Dismantling the Constitution

One of the oaths every President and Vice President take when they assume office is to "preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States". How has Bush done in that respect (and I use the word respect loosely)?  
Let's take look at some of the articles and amendments.

• Amendment I - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
  
  • I don't believe there has ever been an administration that is so ready to tear down the philosophical barrier between church and state.  From respecting the church doctrine on abortion and homosexuality to teaching creationism (let's be realistic, Intelligent Design is just a new term coined for creationism) in schools at the exclusion of evolutionary science.
  • Freedom of speech?  Let's see, if you dared to speak out against Bush (especially in the months following 9/11) you were branded as unpatriotic at best and a seditionist and traitor at worst.
  • Freedom of the Press?  The administration will not allow the coverage of the return of dead soldiers from Iraq.  They attempted to talk several news organizations out of releasing some stories (i.e.: NY Times and the wiretap story) while pushing propaganda or their own agenda onto FOX or other news outlets (Robert Novak and the Valerie Plame story).
• Amendment IV - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
  
  • The Patriot Act anyone?
  • Bush authorizing the use of illegal wiretaps easily violates the fourth amendment of the Constitution.
    
    • This is also in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
• Amendment VI - In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
  
  • There are some American citizens who are being held without trial or defense.

I believe it is important that we recognize that Bush cannot, even with the approval of Congress, be above the Constitution.  While the Constitution does not give us the rights mentioned, it does in fact guarantee those rights. These rights and liberties were there before the Constitution was even written. The Constitution was framed  to secure our liberties,  not just against foreign intrusion, but especially against oppression by our own government. The framers of the Constitution set specific limits upon the President (and the other two branches of federal government) and reserved to the people (yes, that's you and me, and even Republicans and Democrats) all powers that they did not grant. The Ninth Amendment clearly states: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

George Bush is not a monarch, he is not a dictator - even though he wishes he were ("If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." —Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000) - he is a man who, "solemnly" swore that he would "faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of (his) Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."  In that respect he has failed horribly to the detriment of that great document and the nation and people it represents.  For this he should be ashamed, but he is shameful of nothing he or his representatives do or have done. 

These may well be the saddest and darkest days of our nation since the American Civil War.