AMERICANS MAKE BETWEEN 375 BILLION AND 420 BILLION LOCAL CALLS A YEAR

THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 400 BILLION CALLS ON LAND LINES PER YEAR. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE CELLPHONE CALLS.

So, if the US fed gov't is monitoring a few million call records it is, IN FACT, a highly targeted program - I mean, sheesh, "tens of millions" out of 400 BILLION/year, that's like what.... .25%, AT BEST.

And, it's a legal program too - WITHOUT a warrant. At least according to the SCOTUS; (see Smith vs Maryland, 1979 - a DECISION written by liberal hero Blackmun!), AND ACCORDING TO US CODE! (MORE HERE. AND HERE.)

This makes perfect, common sense, when you think about it: Gathering and analyzing call RECORDS is more like a police roadblock which stops EVERYONE (even though the police are searching for someone in particular), than it is like a search of a single car. Or look at it this way: It's more like the surveillance of all the people coming and going from a suspect's home, than it's like the search of the suspect's home. In both cases the former requires NO WARRANT, while the latter does.

And those who claim that subsequent laws passed by Congress "closed that loophole" conveniently forget that the Constitution can only be altered by AMENDMENT: Congress cannot pass a law which makes illegal something which is constitutional - only an AMENDMENT can do that.

Those who deride the Bush Administration for this highly targeted and entirely legal effort are not dummies; THEY KNOW THIS, and they deride Bush anyhow - just for temporary political gain. It's shameless and disgusting - and IT AIDS THE ENEMY!

The Left knows this, too. They don't care. The Left would rather hurt Bush, than hurt the REAL enemy. The Left has always put their own anti-West/anti-free market/anti-religion socialist/partisan political goals ahead of everything and anything else.

This attack against Bush, Hayden and the NSA is merely another in a long line of attacks which prove that the Left -- and the MSM they dominate -- couldn't care less if their tactics mean we could lose Iraq, or WW4 - AS LONG AS THEY HURT BUSH.

WHY WOULD THEY RISK LOSING WW4?! Because they value multiculturalism. abortion, euthanasia, socialized medicine, government pensions, and the "progressive" tax system more than they value individual liberty.

(ALSO MORE HERE.)

5/14/06 - ADDENDUM: THERE'S ANOTHER REASON THE DEMOCRAT/LEFT IS ATTACKING THE NSA - MONEY:

TRIALS LAWYERS ARE ALREADY SUING THE TELECOMS WHICH LAWFULLY COOPERATED WITH THE NSA FOR BILLIONS!

Heck, this could be a bigger windfall for "Dem/Left ambulance chasers/trial lawyers" than the bogus Cerebral Palsy (CP) lawsuits lawyer-scumbags like John Edwards brought against good OB-GYN's. These lawusits made scum like Edwards rich, and drove good doctors out of the business of delivering children. AND THE WHOLE THING WAS BOGUS! All lawyer-scumbags like Edwards did was convince a jury that the CP of the baby was the fault of the doctor. This is something which has since been proven to be ENTIRELY BOGUS. Has Edwards returned the money!? HA! Scum. Well, these very same type of "trial lawyers" are now suing the telecoms FORT BILLIONS? CONCIDENCE?! Hardly. This type of scum cares not a whit if they ruin doctors lives, wreck the practice of sound medicine - AS LONG AS THEY THEMSELVES GET RICH. The lawyers who are suing the telecoms over the NSA brouhaha don't care if they damage Bush or our efforts to win WW4 - AS LONG AS THEY GET RICH. Scum.

The Left is a Fifth Column, undermining our efforts to defeat the enemy. In fact, they're the only force which can lead to a victory for the enemy. For if they get in power, they will SURRENDER. Of course, they'll call it appeasement, or raprochement, or detente, or "PEACE IN OUR TIME." YUP: they'll do to the Iraqis and Afghanis what they did to the South Vietnamese in 1975, and the Contras in 1982 and the Cuban Freedom Fighters in 1962, the Tutsis in 1994, and Eastern Europe at Yalta in February 1945 - and so on: ABANDON THEM.

This is why I actually consider a Democrat/Left/dove victory in the Fall to be the single GREATEST threat we face as a civilization. Seriously: it'd be like the Brits electing Chamberlain PM in 1943!

