James Risen and Eric Lichtblau:  Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts
The previously undisclosed decision to permit some eavesdropping inside the country without court approval was a major shift in American intelligence-gathering practices, particularly for the National Security Agency, whose mission is to spy on communications abroad. As a result, some officials familiar with the continuing operation have questioned whether the surveillance has stretched, if not crossed, constitutional limits on legal searches.

Jane Smiley: 'George W. Bush's ten-step program for destroying America'
Is Bush in a bubble? Is Bush a dry drunk? Is Bush a drunk drunk? Is Bush a narcissist? Is Bush an idiot? Is Bush a madman? Does Bush have an “Authority Problem”?  Two chances are about to be lost--the chance to rebuild the city of New Orleans and the chance to mitigate the effects of global warming. Then at the end of the week, we learned that Bush has been wiretapping the phones of his own citizens--an impeachable offense.

Peter Fredson: 'George Bush is the law'
For several years when I looked at the daily news I was shocked by the arrogance and egomaniacal activity of George W. Bush. Almost daily he would commit some outrage against American values, democracy, freedom, civil rights, or Constitutional protections.   He has probably created more terror among his own citizens than any outside terrorist could.

Anthony Wade: 'The coronation of King George'
It became official today; President Bush named himself King of the United States. Granted those of us who follow this administration have seen Bush act as if he was a king and not an elected representative for the past five years but finally today Bush all but came out and said it.  The issue at hand is the wiretapping of US citizens without judicial oversight. In this country that is a felony and an impeachable offense.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI):  He is a president, not a king
The President believes that he has the power to override the laws that Congress has passed. This is not how our democratic system of government works. The President does not get to pick and choose which laws he wants to follow.

Juan Cole:  Bush Spying on Americans
Wire tapping the telephones of American citizens without a court order is illegal.  They impeached Clinton for a minor dalliance in which he didn't even get to third base. But taking the Constitution and pushing it through the shredder, why that is just fine and dandy.

FISA Requests: All 1228 approved in 2002
What is so hard about getting a search warrant?