Questions of legality aside for a moment, what is the harm of collecting this type of data?

I mean, I don't listen in on my bosses phone calls. The nerve.

scribe - A motive check. Were you similarly outraged and made similar protests when the previous administrations was shown to have obtained 1100 or so FBI background check files on members of the opposition party?

and it only becomes a political issue if there is something to gain from it.

"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.

Sorry for the O.T

But at least bother to show that he is breaking the law before you get the rope out, and, if you can be bothered to do so, for once, please explain why your concern for civil liberties is so clearly based on who is violating them.

The NSA told Qwest that other government agencies, including the FBI, CIA and DEA, also might have access to the database, the sources said. As a matter of practice, the NSA regularly shares its information -- known as "product" in intelligence circles -- with other intelligence groups. Even so, Qwest's lawyers were troubled by the expansiveness of the NSA request, the sources said.

All these records are public.

There are 65 lobbyists for every one congressperson and 200 million a month spent lobbying.

Well, I see Rover's lackey is up early this morning.

If they need a new law to regulate this practice, then they should go to the rubber-stamp congress and get one

So what is to stop a rogue agent from planting some BS evidence because they didn't like my online rantings?

You think this might be the reason we haven't had a successful attack since 9/11?

You think this might be the reason we haven't had a successful attack since 9/11?

BTW- this used to be called a "pen register". It is illegal without a warrant. Period.

Thanks for the personal attack JL. If you are receiving calls from a "freind" who is a suspected terrorist then I hope the government is listening to your calls.

Just curious my dear limmericker, is it your contention that were the founding fathers around today, they would approve of the lobbyists and the legislature written no longer by the senate, rather the lobbyists?

is Paris Hilton a top or a bottom?

Do you actually think anyone in the Gov really cares about that?

But if Bush had been MY president I would have been ashamed.

"There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed." -- Ted Kennedy, Sept 27, 2002

"I will be voting to give the president of the United States the authority to use force - if necessary - to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." -- John F. Kerry, Oct 2002

Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans -- this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known. We will do everything in our power to make sure that that day never comes. (Applause.) Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike? If this threat is permitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all words, and all recriminations would come too late. Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not a strategy, and it is not an option. (Applause.)

I know most on the left hate to admit to "facts"... but the facts are...more terrorist attacks occurred while Billy boy was at the helm.

the 50,000-square-foot museum features animatronic dinosaurs, state-of-the-art models and graphics, and a half-dozen staff scientists. It holds that the world and the universe are but 6,000 years old and that baby dinosaurs rode in Noah's ark. Another poll showed that 65 percent of Americans want creationism taught alongside evolution.

Are you suggesting that what I said about more attacks under Clinton was made up (not true)?....

I see no harm in that