Senators steam over new report of N-S-A phone calling scrutiny (Specter-Leahy

KGBT4/ AP ^

[hipaatwo]

A Republican senator says it's time to "find out exactly what is going on." A Democrat senator is asking, "Where does it stop?" The furor on Capitol Hill is over a U-S-A Today report that three big phone companies have turned over the records of tens of (m) millions of calls to the National Security Agency, as part of a government effort to compile a complete database of phone calls.

Chairman Arlen Specter says he wants A-T-and-T, Verizon and BellSouth to appear before his Senate Judiciary panel to explain.

The ranking Democrat on the committee, Patrick Leahy, says he's angry that Congress will, in his words, "rubber stamp" anything done by the Bush administration.

The newspaper says the program doesn't involve listening to the calls. But it reportedly does seek to track every phone call in order to identify calling patterns.

[gondramB]

>>People can "gather records without warrant" all the time, and do. They even sell them on the internet. If private companies can do this, why not the NSA?<<

There were a number of companies gathering and selling phone records - they were recently shut down by the government because it violated privacy.

Bear in mind I'm not rushing to judgement here - I hope to God it works out well for the country but I have a bad feeling.

[MizSterious]

Well, it looks like the leftwing propaganda team MSM has done its job well...

[jazusamo]

FedGov has proven itself unworthy of this kind of blind trust over and over again in the past.

Yes, that has been true in some cases but applying what is actually taking place with this, in a time of war, don't you think it might be appropriate in that we are fighting terrorists?

[hipaatwo]

Look what happened yesterday, right before the USA article today.

Seventy two in Congress join battle against wiretaps

Seventy two members of Congress filed papers late Wednesday seeking to end President George W. Bush's warrantless NSA eavesdropping program, RAW STORY has learned.
Advertisement

The filing came just before a report Thursday in USA Today which revealed that the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program had collected call records on tens of millions of Americans through agreements with AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth.

It also comes a day after lawyers looking into the NSA program abruptly closed their probe after the Bush Administration refused to grant them clearances.

The 71 Democrats and one independent filed an amicus brief in two federal courts reviewing challenges to the warrantless wiretapping program in Detroit and New York, joining the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights. Both suits demand the program be stopped.

http://www.rawstory.com/admin/dbscripts/printstory.php?story=2094

[airborne]

Just heard Roger Hedgecock mention that the progam was started in 1999.

And we all know who was in the White House in 1999.

[gondramB]

>>Well, it looks like the leftwing propaganda team MSM has done its job well...<<

I am a strong believer in the right to privacy. And I hope this story turns out to be wrong. Phone records are the modern equivalent on a person's papers.

>>The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.<<

[MizSterious]

Well, yes, but it was still George Bush's fault. (How's that for an imitation of a liberal talking head?)

[Howlin]

Coincidence? I think not.

[MizSterious]

There's not much that's private about your phone records. Your conversations, yes, but I think a lot of people can get their hands on someone's phone records.

[kimoajax]

"this strikes me as President Bush purposefully picking a fight regarding an issue that he knows the public sides with him. He is changing the subject to talk about National Security and I think his nomination for the head of CIA is his way of holding a referendum in the Senate as to where the dems and Rinos stand on National Security. It is a brilliant move if you ask me."

So, in your opinion, it is more likely Bush would undermine a valuable NSA intelegence process and thereby weaken that agency's ability to discover patterns of communication that might lead to uncovering terrorist plots...all to in some strange way change the debate so he can get his nominee confirmed.

If I had your judgement I would have some else pick out my clothes.

[hipaatwo]

Coordination? I THINK SO! But I guess those who want to stay home to teach the GOP a lesson in Nov. will be happy with these 70 RATS! The ones that stay home for that reason should not complain AT ALL about anything if the Dems take over.

[talleyman]

"leakers" = "traitors" and they should be shot. Now.

[Mo1]

Wow ... what a shocker .... / sarc >

also
USA Today NSA Scoop Not News
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1630591/posts

[Txsleuth]

Well....not only is the timing "suspicious"...but, I thought that I had heard that no Washington politicians were actually calling for the program to be ended.

HMMMMMMMMMM...I guess THAT is wrong...LOL

[gondramB]

>>There's not much that's private about your phone records. Your conversations, yes, but I think a lot of people can get their hands on someone's phone records.<

This administration has taken legal action against the distribution or sale of phone records without getting either consent or a warrant.

this is from the FCC web site. And BTW, I want to keep an open mind on this. Maybe we need a law to allow some data sifting - but to hear the government has just imposed such program with a law and public review is troubling, if its true.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/phoneaboutyou.html

>>What Information Does Your Telephone Company Collect?

Your local, long distance and wireless telephone companies collect information such as the numbers you call and when you call them, as well as the particular services you use, such as call forwarding or voice mail. Telephone companies collect this customer information, sometimes called Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI), so they can provide the services you have requested and send you bills for this service.

What Can Your Telephone Company Do With This Information?

Both a law passed by Congress and Federal Communications Commission rules impose a general duty on telephone companies to protect the confidentiality of your customer information. Telephone companies may use, disclose, or permit access to your customer information in these circumstances: (1) as required by law; (2) with your approval; and (3) in providing the service from which the customer information is derived<<

[Mo1]

These Dems are reminding me of Joe Wilson .. every couple of months they rehash the same old bs

[sono]

This just in ... Verizon publishes Phone Book ... Sen. Leahy outraged!

[gondramB]

>>"leakers" = "traitors" and they should be shot. Now.<<

The first leaks happened during the Clinton administration - if you search for Echelon you'll find leaks from early 2000.

[Labyrinthos]

Seems that these Senators have forgotten that the Constitution gives the Federal Government the power of regulating Interstate Commerce..................

True, but the Constitution specifically delegates that power to Congress, not the Executive Branch.

[FlipWilson]

Quote: "So, in your opinion, it is more likely Bush would undermine a valuable NSA intelegence process and thereby weaken that agency's ability to discover patterns of communication that might lead to uncovering terrorist plots...all to in some strange way change the debate so he can get his nominee confirmed.

If I had your judgement I would have some else pick out my clothes."

No offense, but if I had your intelegence (sic) I would not post on FR, especially if I could not figure out the spell check feature.


Does the President mind that these programs are being leaked? You bet he does. Does he mind that the program exists and that the NSA is data mining? No way, not by a long shot and for the reasons that have been stated over and over again. By nominating someone who was behind this program and is a firm advocate of it, Bush is challenging the dems to oppose the nominee and the program. That is picking a fight worth picking.