[Amelia]

I'm not sure I "get" exactly what Safire is complaining about...my understanding is that the things they can now look at are in the public domain anyway - am I wrong?

[Francohio]

Thus we see the seizure of new powers of surveillance is a smokescreen to hide failure to use the old power.

That's what he is complaining about. It's how the government takes over the life of a free country.

[Tuor]

I'm not sure I "get" exactly what Safire is complaining about...my understanding is that the things they can now look at are in the public domain anyway - am I wrong?

My email is not public domain, and neither is yours. My possessions and private papers are not public domain, yet the FBI can look through them now without a warrant or probable cause. They can track my every move for a year before having to tell me I'm under investigation. They can hold me without accusing me of a crime, without arresting me.

Things *are* changing... they're changing for the worse.

Tuor