Thursday, August 17, 2006

Real news
While the arrest of a suspect in the ten year old killing of JonBenet Ramsay is dominating the headlines, something far more important just happened.
A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the U.S. government's domestic eavesdropping program is unconstitutional and ordered it ended immediately.

In a 44-page memorandum and order, U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, -- who is based in Detroit, Michigan -- struck down the National Security Agency's program, which she said violates the rights to free speech and privacy.

According to The Associated Press, Taylor is the first judge to rule the eavesdropping program unconstitutional.

The administration will, of course, appeal the decision and Right Blogistan will, of course, condemn the judge as a terrorist encouraging activist judge. Still, this is good news and a sign that the seperation of powers and constitutional rule aren't quite dead in this country.

Update: Highlight from the decision:
We must first note that the Office of the Chief Executive has itself been created, with its powers, by the Constitution. There are no hereditary Kings in America and no power not created by the Constitution. So all "inherent power" must derive from that Constitution.

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