H.R.2082

Sec. 302 of H.R. 2082, house bill "Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2008" agreed to by Senate:

"The authorization of appropriations by this Act shall not be deemed to constitute authority for the conduct of any intelligence activity which is not otherwise authorized by the Constitution or the laws of the United States."

This provision, included in most intelligence appropriation bills, has become like the British crown... just for show. Legality... Illegality... it doesn't matter to this administration and its congressional cronies. Not that the American people have any more laws protecting their rights. They have been stripped away with Bush's doublespeak and power grabs. I'm not sure if he is dumb enough to believe the insanity that comes out of his mouth, or if he's an evil genius-- the type where you never expect him to be the mastermind, because he's an idiot. This is such shyte, it's as Dodd said when he quoted Nixon:

"When the President does it, it's not illegal."

But now for this administration when the president (and I intentionally lowercase) says/approves it it's not illegal.

"O Captain! My Captain!" (Whitman) --Not my captain. O country! My country!-- I don't recognize her anymore.