Lots of punditry here on the wiretap hearings, but it seems to me it obscures rather than clarifies the crucial facts. Torturer-General Gonzales spent most of his time on the stand not answering questions about the wiretapping program. He echoed Bush’s stance of being largely uninterested in seeking additional authority for the administraiton’s illegal actions. Everyone at the hearings was eager to establish that we are interested in knowing what is said if ‘U.S. persons’ are talking to foreign terrorists. While the Senate is certainly offended that they have been out of the loop on this, there seemed nonetheless to be offers on the table to extend additional authority to the administration if they would ask for it.

So why does the Bush cabal prefer to do it illegally? It seems clear that it has something to do with avoiding scrutiny or accountability of any kind, and precisely the desire not to have to report to the legislative or judicial branches. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that that is because the scope of the program is far broader than what they are willing to cop to. Perhaps we are seeing only the tip of the iceberg. Here’s hoping there are more leaks waiting to be sprung…