Senate Intelligence Committee Chair: 'Bush Is Above the Law'

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) was on "Meet the Press" today (which really ought to be renamed "Meet Tim Russert", but that's another post) and declared that the Constitution gives President Bush absolute power, as long as he’s extra careful.

From Think Progress:

TIM RUSSERT: Senator Roberts, let me ask you a very serious question. Do you believe that the Constitution gives the President of the United States the authority to do anything he believes is necessary to protect the country?

ROBERTS: Yes, but I wouldn’t say anything he believes. I think you go at it very, very carefully. And that’s been done by every president that I know of.

From Roberts' Web site, his statement tollowing the Intel Committee’s Open World-Wide Threat Hearing on Feburary 2nd:

Today’s hearing was an opportunity for members of the Intelligence Committee to discuss the threats we face by terrorists, narcotraffickers, and weapons proliferators. We had excellent testimony from the Intelligence Community with regard to this goal.

However, I am concerned that some of my Democrat colleagues used this unique public forum to make clear that they believe the gravest threat we face is not Usama bin Ladin and al Qaida, but rather the President of the United States.

There is no doubt in my mind there are marching orders to the minority members of this Committee to question and attack, at every opportunity, the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, Attorney General and now members of our intelligence agencies.

"Narcotraffickers?" There's a new term.

Evidently the good senator thinks we must all join in lock-step behind Bush, who is entirely above the law (as long as he's veeeeewwwwwwyyy careful) and never dare criticize dear leader. Those who do have "marching orders" from someone. Given the history of BushCo's response to any criticism (think Swift Boat), the senator's statement seems rather hypocritical, don't you think?

Remember all the statements about how the terrorists hate us for our freedoms? Isn't taking our freedoms away exactly what the terrorists want? And isn't that exactly what BushCo is doing? Why are so many Americans so willing to give up their freedom?