Oversight welcome

Re: "Activist judges" (letters, Sept. 12). The writer takes exception with columnist Molly Ivins for praising Judge Anna Diggs' ruling against warrantless spying. Maybe the writer has forgotten that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act provides for emergency warrantless eavesdropping, but requires a warrant to be eventually secured from a judge. If President Bush was confident about the legality of his program, why would he keep it secret from all but a few members of Congress and the American people for more than four years? This president has been given wide latitude by a Republican Congress that has forgotten its oversight responsibilities. Frankly, I resent a government which has used the tragedy of 9/11 to promote its oppressive curbing of civil rights, operates in secrecy, restricts the free flow of information and even manufactures news. So, if upholding the Constitution is "activist," here's hoping Bush's successors continue appointing judges who will do just that. By the way, tobacco fines have been reduced, Exxon-Mobil has yet to pay fully for the Exxon-Valdez spill cleanup and Bush has shifted the burden of cleaning up Superfund sites to U.S. taxpayers. Nick Reina, Milmay - Published in the Courier Post, September 23, 2006