Bush on Dictatorship

[EXCERPTED FROM "Bush on Dictatorship"]

In his December 19th press conference regarding his secret and likely illegal program of domestic surveillance, an angry President George W. Bush took umbrage at suggestions that he believes in unprecedented, expansive and unchecked presidential power. A fuming Bush responded:

"To say 'unchecked power' basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial position to the President, which I strongly reject."

Unfortunately, Bush's past statements show that far from rejecting dictatorial power for the President, he's actually quite enamored of it:

"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it."
- President George W. Bush, July 26, 2001.

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."
- President-elect George W. Bush, December 18, 2000.

"You don't get everything you want. A dictatorship would be a lot easier."
- Texas Governor George W. Bush, July 1998.