The first loyalty of a patriotic American is to the Constitution of the United States. Not to a flag, not to a song, but to the Constitution of the United States of America. The Bill of Rights of the Constitution places some very specific limits on the power of government. Any government that takes away these rights is un-American, period.

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution states:

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 Fourth Amendment is very clear: It applies to everyone. There has to be probable cause. Attorney General John Ashcroft is in egregious violation of our Constitution by supporting illegal searches and seizures! Note the phrase "...Oath or affirmation..." Note also that the Oath of Office, specified by the Constitution, for the President-elect has the option of substituting "solemnly affirm" for "solemnly swear" and does NOT contain the phrase "so help me God." In addition to the historical record of the written statements of Jefferson, Madison, and other founders, this is clear evidence that the claim that the founders intended the United States to be a Christian nation is an absolute lie!

The Fifth Amendment states:

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without compensation.

Notice that this requirement states "No person shall be held..." The Bush-Ashcroft answer to this requirement is to call the person an "enemy combatant." Very handy for evading the Constitution they took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend!

The Sixth Amendment states:

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 defence.

Under Donald Rumsfeld, the Department of Homeland Security is conducting secret arrests, not revealing the nature of the supposed offense, and holding the arrested person for an indefinite period without the right of trial by jury. Hundreds of persons are being held captive in Guantanamo with no charges filed, no evidence presented, and without trial. Anyone named as an "enemy combatant" can be subject to secret arrest and captivity for an indefinite period. This is clearly un-Constitutional. Sadly, the majority party in Congress doesn't protest. President Bush does not respect the Constitution and is dedicated to installing judges who share his extremist un-American views.