NEW NSA BROUHAHA IS NOT NEW AND NOT BAD

WASH POST:

The Bush administration has secretly been collecting the domestic telephone records of millions of U.S. households and businesses, assembling gargantuan databases and attempting to sift through them for clues about terrorist threats, according to sources with knowledge of the program.

The "call detail records" enable U.S. intelligence agencies to track who calls whom, and when, but do not include the contents of conversations, the sources said ...

This type of intel gathering is NOT illegal or unconstitutional; (it's like setting up a roadblock or doing random searches - NEITHER OF WHICH REQUIRES A WARRANT OR PROBABLE CAUSE; IT MERELY NEEDS TO BE REASONABLE).

And - as a recent report about the 7/7 subway bombings in London revealed - it can possibly detect terrorists BEFORE THEY STRIKE. Which is good.

Politicians who deride it are fools. And there are plenty like that. In both parties.

MORE HERE. AND HERE, TOO. NYTIMES bias HERE.

BTW: Americans make BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of calls. Sifting through CALLING PATTERNS of a few million in order to ferret out some which might be terror-related is not "widespread surveillance" - as the Left-wing dominated MSM portrays it - but TARGETED intel gathering. WHICH CAN SAVE LIVES.

But then, truth and life are two things that the Left doesn't believe in.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: TREES CAUSED MAMMOTH EXTINCTIONS

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC/NATURE:

Dale Guthrie, a researcher at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, has spent some 20 years examining more than 600 bones of large mammals from Alaska and the Yukon Territory. ... Guthrie's data, published in tomorrow's issue of the journal Nature, shows that increases in moisture and warmer temperatures 13,500 to 11,500 years ago allowed for edible plants to migrate north. This plant exodus provided more food sources for horses, mammoths, bison, and elks living in the far north, he suggests. ...

But then the milder climate backfired on the big mammals. It paved the way for trees, which eventually outshaded and outcompeted the low-lying plants the animals depended on, Guthrie says. The upstart forests transferred the landscape's nutrients to the treetops, out of the reach of large mammals. Elks and bison, it seems, adapted better to the new landscape than mammoths and horses. ...

Guthrie notes that there is thousand-year gap between when people showed up and when mammoths died off.

IOW: People didn't kill them off; the extinction of the mammoths was entirely NATURAL.

Today's eco-nazis seem to feel that the current state of natural affairs is perfect and immutable and should not be changed, nor would it be changed if it weren't for evil humans. No species would become extinct, no climates would change. Which is pure bunk. The geo-eco-bio world is constantly changing, and some species survive and others do not. No law and no treaty and no technology will ever change that fact.

(OH, BY THE WAY: THERE WERE NO STINKING SUV'S AROUND BACK THEN - ABOUT 13,500-11,500 YEARS AGO - EITHER. SO I GUESS THE WARMING UP OF THE CLIMATE WAS NATURAL, TOO.)

THE UN AND THE IAEA ASSIST THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL

BBC:

UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei has welcomed the move by the UN Security Council to hold off imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme."The only solution to the Iran situation is a comprehensive package through dialogue, through negotiation," Mr ElBaradei said. The US had said earlier this week that pursuit of a tough UN Security Council resolution on Iran would be delayed.

"It is very good that the [UN] Security Council holds its horses," Mr ElBaradei said at a news conference in Amsterdam. "I am very optimistic, I hope both sides will move away from the war of words, I hope the pitch will go down... we need compromises on both sides," he added. ...

Tehran has so far ignored calls from the UN to suspend uranium enrichment.

As the old saying goes, all that evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Though in this case it seems to me like the UN is - for all intents and purposes - actually abetting Iran, by providing the means for them to delay until they get the bomb.

Baradei, and his ilk on the morally relativist Left, make no moral distinction between the two sides in this confrontation: the democratic West (where all people are equal before the law), and the tyranny of Iran - where open calls for genocide are repeatedly made by their president, and where women are virtual SLAVES.

MY POINT: the bomb is itself not a problem. The problem is, WHO has the bomb. No decent country is threatened by Israel's bomb anymore than they are threatened by France's or ours. But the whole of the CIVILIZED world is threatened by the POSSIBILITYof Iran getting the bomb. NOT because Iranians are evil, but because Iranians are enslaved to an evil regime ruled by evil men who follow an evil ideology - an evil ideology which must be destroyed for Humanity to be liberated.

We cannot co-exist with jihadoterrorism. It's us or them. One way or another. By regime change or by preemptive strike.

