[PornoDoggy]

Mike - some people you would categorize as living on a different planet are in fact VERY aware of the problem; they just disagree with you on what to do about it.

Limiting my comments to the so-called "threat" posed by Congressional action described in the article you posted, it's quite possible that the so-called war on terror is being used as a smokescreen by some folks with an ax to grind. A great many players in this Administration - not just the recently departed VADM Poindexter - demonstrated their contempt for the Congress and the Constitution in the 1980s during Iran/Contra.

Going further back, there has been tremendous resentment by many on the right over the restrictions placed on the intelligence community and the President's ability to act without oversight that resulted from the Church committee back in the 1970s. Right thinking Americans (demacommies) have been accused since then by the more facist inclinded (right-thinking Americans) of "tying the hands of the President" blah-blah-blah.

What better opportunity to get rid of those onerous restrictions than in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks?

Now, even if you don't agree with the conclusion you have to agree that it is a plausible way of looking at the same data.

An Administration that offered still unfound Weapons of Mass Destruction, fabricated attempted purchases of uranium, and yet unproven ties to the terrorists that really threaten us as a cause for war deserves a hell of a lot of oversite, in my opinion and in the opinions of a hell of a lot of Americans who are just as intelligent, patriotic, and capable of independent thought as you claim to be.