[ndt]

I wouldn't jump so fast to applaud this ruling. All that case does is say that it is not a 4th amendment issue, there are still laws (see link above)

"..provided that such an investigation of a United States person is not conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States"

This is not an invitation to go fishing, however it is a rather wishy washy statement. This is the kind of wording that lawyers can fight over for weeks.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

What the ruling says is that the phone numbers you dial from your phone are the phone companies property since you are using their property. The NSA is building a national phone book of numbers.

I would agree with you if it involved content of the conversation.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

"..provided that such an investigation of a United States person is not conducted solely on the basis of activities protected by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States"

What the Democrats have a big stink about is ?

That the N.S.A. either wired tapped their phone, or conducted surveillance of someone from overseas ( whom is over here on a US visa )
but ?
They ( the Dems - Libs- MSM ) still want to consider someone who is ( NOT ) a US citizen , or nationalized , a US citizen who is protected under the US Constitution

Hey Democrats ? Liberals ? MSM ? those who want to impeach President Bush ?

A person who is from a foreign country whom is here on a US visa is ( NOT A US CITZEN !! )

The US government, NSA , CIA has every right to investigate them, wire tap them, and conduct surveillance if they think they are a terrorist, or suspicious.