The Baradei's and Kofi's and Hillary's of the world will do nothing but talk. And talk is not a policy. Nor is appeasement a winning strategy.

As a man far braver and smarter than Baradei once said: "I know not what others may choose. But as for me..."

Which man's approach changed the world for the better? Has appeasement ever done more than give the enemy time to strengthen!? NO.

The critical moment approaches. If we prize our liberty, then we will need at least as much wisdom and courage as Mr. Henry.

THE UK TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS BECOMING A BRAVE NEW WORLD

WASH POST:

British regulators yesterday ruled that fertility clinics may screen out human embryos carrying genes that raise the risk of cancer in adulthood -- a move the government said could prevent future suffering but that others said was proof that the age of handpicked, "designer" babies is at hand. ... Some experts fear that as scientists discover genes affecting traits such as obesity, addiction, intelligence or height, a market in elective embryo screening may emerge -- backed by evidence that selected children would be healthier, happier and more successful.

The kind of testing in question, known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, is conducted on one or two cells removed harmlessly from a three-day-old test tube embryo created by in vitro fertilization. If a cell is found to harbor an unwanted gene, that embryo is not used.

This type of screening is immoral. It's eugenics and it's a hop-skip-and-jump from this to "creating a master race." Amniocentesis yields similar results. And the CHOICE CROWD supports it: PERIOD. After all, (they seem to say): "Having perfect babies is so much more pleasureable. That's what the secular pro-choice crowd is ALL about, really: hedonism: "If it feels good, then do it." Even if it's immoral - 'cause in their morally relativist world, there's no such thing as universal morality; morality is just subjective, merely product of one's culture. Which is why they're incapable of advocating direct action to support universal human rights. Heck, I can't even find a pro-choice person to admit that using abortion to choose the gender of a baby should be made illegal WORLDWIDE. Their's is truly a Brave New World. Brave New World is nothing if not a Leftist totalitarian "utopia" where pleasure rules. And where imperfect babies are aborted. Imperfect PEOPLE killed. Shameless.

THE UN IS A HARMFUL CESSPOOL WHICH SHOULD BE ABOLISHED

First this item, from the BBC:

Liberia sex-for-aid 'widespread'

Young girls in Liberia are still being sexually exploited by aid workers and peacekeepers despite pledges to stamp out such abuse, Save the Children says. Girls as young as eight are being forced to have sex in exchange for food by workers for local and international agencies, according to its report. The agency says such abuse is continuing as people displaced by the civil war return to their villages.

This was hardly the first UN sex scandal - more HERE and HERE and HERE and and HERE. And HERE, too. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.

NOW THIS - (also from the BBC):

UN elects new human rights body -

UN general assembly - Voting is expected to finish on Tuesday -

Several nations considered by activists to have poor human rights records have won election to the newly formed UN Human Rights Council. China, Cuba, Pakistan, Russia and Saudi Arabia were among 44 states confirmed on the 47-strong council, elected by the UN General Assembly.

(More on the idiotic "UN Humans Rights Council" HERE.)

And who could forget the UN FOOD FOR OIL SCANDAL, (MORE HERE.) Or that Kofi is corrupt useless scum who stood by and watched as 750,000 Rwandans were slaughtered.

I have come to believe that THE UN DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

It's time to withdraw, and KICK THEM OUT OF THE USA. They can sell the Manhattan property to Trump - it would make a fine hotel/condo/casino/marina.

EGYPT NAILS MAJOR JIHADOTERRORIST

BBC:

Egyptian police say they have shot and killed the suspected ringleader of an Islamic militant group blamed for last month's deadly bombing in Dahab. ... Security forces said they surrounded Mr el-Mallahi in an olive grove to the south of el-Arish, after receiving a tip-off. Lt Gen Essam el-Sheikh, head of police in northern Sinai, told the Associated Press news agency that an accomplice, named as Mohammed Abdullah Abu Grair, was arrested in the same operation. "This is a major blow to the terrorist group," Gen el-Sheikh said.

Er um... this came as a result of a TIP - meaning that local Muslims turned them in.

Could it be that Bush and Rummy will win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world BEFORE they can convince the Left!? As absurd as it sounds I think the answer is: "YES!" Muslims living in the Third World may be more rational than affluent Lefties living in their fantasy world.

