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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE FOR THE LEAKERS  —  There are apparently no limits to which the cadre of leakers who are working in our intelligence agencies will go to undermine legitimate national security interests in furtherance of their own, private agendas.

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."

Dean and Party Leaders in a Money Dispute  —  WASHINGTON, May 10 — Howard Dean was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee on an unusual promise: To send millions of dollars in contributions to build up state Democratic parties, even in states that vote solidly Republican.