Top Items:
USA Today:
NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls — 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.
Discussion:
Balkinization, AMERICAblog, The American Mind, The Mahablog, RightWinged.com, BLACKFIVE, Defense Tech, Booman Tribune, The Next Hurrah, Right Wing News, The Washington Monthly, The Volokh Conspiracy, TalkLeft, PoliBlog, The Left Coaster, QandO, Balloon Juice, Majikthise, Hot Air, Flopping Aces, Daily Kos, Eschaton, INTEL DUMP, The Anonymous Liberal, The Moderate Voice, protein wisdom, TAPPED, The Huffington Post, The Carpetbagger Report, Happy Furry Puppy Story …, David Corn, Crooked Timber, Amygdala, The Sideshow, The Swamp, Donklephant, PunditGuy, Obsidian Wings, Vox Popoli, The Reality-Based Community, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, Blue Crab Boulevard, The American Street, The Hotline's Blogometer, News Hounds, Media Blog on National …, Hit and Run, Midtopia, Sister Toldjah, Riehl World View, Democrats.com, AfterDowningStreet.org, The Gun Toting Liberal, JOSHUAPUNDIT, Yourish.com, Shakespeare's Sister, Brilliant at Breakfast, Wampum, The All Spin Zone, Feministe, Scrutiny Hooligans, dartblog.com, Crooks and Liars, Cato-at-liberty, Attytood, A Blog For All, Bark Bark Woof Woof, Lifelike Pundits, Just a Bump in the Beltway, Bench Conference, Hotline On Call, Thoughts of an Average Woman, The Green Knight, Pensito Review and ACSBlog
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Associated Press:
Bush: We're not trolling your personal life — Lawmakers demand answers on phone records report — WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans and Democrats demanded answers from the Bush administration Thursday about a government spy agency secretly collecting records …
Glenn Greenwald / Unclaimed Territory:
No need for Congress, no need for courts — (updated below) — I just this morning read the obviously significant USA Today article detailing the fact that the NSA is maintaining a comprehensive data base of every call made by every American - both internationally and domestically …
John O'Neil / New York Times:
Bush Says U.S. Spying Is Not Widespread — President Bush today denied that the government is "mining or trolling through the personal lives of innocent Americans," as Democrats expressed outrage over a news report describing a National Security Agency program that has collected vast amounts of telephone records.
AJStrata / The Strata-Sphere:
Another Day, Another National Security Leak — *** Major Update: Mac Ranger has word those who leaked this story are known to authorities and this may be a political hit job *** — *** Major Update at the end - and make sure to check out the comments section for links …
Associated Press:
Text: Bush's Comments on NSA Activities — Remarks by President Bush Thursday on reports of the National Security Agency building a secret database of U.S. telephone records, as transcribed by the White House: — After September the 11th, I vowed to the American people that our government …
Jim Watson / MSNBC:
Bush defends spying after NSA database report — Agency collecting information on tens of millions of Americans, paper says — Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, President Bush's nominee to head the CIA, listens to a reporter's question after meeting with Sen. John Warner, W-Va., on Monday.
Rich Noyes / NewsBusters.org:
Hyping USA Today's "Big Brother" Bombshell: TV Jumps on Stale NSA Database Story — Seismic! Shocking! Startling! A bombshell!! That's how the ABC, CBS and NBC morning shows described a front-page story in today's (Thursday's) USA Today that breathlessly touted how "NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls."
Matt Stoller / MyDD:
Qwest: Good Corporate Behavior Should Be Rewarded — I read this post from Atrios on the big telcos cooperating with the NSA and was just about to shrug my shoulders about the latest outrage. Then I actually read the article and something jumped out - these companies have a choice in whether …
Glenn Greenwald / Unclaimed Territory:
Legal issues governing the Administration's newly disclosed surveillance program
Legal issues governing the Administration's newly disclosed surveillance program
Discussion:
Firedoglake
James Joyner / Outside The Beltway:
NSA Has Massive Database of Americans' Phone Calls
NSA Has Massive Database of Americans' Phone Calls
Discussion:
The American Mind, AMERICAblog, NewsHog, News Hounds, The Carpetbagger Report and Bench Conference
Thomas B. Edsall / Washington Post:
Democrats Are Fractured Over Strategy, Funds — Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and the leader of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have clashed angrily in recent days in a dispute about how the party should spend its money in advance of this fall's midterm elections.
Discussion:
TAPPED, The Washington Monthly, Donklephant, JustOneMinute, Betsy's Page, Brainster's Blog, Oliver Willis and Upper Left
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Joshua Lynsen / washblade.com:
Dean slams gay marriage on '700 Club' — DNC chair misstates party platform, angering gay Democrats, activists — Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean has contradicted his party's platform and infuriated gay rights advocates by saying the party's platform states "marriage is between a man and a woman."
Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit.com:
The Glenn and Helen Show: Ken Mehlman and Michael Barone on 2006 and 2008 — It's a roundup of Republican problems and solutions in today's Glenn and Helen Show. First, we talk to Ken Mehlman, chair of the Republican National Committee, about polls, anger in the base, and issues like immigration, spending, taxes, and judges.
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Baltimore Examiner:
Snow issues detailed rebuttals to media coverage of the president — WASHINGTON - New White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is starting off in a combative mode against the press by issuing detailed rebuttals to what he considers unfair coverage of Bush. — "The New York Times continues …
Peter Pae / Los Angeles Times:
Lewis Surfaces in Probe of Cunningham — Federal prosecutors have begun an investigation into Rep. Jerry Lewis, the Californian who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee, government officials and others said, signaling the spread of a San Diego corruption probe.