• Bill Clinton disregarded our civil liberties.

    He did:

    WASH POST, July 15, 1994: Extend not only to searches of the homes of U.S. citizens but also — in the delicate words of a Justice Department official — to “places where you wouldn’t find or would be unlikely to find information involving a U.S. citizen… would allow the government to use classified electronic surveillance techniques, such as infrared sensors to observe people inside their homes, without a court order.”

    Deputy Attorney General Jamie S. Gorelick, the Clinton administration believes the president “has inherent authority to conduct warrantless searches for foreign intelligence purposes.”

    Secret searches and wiretaps of Aldrich Ames’s office and home in June and October 1993, both without a federal warrant.

  • Jimmy Carter disregarded our civil liberties.

    From Executive Order (EO)12139 - May 23, 1979:

    Pursuant to Section 102(a)(1) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1802(a)), the Attorney General is authorized to approve electronic surveillance to acquire foreign intelligence information without a court order.”

  • The Argument.

    It’s not the juvenile: “See, the Dems did illegal spying too!” No. The argument is that there are circumstances in which it is both legal and necessary to surveil without a warrant. Obtaining a warrant would obliviate the opportunity to obtain the vital information, and the search is reasonable.

  • Tonight’s music.

    Classical Christmas on XM.