Chris Floyd writes: “What a difference a year makes — or is it an election? Back in 2004, George W. Bush was caught on camera explaining very carefully that the government always requires a court order when “chasing down terrorists.” Trying to sell the Patriot Act — which he wanted renewed but which was coming under increasing fire from all sides of the political spectrum — Bush was very clear that “a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way.” By that, he meant thatneither the Patriot Act nor its ostensible cause — the 9/11 terrorist attacks — changed the absolute legal requirement for the government to get a court order before ordering wiretaps against suspected terrorists.”