Did you hear that?

You have to give them credit for utter shamelessness. Even after recent revelations that the FBI abused national security letters to collect private information to which it wasn't entitled, federal intelligence officials don't flinch from requesting expanded wiretap powers.

Claiming that federal investigators are missing key information on terrorists because of an outdated spying law, the top U.S. intelligence official called on lawmakers on Tuesday to revamp the foreign surveillance act and make it easier to eavesdrop on non-citizens in the United States with suspected links to terrorism.

Congressional Democrats don't seem too keen on the idea. The Bush administration's misuse of existing surveillance powers gives them pause and, besides, they just don't like the Republican-led executive branch.

You gotta love divided government.