I am writing with the same concerns that Al Gore outlined in his speech on January 16.  In that speech, he called on all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, to stand up for our Constitution, our laws, our system of government, and most of all for the America that we all know and love.
 
Recently it was revealed that the Bush administration had been eavesdropping on a large number of Americans even though this is specifically and clearly an illegal action.  This administration blatantly disregarded the law of the Nation, thus seemingly asserting that they are above the law.  In our Country, under our Constitution, No one is above the law.
 
Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance Act (FISA)  ‘expressly to ensure that foreign intelligence surveillance would be presented to an impartial judge to verify that there was indeed a sufficient cause for the surveillance”.  This Act includes safeguards to ensure ample flexibility and an ability to move quickly when such surveillance is necessary.  But, first the court would have to be presented with evidence that such an invasion into an American’s citizens fundamental right to privacy was indeed warranted.  
 
This administration failed to present any such evidence to any court.  The President has admitted to the domestic surveillance and declared that he has no intention of stopping or bringing these wholesale invasions of privacy to an end.  This is a violation of not only our laws, but also an assault on our whole democratic system of government and the rights and freedoms that our forefathers specifically included in our Constitution, and that generations of Americans before us have fought so valiantly to preserve.
 
The fear of a terrorist attack in this Country is very real.  We want our government to take all necessary actions to try to prevent such an act of violence against the American people.  But are we willing to give up our rights, our freedoms, and our democracy and disregard the laws of our Nation in order to do so?  If so, I then say we already have been attacked and our enemies have won.  
 
I believe in our system of government and our Constitution.  I believe that we can fight effectively against our enemies without using torture (which we have recently been using and most studies show result usually in false and inaccurate information).   I do not believe in jailing suspects, even those suspected of anti American activities, without charges, without representation, without due process, and at times without even informing their families and keeping them imprisoned for indeterminate duration of time. (Which we have been doing routinely)  I do not believe in our government kidnapping suspects from foreign countries and delivering them to other countries that we know will use extreme methods of torture (some of these kidnapped victims later were proved to be completely innocent, they got the wrong person!)  I most certainly do not believe that our President is above the laws of this Nation.  He has no right under our Constitution to violate any law even if he disagrees with it.   Laws and our Constitution are what makes us Americans.  We pride ourselves on the law being, in the words of John Adams,  ‘King’ in our Country. As Gore said in his speech “A president who breaks the law is a threat to the very structure of our government”.
 
For these reasons, we need the appointment of a special counsel to purse the criminal issues raised by the warrantless wiretapping of Americans by the President.  A full investigation into the allegations must be made and supported by all Americans, regardless of political party.  This is NOT a political issue.  This is clearly a fundamental American issue.  As Bob Barr (R-GA) said “The president has dared the American people to do something about it.  For the sake of the Constitution I hope they will”
 
I am asking all Americans to call or write their Congress people to demand the appointment of a special counsel to investigate fully the invasions into American citizens right to privacy.  I ask you not to be afraid, take on the dare, and stand up for the survival of our democracy and the American system of government that we all know and love.