WASHINGTON, June 23 — Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday vigorously defended a secret program that examines banking records of Americans and others in a vast international database, and harshly criticized the news media for disclosing an operation he said was legal and “absolutely essential” to fighting terrorism.

“What I find most disturbing about these stories is the fact that some of the news media take it upon themselves to disclose vital national security programs, thereby making it more difficult for us to prevent future attacks against the American people,” Mr. Cheney said, in impromptu remarks at a fund-raising luncheon for a Republican Congressional candidate in Chicago. “That offends me.”

Wait just a minute. Hold the phone. The Press isn’t the leaker here; they’re the leakee. It is, and always has been, their job to disclose what Power is up to. The Press is in the private sector, not a functionary of the government. (Mostly, though that’s rapidly changing.) They’re not the origin of news, they are the consequence. Actually, the ultimate consequence is that Cheney doesn’t get elected to public office again. Right?

And this is yet still again another criminal violation of the US Constitution – 4th Amendment, Right to be Secure in Persons, Papers and Effects – on the the part of the nefarious cabal of thugs that has taken power in Washington. Didn’t these guys take some sort of oath concerning the Constitution? Thought I saw that on TV.

IMPEACH!