[angkor]

These yo-yo's keep talking about "wiretap", when they know that "wiretap" is not legally equal to "trap and trace" and "pen registers", which are quite likely what has been used in the program.

Legally, "wiretap" surveils content, while the other two surveil transactions.

Gonzales won't talk about this right now, but Leaky Leahy is trying to get him to describe the progem in detail.

[Howlin]

They know they're lying.

[Cboldt]

... they know that "wiretap" is not legally equal to "trap and trace" and "pen registers", which are quite likely what has been used in the program.

I recall reading that the administration has stated the surveillance was beyond PR/TT level of information.

"What I'm talking about is the intercept of certain communications emanating between somebody inside the United States and outside the United States and one of the numbers would be reasonably suspected to be an Al Qaeda link or affiliate," Bush told an audience at Kansas State University.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,182824,00.html

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Atty'y General Gonzales: The President has authorized a program to engage in electronic surveillance of a particular kind, and this would be the intercepts of contents of communications where one of the -- one party to the communication is outside the United States.

http://www.politechbot.com/2005/12/20/transcript-of-briefing/