NYT: Bush signed a secret order to let the NSA spy on you and me.

[kpete]

Bush Secretly Lifted Some Limits on Spying in U.S. After 9/11, Officials Say

The New York Times' James Risen and Eric Lichtblau report that President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to covertly monitor the international calls and e-mails of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of U.S. residents.

Risen's article was delayed for a year, he reports, because the White House was worried about jeopardizing national security and begged the Times not to publish it.

While many details about the program remain secret, officials familiar with it said the N.S.A. eavesdropped without warrants on up to 500 people in the United States at any given time. The list changes as some names are added and others dropped, so the number monitored in this country may have reached into the thousands over the past three years, several officials said. Overseas, about 5,000 to 7,000 people suspected of terrorist ties are monitored at one time, according to those officials.
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/15/politics/15cnd-program.html?pagewanted=1

[renate]

1. O. M. G.

I wonder how long it'll be before this story and the story about the Pentagon's spying on Quakers and antiwar activists are tied together.

[Misskittycat]

2. So the White House begged and the NYT agreed? WTF? n/t

[agingdem]

6. WTF is right!

The real story is that the New York Times held this back for a year because the White House said "pretty please". Obviously the the NYT and Washington Post are so far up Bush's ass they can taste what he had for breakfast.

[tlsmith1963]

3. This is Why I Don't Like the Patriot Act

I don't trust the neocons. They could use it against average people who have no terrorist ties, especially the "hated" liberals. If we had a better leader in power who wasn't a complete fascist & would do the right thing, I might not have as much of a problem with it. The neocons can't be trusted, period.

Tammy

[Dunvegan]

4. That's why you NEVER give up your rights...

...for the vague promise of security.

Without your rights there is NO security.

[feelthebreeze]

5. I never did give up my rights and it is high time to remind...

the narrow top of the Democracy, whose country this is. It is unbelievable that a Democracy can allow this. W are the people and must, MUST demand that our elected officials protect our rights and privileges. Spying on our own people is Soviet and unacceptable behavior. Write to your reps and demand an answer and recourse to this disgusting breach of trust. Yet another crime against Democracy that must be tallied and dealt with.