Russ Feingold, guest blogger

OK, not exactly. I am swamped this week, and, so, not able to generate any of my longer, connect-the-dots pieces for capitoilette. I am still shooting off some quick hits over at guy2k, but until I have a big chunk of time for this page, I (metaphorically) turn the reins over to Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) (not to be confused with DWI), who provided the text of this floor speech to Raw Story:

Mr. President, last week the President of the United States gave his State of the Union address, where he spoke of America’s leadership in the world, and called on all of us to “lead this world toward freedom.” Again and again, he invoked the principle of freedom, and how it can transform nations, and empower people around the world.

But, almost in the same breath, the President openly acknowledged that he has ordered the government to spy on Americans, on American soil, without the warrants required by law.

The President issued a call to spread freedom throughout the world, and then he admitted that he has deprived Americans of one of their most basic freedoms under the Fourth Amendment -- to be free from unjustified government intrusion.

The President was blunt. He said that he had authorized the NSA’s domestic spying program, and he made a number of misleading arguments to defend himself. His words got rousing applause from Republicans, and even some Democrats.

The President was blunt, so I will be blunt: This program is breaking the law, and this President is breaking the law. Not only that, he is misleading the American people in his efforts to justify this program.

How is that worthy of applause? Since when do we celebrate our commander in chief for violating our most basic freedoms, and misleading the American people in the process? When did we start to stand up and cheer for breaking the law? In that moment at the State of the Union, I felt ashamed.

Congress has lost its way if we don’t hold this President accountable for his actions.

Wouldn’t it be great if like, um, three other sitting Senators felt as strongly—and said so! Well, pretend while you read the rest of the speech.