Uncle Sam is listening

The Bush administration, with the cooperation of telecommunications companies, has turned every phone in the United States into a party line.

Uncle Sam is listening, and that is apparently just fine with Congress. The Senate knuckled under to a White House request to grantretroactive immunity to the telecoms after the companies enabled the administration to engage in warrantless surveillance of phone calls and e-mails.

House members are still deciding how to proceed. Resisting the White House sets up a showdown over holding the Bush administration accountable to the law. Rules exist allowing for the surveillance of communications; the built-in protection for civil liberties is a mandatory review by a panel of federal judges. The law has been ignored.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration has concluded it has broad, undefined powers during a time of war.

President Bush can blithely make things up as he goes along, but other federal laws cover the behavior of the telecoms. They are being sued over the wiretaps, and the court cases represent a way for the public to confront the administration's behavior and hold it accountable to the rule of law.

The Senate legislation protects the phone companies and establishes new rules for the administration.

Congress is already watching the Bush administration as it goes its own way without regard to the checks and balances intended by the founders of our government. The White House, via presidential signing statements, essentially puts a note in the drawer that explains which laws it chooses not to obey.

Congress needs to employ more oversight of the executive branch, not less. Make the surveillance of those who would do this country harm legally transparent to those in charge of government.

The Bush administration's arrogant "we know best" secret policies will only lead down a ruinous path. Either seek lawful permission to invade America's privacy or make Uncle Sam hang up.