We Didn't Elect the NYT Editor

Despite being a semi-avid reader of the New York Times and long-time fan of its reporting style, I have to say that I am severely disappointed in the lack of proper judgement shown by its editor in running the story about eavesdropping being done by the NSA without a court order.

Whether the activity was right or wrong, constitutional or unconstitutional, it was part of activities that are directly assciated with national security and that makes reporting on those activities without consent of the government totally improper and illegal. As we speak, the Justice Department should be assessing whether this man can be brought up on charges of treason.

Now that sounds pretty intense to most people reading this, I'm sure. However , this is how it is. The Editor-in-Chief of the New York Times was not elected to his position by the people of this country nor was he appointed by anyone that was elected for the purpose of safeguarding this nation's security. Therefore, he did not possess the authority to make a decision that can directly affect our national security.

Once again, whether or not George W. Bush was doing the right thing in authorizing these wiretaps without a court order is not what I'm talking about here. This administration isn't the first to ask the press to play hush in certain instances and it won't be the last.This is about who has the authority to act on issues of national security.

Apparently, the Times waited for about a year before deciding to run this story, despite calls from the government not to run it when the information was first available; that in itself tells you that there was doubt as to whether this was the right thing to do.

This tells me that the Times was waiting for the right time to run the story, perhaps hoping that they might strike the decisive blow to any GOP hopes of holding onto the White House and Congressional majorities in 2008. If this is true, it makes the activity even more deplorable and more worthy of punishment.

Some people should be getting locked up over this, no doubt about it.