IOW: Today's Left may be EVEN more conspiratorial, and in deeper denial than Muslims. Or look at it this way: As a cult, Leftism (meaning socialist totalitarianism - or Marxism, Stalinism, Maoism, Nazism, etc.) killed more people and developed more adherents in the 20th Century than Islam has in fourteen centuries!

And as long as the Left dominates the academy, the MSM and the bureaucracy this will be tough to alter. Victory in Iraq, and else where in WW4 may very well be the final blow which eradicates the Left. I think they sense this and it's ANOTHER reason that they are making it so tough for our side to win.

LT GENERAL HAYDEN WAS UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE AS PRINCIPAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DNI

Arch leb-Dem Senator Mikulski even went out of her way to endorse him.

As principal Deputy DNI - for all intents-and-puposes - the CIA already "reported" to him, so the charge that his nomination represents an encroachment of the Pentagon into intelligence is hollow at best - but perhaps shameless and LUDICROUS better describe it.

As for the NSA Terrorist Intercept Program debate that will inevitably now result: I welcome it! (See below.)

BTW: Six (6) previous DCI's were active military men at the time of their nomination. As Drummond of POLIPUNDIT points out: all were nominated by Dem presidents so it was okay. Heh.

THREE SOLUTIONS TO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ISSUE

The three major reasons most Americans are unhappy about illegal immigration these days are simple:

(1) the illegals pay next to no taxes, yet use a lot of services (like hopsitals, schools, roads, utilities, etc.);
(2) they don't assimilate;
(3) there are too many of them and they are depressing income.

Each of these has a simple solution:

First, cut the W2 tax rate for all W2 filers. Make up the difference with a national SALES TAX. This is a tax which illegals CANNOT AVOID PAYING. Nor could tourists. EVERYONE CONSUMING ANYTHING WOULD PAY IT. Let's say actuaries say we can make make it around 5%. Then, we give a TAX REBATE to ALL W2 filers of 5% on the first $35,000-$50,000 of their gross income - or thereabouts, so that the National Sales Tax would be ENTIRELY NEUTRAL for the LEGAL working class. This tax should increase federal receipts, too - since it would tax the consumption of an additional 12 millions consumers, the ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Second, we should make English the official language for all federal activities, and require that states make English their official language in order to get any federal funds, (like people getting a driver's license should be required to speak and read English). This will improve assimilation.

Third, build a fence.

Problem solved.

HAYDEN'S NOMINATION WILL LEAD TO GOP VICTORY IN NOVEMBER

By nominating Hayden, Bush BRILLIANTLY guarantees two things: (1) that we get an outstanding DCI; and (2) that the GOP gets a great issue for the coming election, one which will bifurcate the electorate in a way which benefits the GOP as it galvanizes the GOP base.

Let's face it: Bush has disappointed AS LOT of conservatives for A LOT of reasons: spending and PORK is rampant; immigration policy has been weak (AT BEST!); Bush has seemingly caved-in on "man-made" global warming; and his communications department has been PITIFUL (ever since Hughes and Fleischer first left. Let's hope Bolten and Snow mend things).

And these disappointments come as the Dem/Left, and the MSM they dominate, have been relentless in its attacks - ATTACKS WHICH HAVE BEEN FUELED BY A SEEMING FIFTH COLUMN WITHIN THE CIA: from the NSA leak to the Rendition leak, to the "Secret prison" leak, and so on. I t seems as if there is a cohort within the CIA which has been actively and illegally trying to undermine the policy of the duly elected government of the United States of America. This is nothing less than an attempted coup d'etat.

Yet Bush holds on... by the skin of his... Well you know what I mean!

Now, here comes the Hayden nomination. And we can depend on the Dem/Left - folks like Feingold - to try to use the president's nomination to reopen the debate on the NSA Intercept Program. AND WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT? The same now as when that debate last occupied center-stage: a resounding victory for Bush! The Dem/Left will expose themselves as soft-on-defense (and pro-terrorist's rights), and the GOP will come off as the only party the nation can trust with our national security.

BRAVO BUSH! GOOD NOMINATION. I look forward to the debate.

AND REMEMBER: this debate will be occupying center-stage over the next month or so, just as (I PREDICT): the DOW will climb OVER 12,000; and oil prices per barrel will continue to decline; and we will catch-or-kill Zarqawi.

I SMELL A BIG GOP WIN IN NOVEMBER! (Related thoughts HERE from Betsy.) MORE HERE, TOO.