Legalising shoplifting

The NY Times finds its backbone:

The founding fathers understood that there
would be times in American history when the country lost confidence in the
judgment of the president. Congress and the courts are supposed to fill the gap.
But the system of checks and balances is a safety net that doesn't feel
particularly sturdy at present. The administration seems determined to cut off
legitimate court scrutiny, and the Republicans who dominate the House and Senate
generally intervene only to change the rules so Mr. Bush can do whatever he
wants. (If the current Congress had been called on to intervene in the case of
Mr. Allen, it would probably have tried to legalize shoplifting.)