What was that about “protect and defend”?

This from Doug Thompson of Capital Hill Blue:

“GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the [Patriot Act] could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. ‘I don’t give a goddamn,’ Bush retorted. ‘I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.’

“ ‘Mr. President,’ one aide in the meeting said. ‘There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.’

“ ‘Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,’ Bush screamed back. ‘It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!’

“I’ve talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution ‘a goddamned piece of paper.’ ”

This is the face of American patriotism. We are on the verge of losing our country, if we haven’t already lost it, and the delusional power-drunks are in charge.