a question I would like answered about NSA spying.........

[tulsakatz]

Remember back in December when the NY Times broke this story? Bush and various people came out........well, to be fair, first he denied that it was even happening. Then the next day he came out and said, ok we are doing it.....but we're only monitoring calls where one person is outside the US.

Now that we know the situation is much more widespread than that, I would like someone to ask the Bush administration why they said that and why should we believe anything they say now?

Yeah, I know they lie about everything.........I would just like to watch them as they try to squirm out of that one when everyone knows that's what they said.

[valerief]

1. In the words of Scottie McClellan:

"We've already addressed that issue, and we're not going to go over it again."

Their catch-all answer.

[tulsakatz]

3. oh, yeah.........

I forgot about that one.

Still, that's not exactly the kind of explanation I was looking for........

[letsgonova19087]

2. just throwing this out there

I've been lurking in the background but decided I finally have something to add to the debate...

The warrantless wiretapping could very well be illegal, but this newest "bombshell" from all I can discern is simply a data-mining project. I work in a fundraising office at a major university and we run programs similar to this on a daily basis to try to locate and evaluate donors. We acquire addresses, phone numbers, memberships in organizations, employers, real estate...pretty much someone's life story. This is all done without a warrant or any kind of legal backing. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that while the physical WIRETAPPING reeks of illegality, people should chill out about these data mining projects.

[tulsakatz]

4. welcome to DU!

Certainly the phone companies do have access to the info but the problem I have with it is that the are not supposed to just turn over those records to another agency unless they inform their customers first!

[riderinthestorm]

5. I've worked in fundraising also

And I would bet you aren't getting those lists from the phone companies. The telcos operate under a different system than other agencies that sell their databases. Furthermore, there are specific laws that the telcos must adhere to which stipulate that in order for the phone records to be turned over to the govt, there must be a court order or warrant.

There were no court orders or warrants. That's why Qwest didn't turn their records over - the govt. even told Qwest's CEO that they wouldn't go to FISA because they weren't sure they'd get warrants. Big red flag there.

What the government is doing is illegal. The telcos are in big trouble. And you should be worried, damn worried, about this data mining project. This is a monumental step in the wrong direction for the 4th Amendment.