David R. Busang – 6/1/06

This page was last updated on June 13, 2006.

While Congress was sleeping; David R. Busang; Beaver County Times; June 1, 2006.

I believe the last time we heard from Mr. Busang he was praising the educational value of Times editorials, and he was serious. This letter is of similar caliber.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Let the Bush administration trample over the unquestionable constitutional rights of the average citizen and you hear virtually nothing from our elected representatives in Washington.

“But just the slight possibility that the imagined rights of those same representatives have been violated brings forth outrage.

“The NSA eavesdropping on our telephone conversations without court authorization is without question a violation of our constitutional rights. Let’s hold some congressional hearings and see how the administration justifies its position, says our congressional representatives. It’s too secret to talk about, says the administration, but we sure will prosecute the newspaper reporters who leaked the project to the American people in the first place.”

[RWC] Mr. Busang appears to know something the rest of us don’t. All kinds of law experts, including judges, have testified the NSA terrorist surveillance program is legal.

Regarding hearings, Mr. Busang fails to note members of Congress from both parties were briefed about the program from the very beginning and received updates on a regular basis.

You probably noted Mr. Busang didn’t mention the reason for the NSA programs. That’s because he knows all polls show the public supports the program.

Why should not reporters – and the persons who leaked to them – be prosecuted for revealing classified information? Should not reporters be subject to the same laws as the rest of us?

“Then, you have a member of Congress being investigated by the FBI for corruption who refuses to turn over subpoenaed documents. The next constitutional step the FBI takes is to get a federal judge to authorize the legal search of the congressman’s office and the seizure of the requested documents. Now, listen to our congressional representations [sic] yell about rights violations.

“Chances are that this particular congressman will not be prosecuted because that would only lead to the Supreme Court being given the opportunity to decide just who has had their constitutional rights violated.”

[RWC] Gee, I wonder why Mr. Busang didn’t mention “this particular congressman’s” name and party affiliation?

I doubt Mr. Busang’s prediction. Even without the evidence gathered in the search of Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-LA) office, the case against him appears pretty strong.

“What’s that you say, President Bush? It’s all about national security?”

[RWC] What does the NSA terrorist surveillance program have to with the bribery investigation of a congressman?