Congress: Do your job!

Today's Washington Post reports that our Congress is wavering on conducting a formal investigation into the White House's warrantless wiretapping of Americans. Now is the time to speak out about why they absolutely cannot drop this matter--and here's why:

First is the question of whether this program is a good idea or not--and it's hard for an average citizen to judge this for certain. I personally tend toward a libertarian streak, so I prefer for the government to stay out of my home entirely, and yet I understand that some liberties have to be sacrificed for the sake of security, and at some level one has to trust that our system of self-government won't allow that balance to get too out of whack. So I'm willing to trust that there's more to this story than I understand, while I allow my congressional representatives to learn more.

Which brings me to the most important reason for the Congress to treat this seriously: our government functions because of its system of checks and balances, and there is ample evidence that this Administration wants neither checks nor balances. Far more alarming than the mere existence of this program is the fact that the Bush Administration did it for four years virtually in secret--and clearly in violation of the existing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Out of 535 members of Congress, only 8 were regularly briefed about the program, and they were prohibited from seeking legal counsel or policy advice on the matter (eliminating the first 'check'); the court established specifically for this purpose wasn't allowed to review the process (check #2); and the American people were obviously not informed (the ultimate check).

David Ignatius, typically a cautious, centrist editorialist, wrote this morning about the danger of the Bush Administration's hubris. I found this article a sobering reminder of just how dangerous an unchecked executive can be. But this is less about the Bush Administration than it is about Congress, and that body's unwillingness to do its job as an equal branch of government.

A review of every important issue facing this country over the last several years shows the ineffectivess of our Congress. Iraq war? No questioning of the intelligence used to justify the war or of the preparation for the aftermath. Torturing prisoners? No serious investigation, no one held accountable. Even the anti-torture legislation passed by Congress got a 'P.S.' from the president saying, "I'm not actually promising anything." Homeland security in the aftermath of 9/11? We get an 'F' from the investigating commission, and everyone admires the press conference and then moves on. Medicare prescription drug plan? No independent verification of the cost, which we now know the White House lied about. Budget? Swelling, structural deficits as far as you can possibly imagine--even if, as the Administration plans, we eventually stop supporting poor people entirely. When A.G. Gonzales comes to testify before the Congress on the very topic of whether the Administration lied, he's not forced to testify under oath?! This is incomprehensible.

During last week's hearings, it was Senators Specter, Leahy, Graham, and Feingold who treated this warrantless wiretapping matter with the appropriate amount of gravitas, and they deserve our kudos. If they represent you, thank them for their efforts and urge them to keep going. This morning's Post reported Senators Snowe, Hagel, and DeWine as waverers unwilling to hold this adminstration accountable--and they should hear from us, too. You should find out where your own Senators and Representatives stand on this issue, make your own opinions known, and ask them to stand up to an increasingly imperial president. This is about far more than the specifics of this program--it's about Congress fulfilling its responsibility to be more than a lapdog to George Bush.

(You can read the transcript of A.G. Gonzales's appearance at last week's Senate Judiciary hearing on this topic to learn more here. It's actually really good stuff.)