Lord Acton's Famous Quote

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

British historian Lord Acton (1834-1902) issued epic warnings that political power is the most serious threat to liberty. His most famous observation describes how morality lessens as power increases.

Republicans today control the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House. They have absolute power, and it has corrupted their Party and led to a culture of corruption (think Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, David Safavian, Scooter Libby) and contempt for the law (think Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act). Not only has President George W. Bush authorized the National Security Agency to monitor international telephone calls and Internet communications of Americans without obtaining warrants, but now Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales claims the president doesn't even need Congress to extend the USA Patriot Act in order to keep using the law's investigative powers against terror suspects.

No one is arguing in favor of terrorists. But President Bush is not King George. The Executive Branch must obey the laws that Congress writes.