U.S. News' Zuckerman: Charges that warrantless domestic spying is illegal "miss the point"

I just robbed a bank. Whether it's illegal or not doesn't matter; the important thing is to have a healthy debate about the best way to facilitate the spontaneous relief of funds from our financial institutions while reassuring the original fundholders that the program is in their best interest.

I agree that it is important to "develop a system that empowers government to monitor potential threats in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that it is not abusing its powers", but to say questioning of the President's alleged illegal activity on this is missing the point? What was Mort thinking?

Should Presidents just be able to do whatever they want regardless of the law, because it is more convenient? Bush should have done what many other presidents have done. Go to Congress and ask them to fix the law. Instead Zuckerman seems to excuse this behavior. This is the behavior of a tyrant, not an elected leader that believes in the rule of law. Plain and simple.

Is the one Zuckerman's hat covers.

Taken further, I guess Zuckerman wouldn't mind Bush locking up without charges anyone *HE* decides is a "threat."

Meanwhile 3 Al-Queda types get caught without the illegal spying.

in U.S. News & World Report, my jaw literally dropped. What an incredibly stupid thing to say! What really got me was the "reassuring the public that it is not abusing it's powers" - it is WAY too late for that. With all the lies and spinning that got us into the Iraq invasion, the Bush administration has NO credibility, and must be assumed to be lying, until proven otherwise.

And, of course, there will be those who say we are only listening in on terrorists, and if you have nothing to hide, why does it bother you? 1. - It has been revealed that we are NOT only listening to terrorists, but normal, average citizens (with the number of intercepts, how could we not?) and 2. - Again, with Bushco.'s track record, we have to assume that they are listening in on their political enemies (ala Nixon). With no warrants, how do we know WHO they've been listening to?

Zuck, there already IS a system in place which Bush and company : 1) did not use effectively, 2) chose to ignore, and 3) is still unlawfully violating. With all the reports of how many citizens are/were being monitored that had nothing to do with Osama, eerrr.., I mean Afghanistan, my bad, I mean Saddam- oh, wait, he's already captured for...well, I don't know what, hhmm...oh yes, Al-Quida! With all the people monitored that had ZERO to do with Al-Quida, it begs the question- just how effective is this 'new' way of doing survellance and is it really 'better' than going through the proper, existing channels?

And Maybe means Maybe not.

And in this case, Zuckerman, you are maybe NOT on point.

While your argument of the importance of "establishing a system that empowers government to monitor potential threats in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that it is not abusing its powers" is the end goal, that fact that the law, as established through Congress, was ignored and circumvented to achieve a monitoring system that has no real Judicial oversight and accountability to a court.

Zuckerman, by not sticking to point, actually reinforces Bush's argument, as contradictory as it is, as being valid and legal. Pinch me when the toilet flushes us all away.

Debating the minutea of statutory policy is "THE POINT", to Zuckerman?

I would submit that the one overriding POINT of a president's service relates to his OATH OF OFFICE:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

[NOTE: The 4th Amendment is PART of the Constitution.]

THAT ... Mort, is the POINT. Without insisting on THIS, everything else is simply POINTLESS.

I have developed a system that empowers me to attain potential game in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But I just shot my friend in the face. By accident. Rest assured that this incident happened during the system's normal use.

I have developed a system that empowers me to depose potential despots in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But around 2500 soldiers have died, tens of thousands have been disfigured, and there appears to be a civil war brewing. It's a rare accident. Rest assured that this incident happened during the systems normal use.

I have developed a system that empowers me to avoid potential jail time in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But now I'm indicted for obstruction of justice. I'm innocent. Rest assured that this indictment occurred during the systems normal use.

I have developed a system that empowers me to redistrict potential republican districts in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But now I'm awaiting trial on ethics related charges. Doesn't matter. Rest assured that the trial has nothing to do with any abuse of this system.

I have developed a system that empowers me to extract potential terrorist information in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But the ACLU successfully petitioned the release of the photos. Stupid sargeants. Rest assured they abused the system of their own volition.

I have developed a system that empowers me to cut potential taxes in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But the national debt hit something around $8trillion. I think it's 'cause of 911. Rest assured that the power of this system was not abused.

I have developed a system which allows me to intercept potential democrat campaign information in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But they caught G Gordon in the act. Damned second-rate jarhead. Rest assured that I'm not a crook, and haven't been abusing my power.

I have developed a system which allows me to cleanse the potential national gene pool in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But the allies are firebombing the city. Where's my luger? Rest assured that gas chambers in no way constitute an abuse of power.

I have developed a system which allows my genitals to receive potential pleasure in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But now they want me to talk about it in court. In front of my wife and kid, even. Rest assured that I did not have sex with that woman.

I have developed a system which allows me to acquire potential roadrunner stew in the most agile, timely way possible while reassuring the public that I am not abusing its powers.

But I just fell 2000 feet onto the highway below, and now have the physique of an accordion. And here comes the anvil. Rest assured that this occurred during ACMEs recommended use of the system.

Mortimer Zuckerman, also owner of the NY Daily News, is a staunch Iraq war supporter, has been saber rattling against Iran with cartoons and editorials in his website, and endorsed George W. Bush as president in 2004. but most important of all, he is a documented Zionist as seen in this news release by the Zionist Organization of America. Ignore him. He's a bigot.

Mr. Zuckerman misses the point.

What is relevant is not to develop a way for "reassuring the public" that the government is not abusing its powers, it is to find a way to ASSURE that the government is not, IN FACT, abusing its powers.

So if Mr. Zuckerman is shot while being robbed the point is not that it was illegal, the robber had a need for money and Mr. Zuckerman had funds and was close by. If Mr. Zuckerman complains well he is just missing the point of how desperate the robber was for funds.