Forced to admit he authorized what are quite possibly illegal and unconstitutional wiretaps, the Straight-Shooting Truth-Teller today groused that revealing his impeachment-worthy actions was a threat to national security.

During an unusual live, on-camera version of his weekly radio address, Bush said such authorization is "fully consistent" with his "constitutional responsibilities and authorities."

Bush added: "Yesterday the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports, after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk."

He acknowledged during the address that he allowed the NSA "to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations."

Given Bush's track record of correctly identifying people with known links to al Qaeda, this fails to reassure.

Even less reassuring is Bush's failure to recognize that warrantless wiretaps have no place in a free society. During the address, he proudly insisted that he will continue to spy on whatever US citizens he wants, with or without a court's consent.

Sort of makes you wonder what else the press has been sitting on for a year or more.