[Carry_Okie]

LI: Now that they’ve been challenged, federal officials are claiming that this massive data collection has thwarted a terrorist attack. Assuming that’s even true (not that they have much credibility right now), do you believe that preventing attacks is a justifiable reason to conduct this massive surveillance?

WB: No. You see, I left the government with a way to do it without violating the privacy of U.S. citizens. They chose not to do that. That was a conscious choice that they made.

This was the key question, yet lacked an important piece of follow-up. WHEN was that choice made. I put my guess at 2005-6 because planning for the Utah Data Center was complete by 2007. There would be no reason for a facility that huge were the decision not cast in concrete.

Bush.

[Texas Fossil]

You may be correct.

As bad as I hate to admit it. This does NOT Remove any responsibility from Obozo for the excesses.

[GOPJ]

I think his objection was to the unconstitutional targeting of American citizens. As far as 'stopping terrorism' the goons at NSA didn't catch the Boston Bombers - even with the Russians pleading with them numerous times to take a look at the two. They missed Fort Hood too. Seems all the 'terrorists' they catch are secret.

I suspect the reason is the goons are after Americans who happen to be conservative. In other words ALL Americans are paying taxes to support an organization that targets citizens. And yeah, I'm starting to think they're targeting democrats too.