Someone Tell Arlen Specter To Shut Up
As if we thought this was not coming, Senator Arlen Specter decided to weigh in on this subject. Quite frankly, I do not think I have heard any less intelligence on such an unimportant matter:
(Hat-Tip: Michelle Malkin)
Lawmakers demanded answers from the Bush administration Thursday about a spy agency secretly collecting records of millions of ordinary Americans' phone calls to build a database of all calls within the country...
...The top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said he was shocked by the reported activities.
"It's not one party's government. It's America's government. Those entrusted with great power have a duty to answer to Americans what they are doing," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
Senator Leahy, would care to be that candid about the IRS and its collection methods? Seriously, this is pandering and grandstanding in the worst sense. The NSA is data mining. As Thomas pointed out earlier, it is beyond legal; it is a common business practice.
AT&T Corp., Verizon Communications Inc., and BellSouth Corp. telephone companies began turning over records of tens of millions of their customers' phone calls to the NSA program shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, said USA Today, citing anonymous sources it said had direct knowledge of the arrangement.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he would call the phone companies to appear before the panel in pursuit of what had transpired.
"We're really flying blind on the subject and that's not a good way to approach the Fourth Amendment and the constitutional issues involving privacy," Specter said of domestic surveillance in general.
This is no different than the axe he had to grind regarding the NSA terrorist surveillance program. He is throwing a tizzy over something that the Fourth Amendment does not apply to, which shows that he has no clue what he is speaking about in terms of jurisprudence. NO ONE'S calling habits are "private." The USA Today story admits that no names, addresses, or Social Security numbers are even accessed unless they get something that prompts further investigation. In other words, there is a check in the method they do the data mining.
The companies said Thursday they were protecting customers' privacy but also had an obligation to assist law enforcement and government agencies in ensuring the nation's security.
"We prize the trust our customers place in us. If and when AT&T is asked to help, we do so strictly within the law and under the most stringent conditions," the company said in a statement, echoed by the others.
Anyone wnat to bet that each and every phone company contacted after 9/11 had a long conversation with their lawyers as to whether they could do this or not? I am betting they did, and when their lawyers said they could, I am sure some "haggling" went on. The usual you-scratch-my-back-and-I-will-scratch-yours moment when it comes to business and government. But I am sure that plenty of lawyers have discussed this, and reached the same conclusion. It is legal. The current laws may have a challenge presented, but even people like Orin Kerr agree that there will be little that comes out of a challenge.
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., said NSA was using the data to analyze calling patterns in order to detect and track suspected terrorist activity, according to information provided to him by the White House. "Telephone customers' names, addresses and other personal information have not be handed over to NSA as part of this program," he said.
Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecommunications and internet panel, had a different view: "The NSA stands for Now Spying on Americans."
There is one of the moonbats right now, in line behind Patrick "Leaky" Leahy. This is pathetic. How can it be that so many supposedly educated minds cannot see that there is nothing wrong with this program? I can only suppose that they are clearly deranged, and incapable of sensible thought.
The Bunny ;)
As if we thought this was not coming, Senator Arlen Specter decided to weigh in on this subject. Quite frankly, I do not think I have heard any less intelligence on such an unimportant matter:
(Hat-Tip: Michelle Malkin)
Lawmakers demanded answers from the Bush administration Thursday about a spy agency secretly collecting records of millions of ordinary Americans' phone calls to build a database of all calls within the country...
...The top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said he was shocked by the reported activities.
"It's not one party's government. It's America's government. Those entrusted with great power have a duty to answer to Americans what they are doing," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
Senator Leahy, would care to be that candid about the IRS and its collection methods? Seriously, this is pandering and grandstanding in the worst sense. The NSA is data mining. As Thomas pointed out earlier, it is beyond legal; it is a common business practice.
AT&T Corp., Verizon Communications Inc., and BellSouth Corp. telephone companies began turning over records of tens of millions of their customers' phone calls to the NSA program shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, said USA Today, citing anonymous sources it said had direct knowledge of the arrangement.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he would call the phone companies to appear before the panel in pursuit of what had transpired.
"We're really flying blind on the subject and that's not a good way to approach the Fourth Amendment and the constitutional issues involving privacy," Specter said of domestic surveillance in general.
This is no different than the axe he had to grind regarding the NSA terrorist surveillance program. He is throwing a tizzy over something that the Fourth Amendment does not apply to, which shows that he has no clue what he is speaking about in terms of jurisprudence. NO ONE'S calling habits are "private." The USA Today story admits that no names, addresses, or Social Security numbers are even accessed unless they get something that prompts further investigation. In other words, there is a check in the method they do the data mining.
The companies said Thursday they were protecting customers' privacy but also had an obligation to assist law enforcement and government agencies in ensuring the nation's security.
"We prize the trust our customers place in us. If and when AT&T is asked to help, we do so strictly within the law and under the most stringent conditions," the company said in a statement, echoed by the others.
Anyone wnat to bet that each and every phone company contacted after 9/11 had a long conversation with their lawyers as to whether they could do this or not? I am betting they did, and when their lawyers said they could, I am sure some "haggling" went on. The usual you-scratch-my-back-and-I-will-scratch-yours moment when it comes to business and government. But I am sure that plenty of lawyers have discussed this, and reached the same conclusion. It is legal. The current laws may have a challenge presented, but even people like Orin Kerr agree that there will be little that comes out of a challenge.
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., said NSA was using the data to analyze calling patterns in order to detect and track suspected terrorist activity, according to information provided to him by the White House. "Telephone customers' names, addresses and other personal information have not be handed over to NSA as part of this program," he said.
Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecommunications and internet panel, had a different view: "The NSA stands for Now Spying on Americans."
There is one of the moonbats right now, in line behind Patrick "Leaky" Leahy. This is pathetic. How can it be that so many supposedly educated minds cannot see that there is nothing wrong with this program? I can only suppose that they are clearly deranged, and incapable of sensible thought.
The Bunny ;)
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 5:33 PM
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