I think it’s highly amusing that President Bush spoke today, defending his authorization of spying, without warrants, on American citizens. He says that his powers as president give him this authority.

I studied our Constitution in college and law school, and I’m unaware of this presidential power. Again, Bush is commander in chief of the military, not of civilian authorities. I’m not sure that he has the enumerated power to order eavesdropping on your cat.

I am familiar with something called the Fourth Amendment to that Constitution, which reads:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I’ve heard the president say more than once in recent interviews that he is not a lawyer. I think that truth is self evident, but you’d think he’d talk to a few, before we went on TV and blandly, arrogantly, confessed to high crimes and misdemeanors.