I never said anything at all about supporting data mining, but I'll say it now loud and clear, "YES I DO!" It happens all the time with all sorts of data, and last time I check, the phone companies are public entities and their data is subject to public scrutiny (as are the records of any public utility.)
Now about you, you signed up of January 5, 2005 and posted 5 posts in two days. We heard nothing from you again until last Friday, May 12, 2006 when you posted 9 post to the thread entitled - Poll: Most Americans Support NSA's Efforts (POLL: 66% NOT BOTHERED IF NSA COLLECTS PHONE RECORDS) and you've posted 2 posts to this thread. All posts have been critical of the Administration.
When something smells bad, I try to find the source of the odor. In this case something smells fishy.
Like I said you have a VERY interesting posting record.
I have 46,000 posts on FR. Maybe you want to root around in those and question my posting history as well.
The poster you are addressing has said nothing out of line of what has been posted in the past on FR - especially back when Clinton was president and we would have had fits if such a program as this one were revealed. So why don't you just address what you disagree with regarding what he has said?