Listening to Compromise

[Commentary] Two years ago, Halperin stated his belief that the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program and disregard for domestic and international law poses a direct challenge to our constitutional order, and “constitutes a far greater threat than the lawlessness of Richard Nixon.” Because he rejected the Nixon administration’s use of national security as a pretext for broad assertions of unchecked executive power, Halperin became engaged with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act when it was proposed in the early 1970s. And because he rejects the Bush administration’s equally extreme assertions of executive power at the expense of civil liberties, Halperin has been engaged in trying to improve the current legislation. As someone whose civil liberties were violated by the government, Halperin understands this legislation isn't perfect. But he also believes that it represents our best chance to protect both our national security and our civil liberties.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/opinion/08halperin.html?ref=todayspaper
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