With all respect due to President Bush: Sir, please put a sock in it.
Mr. Bush chose the eve of Sept. 11 to prompt Congress into doing a job on the Constitution.
Among a plethora of dubious proposals to strengthen the Patriot Act is use of "administrative subpoenas" to investigate terrorism.
These little nuggets allow law enforcement officials to obtain records without independent review by a judicial officer or grand jury.
It's a fishing license that has already insinuated itself into drug and embezzlement cases. It should go no further. Indeed, it should be sent into retreat.
"If we can use these subpoenas to catch crooked doctors, the Congress should allow law enforcement officials to use them in catching terrorists," the president said.
No. No. No.
No police agency should be the sole arbiter of its compliance with the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Some measure of pre-seizure independent review is essential, even if that means keeping judges available 24/7 for consultation in fast-moving cases.
The very fact that authorities know they must ask for permission to seize evidence is a valuable check on their urges.
Americans do support the war on terror, but Congress has to put its foot down -- to safeguard the freedoms for which this nation is fighting.
