Sen. Gordon Smith on the Rule of Law

It's time to remind all the GOoPer politicians of the principled stances they once espoused regarding the president and our nation's laws. You can fax for free via the web! This is what I sent:

"But we have to decide on the evidence today, and the evidence to me is clear. Soldiers and sailors are discharged and punished for far less than what the President did. And judges are impeached by the House and removed by the Senate for far less than this. Indeed, we have to ask, is the President to be held to a lower standard than those he sends to war or those he appoints to dispense justice? I cannot and I never will agree to such a low standard for the Presidency of the United States."

Dear Senator Smith:

I hope you recognize the above quotation; those are your words on the subject of Clinton's impeachment. I hope you are still willing to hold the president of the United States to such a standard, because we are a nation of laws, not men or political party. I'm sure you realize that the crisis before us is not a partisan issue, but a question of the foundation of our democracy.

I am counting on you to uphold the rule of law and our Constitution, which you have sworn to defend. Nixon faced impeachment over lying to the American people and using illegal wire taps. This situation is no different - the evidence is clear.


"Secondly, there are such things as roving wiretaps. Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- *a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so*. It's important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution."

- George W. Bush, April 20, 2004


Presidential Oath of Office:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."


U.S. Constitution; Article II, Section III:

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; *he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed*, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.


Thank you for your attention to this gravely important matter. To quote a recent column from Anne Applebaum, "The rule of law is an ongoing process, not a goal." That process is what defines America; our goal should be to support it absolutely.

Sincerely,