Maybe he couldn’t, but Glenn Beck had a guest at least two years ago that said that that kind of database and query structure have been operational for quite some time. Put in a phone number, get a name and address. Put that address back in, get any other phone numbers at that address. Put one of those phone numbers back in, get all the phone numbers they called. Put one of those numbers back in, get that person’s address. And so on, without limit, and keeping in mind that any or all of SSN, driver’s license, arrest record, credit history, utility bills, bank statement, credit card bill and more are in the mix as well.
The phone records that are being continuously collected along with other data accessible to the NSA would certainly allow that.
But Snowden went further. He used the word "Wiretap". Here is the quote:
"I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from you, or your accountant, to a federal judge, to even the President if I had a personal email."
That is distinctly different capability. What you describe is "Data Mining". No doubt about that. But Snowden needs to define and, IMHO, limit the meaning that he attaches to the use of the word "Wiretap". Does anyone actually believe that Snowden could wiretap the President of the United States based on an Obama E-Mail address. I don't.
I guess there comes a time when the curtain gets lifted on the pretend conservatives’ act, just ask Chief Justice Roberts. Honestly, I don’t think you raise to certain positions of power without being willing to go along with the plan to bring the US down. Any legit heated debate is over who gets to shove their snouts the deepest into the trough.