« previous | MUCK HOME | next »

Conyers: How Many Americans Have Been Surveilled?

In the first blood-drawing exchange, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) asked Admiral McConnell how many Americans not serving as primary targets for surveillance have been spied upon without a warrant. McConnell first said "none," based on an understanding of the word "target," which Conyers found legalistic. Conyers wanted to know how many Americans have been inadvertently surveilled. McConnell's answer: "I don't have the exact number," but he said it was a "very small number."


Comments (8)

Anonymous Reader wrote on September 18, 2007 1:45 PM:

That should be 'Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)'

mo2 wrote on September 18, 2007 2:06 PM:

"It is a very small number considering that there are billions of transactions each day."

My question - Who decided that "breaking the law a little bit" is the same thing as not breaking the law?

(This kind of lack of morals could be curtailed with public humiliation, sitting in stocks in the courtyard, and pelting with tomatoes. Or we could invade another third world country.)

Anonymous wrote on September 18, 2007 2:10 PM:

I know of two.

pointus wrote on September 18, 2007 2:19 PM:

I liked the hand-held sign toward the end of the clip: "DON'T TAP MY PHONE"

Unfortunately, most of the sheeple in this country believe that we must sacrifice our vital liberties in exchange for "security" against the terrorist boogie-man.

nuQler ostrich wrote on September 18, 2007 2:35 PM:

I read Article Two Section Four and can't find the word, "May."

It says "Shall."

Anonymous wrote on September 18, 2007 2:38 PM:

'Unfortunately, most of the sheeple in this country believe that we must sacrifice our vital liberties in exchange for "security" against the terrorist boogie-man.'

The sad reality is that the terrorist boogie-man is only a convenient (if flimsy) excuse. A large segment of the American population want to live in a totalitarian state because they are terrified of modernity.

They want a spanking and to be sent to their rooms without any supper. They want a Stern Father to assume all their responsibilities and banish the ambiguities of adult life.

JNaarya wrote on September 18, 2007 9:09 PM:

"pointus wrote on September 18, 2007 2:19 PM:

"I liked the hand-held sign toward the end of the clip: "DON'T TAP MY PHONE"

"Unfortunately, most of the sheeple in this country believe that we must sacrifice our vital liberties in exchange for "security" against the terrorist boogie-man."

You've not interviewed "most of the sheeple," Mr. Superior, so you don't know what they believe. And, to the contrary, we know from the polls that a healthy majority is fed up with the Bushit criminal enterprise, and want the war ended and the troops brought home.

You, by contrast with those facts, sound exactly like the insignificant percentage which still supports that enterprise that falsely labels that majority, "a vocal minority".

KilgoreTrout XL wrote on September 19, 2007 9:25 AM:

Wow, maybe we should consider putting a guy at the head of one these committees who can actually examine a witness. Making sure they have a spine would also be nice.

What a terrible waste of time, and what a meaningless, impotent reprimand at the end of his answer (which was little more than a glorified i don't recall.)

Post a comment

Share
Close Social Web Email

"To" Email Address

Your Name

Your Email Address