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Mr. Speaker,

Since we are a nation of laws, we must see to it that the laws are upheld and applied equally to all citizens. That principal is what this nation was built on; it is for what our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

And it is in this great legislative body that we are charged with making the laws that govern our nation. To permit the chief executive enforcing those laws to cast them aside as he pleases would, in effect, sanction such actions. To do nothing would be to place a stamp of approval on illicit conduct and transfer power to the executive branch, thus upsetting the system of checks and balances devised by the Framers. It would cheapen the law, which, in turn, would cheapen the work by this House.

A Republic is so difficult to maintain because it demands greater sacrifice and restraint on the part of the ruler and than [sic] the ruled. Part of this sacrifice is that our leaders are held to a higher standard of conduct as they set the example for the rest of the citizenry and are placed in a position of trust."

-- Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) (House of Representatives - December 19, 1998) Privileges of the House -- Impeaching William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, For High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

No doubt Rep. Hyde is absolutely appalled at the George W. Bush administration's willingness to break U.S. law (specifically the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) for their warrantless, domestic wiretapping. I fully expect articles of impeachment to be presented soon by Rep. Hyde.