This is what your president said to you in answer to a reporter's question about wiretapping in 2004. While these words were falling from his lips, he had meanwhile signed a secret executive order that overrides the very court he is referencing as a constitutional safeguard to protect your civil liberties.
President George W. Bush, 2004:
"[T]here are such things as roving wiretaps. Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so. It's important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution."
Posted by Kaz at December 24, 2005 9:08 AM