Comments on: Press hates NSA data mining; public, not so much

By: theholyhermit

theholyhermit — Mon, 15 May 2006 18:02:08 +0000

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

By: right as rain man

right as rain man — Sat, 13 May 2006 15:15:01 +0000

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.

By: Small Town Veteran

Small Town Veteran — Sat, 13 May 2006 00:16:14 +0000

NSA Record Collection OK With Americans…

NSA Record Collection OK With AmericansJohn Hinderaker ABC reports on the results of its overnight poll on the public’s response to the leak about the NSA’s phone record analysis program:Americans by nearly a 2-1 ratio call the surveillance of teleph…

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » Harry Reid: Hayden’s looking good

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Harry Reid: Hayden’s looking good — Fri, 12 May 2006 22:20:05 +0000

[...] Did Reuters just answer my question? [...]

By: white pebble

white pebble — Fri, 12 May 2006 20:58:24 +0000

Listening in…

Heres from Hot Air:

Press hates NSA data mining; public, not so much:…

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 12 May 2006 20:26:07 +0000

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.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 12 May 2006 19:50:38 +0000

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…)

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 12 May 2006 19:36:51 +0000

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

By: Iowa Voice

Iowa Voice — Fri, 12 May 2006 19:04:30 +0000

Washington Post: Poll Shows Americans Support NSA Programs…

Not a big fan of polls, obviously, so take this for what it’s worth:

A majority of Americans initially support a controversial National Security Agency program to collect information on telephone calls made in the United States in an effort to iden…

By: Reality Check

Reality Check — Fri, 12 May 2006 18:05:45 +0000

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.

By: The Unalienable Right » Democrats uninterested in NSA program until it was in the newspaper

Fri, 12 May 2006 18:03:13 +0000

[...] Others: Michelle Malkin Memorandum The Volokh Conspiracy Hot Air posted by: The Editors @ 9:22 am May 12, 2006 [...]

By: Super Fun Power Hour

Super Fun Power Hour — Fri, 12 May 2006 18:00:30 +0000

Do-it-yourself NSA data mining…

The faux outrage over the new NSA “scandal” continues to occupy the MSM and the Dems despite the legality of the data mining program and the public’s support. Lost in the hooplah is the simple fact that what the NSA has been doing can be done by an…

By: Defector01

Defector01 — Fri, 12 May 2006 17:57:36 +0000

Drive by Media is unsuccessful once again

By: Tom Shakely

Tom Shakely — Fri, 12 May 2006 17:12:41 +0000

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.