congress into responding appropriately.

The NYT made another bad call. In the future I hope that government officials with information of such dire consequence bring their leaks to a newspaper that knows what to do with it.

xxxxx

Everyone needs to write at least one!

I think I'm done for now, though.

:)

Great job! :thumbsup:

Nowadays -- pffft.

They have some great writers and columnists. I'm not dissing them. But it's unconscionable for editors (or run amok reporters) to withhold a story like this.