Wiretaps (redux)

I keep hearing debate on wiretapping, much of which seems to miss the point.

It's not the fact that the government is tapping disreputable phone calls. They've always done that. I want them to be able to do that.

At issue is the executive branch taking off like a renegade cowboy and ignoring their legal obligation to consult the moderating judicial branch -- grabbing power, ignoring checks and balances and dismissing the need for warrants.

And they've even got 72 hours to get the warrant after they've started spying. That's three days. That's I don't want to here any whining about the judicial system slowing our snoops down.

To draw an analogy, a couple years back some cops up north got busted assaulting a detainee with plumbing equipment.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/14/police.torture/

Nobody is debating the need of police to arrest, detain and question people. I want them to be able to do that. That's why I pay them. But there are specific protocols for the capturing, Mirandizing and treating of suspects that do not involve sodomy with a plunger.

I want the government to protect me. I also want them to play by the rules we've agreed on.

If they don't do both, they're doing neither.