Anything Goes

George: Dick, did my mama call last night?
Dick: I don't recall Mr. President, let me check the database.
George: We got a database for calls me and my mama make?
Dick: Sure do, Mr. President. It's the biggest database ever!
George: Cool, can we find out who Hillary called last night?
Dick: Sure can, Mr. President. We can do whatever the fuck we want.
George: I like you Dick.
Dick: I like you too Mr. President.

The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren't suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.

"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.

Gee, I feel safer already. Now, watch as the right turns this story on it's head. Watch as they rely on the technicality that "data-mining" is different from "eavesdropping." Watch as they will declare the program legal and all who oppose it soft on terror. If I didn't know better I'd say Karl Rove is behind this database leak just so he can pick a fight with the Democrats.

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