This simply isn't true. Obama ran on being Bush's third and fourth terms and that's what we got. The two of them have been a radical departure from previous administrations. Two presidencies does not make an immutable law of nature.
Recent political events have demonstrated just how autonomous the President is, there is no reason to think there is some sort of hidden power at play here.
If anything we need a stronger and more professional bureaucracy that's less eager to help the President break the law.
Well let's be fair, they both ran on some part by being "not Bush". The GOP couldn't find a corner dusty enough to stick GWB in during that election cycle.
I understand your point, but I don't see any reason to believe it.
It seems to me that it's in the NSA's (and every other gov't organization's) best interests to do everything in its power to increase its own reach and influence. It's naive to assume they are working against their own best interests unless you have some sort of evidence to back that up.
Recent political events have demonstrated just how autonomous the President is, there is no reason to think there is some sort of hidden power at play here.
If anything we need a stronger and more professional bureaucracy that's less eager to help the President break the law.