Press hates NSA data mining; public, not so much
posted at 1:00 pm on May 12, 2006 by Allahpundit
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The media is aghast but the rabble stubbornly cling to their belief that (a) there might just be something to this terrorism thing, and (b) fighting it with a mass eavesdropping program is okay if the program doesn’t actually involve, you know, eavesdropping.
Spruiell compares and contrasts and reaches the obvious conclusion. I’m not going to recite the Pauline Kael/McGovern quote; just fill it in on your own.
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross looks at the law in NRO. Fear not, it’s been translated from the original legalese. Andy McCarthy, a lawyer himself, wants to know why we’re worried about government mining data when we’re not worried about individual members of government mining data. And here’s the boss’s op-ed in today’s Post congratulating the NSA for keeping their eye on the ball. I am reliably informed we have a Vent coming on the subject sometime this afternoon, so stay tuned.
Exit question: does this poll get Hayden confirmed? The Democrats are going to grandstand about wiretaps regardless, but the Republican fence-sitters might be spooked into voting for him now.
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I don’t think anyone really minds that the government is tracking patterns in telephone communication, just so long as that’s all they do.
Tom Shakely on May 12, 2006 at 1:12 PM
Drive by Media is unsuccessful once again
Defector01 on May 12, 2006 at 1:57 PM
Doh?!
The same pimple faced media kids trying to make headlines of lost privacy by the NSA are working for companies that put data mining cookies on the personal computers of those that come to read their story about loss of privacy. Again, if your dialing 1-800-AlQueada you NEED to be caught.
Reality Check on May 12, 2006 at 2:05 PM
This story is part of the Global War AGAINST the Global War on Terror (GWAGWOT). This is a non-issue meant to inflame the passions of ill-informed people and Bush haters (not necessarily the same people).
In 1979, the Supreme Court, in Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735, 743-744 (1979), held that there was no actual expectation of privacy in the phone numbers you dial. Even if someone has an expectation of privacy in the numbers, it is not “legitimate.” The Court then stated that the public “typically know[s] that they must convey phone numbers to the telephone company and that the company has facilities for recording this information and does in fact record it for various legitimate business purposes.” If someone does harbor a subjective expectation of privacy, this expectation is not “one that society is prepared to recognize as ‘reasonable.’” If you voluntarily convey numerical information to the phone company and expose it to the phone company’s equipment in the normal course of business, you then assume the risk that the company would reveal the information to the police.
This is old law and this newest “scandal” highlights the media’s hatred of Bush and how it consistently puts the hatred above the national interests.
Check out the case at http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=442&invol=735
Greg on May 12, 2006 at 3:36 PM
My post above was based upon 5-10 minutes of research during work. I should have read all the links before posting above because Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, noted by Allah above, does a much more thorough legal analysis (which does, however, include my case…)
Greg on May 12, 2006 at 3:50 PM
I think Republicans need to make this a key issue in this year’s elections. People need to realize that the Democrats (most of them) are trying to undermine our President’s attempts to protect us. This despicable undermining is all being done by liberals under their usual claims that it is a violation of “civil liberties”. Republicans need to go on the offensive — starting now!!
Also, I’m sick and tired of seeing these so-called Republicans, like Specter and Graham, take the liberals’ side on this. It makes them look more ignorant than they really are (and they are pretty ignorant).
As for the MSM, they are so out of touch with the people of this country, it’s not even funny. They are all attempting to come up with the biggest Bush-bashing story. The MSM can’t stand this administration because they see the MSM for what they are — elitist liberals. So, the MSM has resorted to getting all the bureaucrats (who also don’t like this administration because they don’t get their way) to start leaking classified information.
Rick on May 12, 2006 at 4:26 PM
This is so typical. The data collection program is supported by about 75% of the public (should be 100% of anyone who recalls Sept. 11th) but it causes angst in the MSM. They must meet in the lobby every morning and repeat “Bush is Bad” twenty times before starting to type.
right as rain man on May 13, 2006 at 11:15 AM
The problem of this whole issue is trust. The kinds of tactics that are useful against terrorists, such as wiretapping and analyzing phone call data, could easily be used against regular citizens, or citizens who don’t agree with the government, etc. Basically, we have to trust that our government IS using the information they gather in a proper manner.
My government government seems to be working more and more to make me trust them less.
My $.02
theholyhermit on May 15, 2006 at 2:02 PM
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