The real surprise about "Snoopgate"

The only thing that is surprising about "Snoopgate" is that people are surprised. The Bush/Cheney administration has shown nothing but contempt for the constitution and limits on presidential power from the beginning.

In fact, as we reported here, an imperial presidency that is above the law has been a goal of Dick Cheney for most of his life. This administration has held in utter contempt any accountability or checks and balances. This became obvious even before 911 with the super secret energy task force and the appointment of fascist theocrat, John Ashcroft, as Attorney General. They have managed to stack the House of Representatives not just with Republicans but with Bush cultists. The press has been intimidated and coerced not unlike the state controlled press in the old Soviet Union. The totalitarian instincts of the Bush administration represent the Nixon administration on crack cocaine, marching roughshod over everything this country stood for. And how have they been successful? They have used the most powerful tool in the tyrant's tool box, FEAR.

So we shouldn't be surprised about snoopgate and history will show it is just a one example of presidential power run amok.