RAWSTORY: US Tapping ABC News, NYTimes, WaPo

[Coexist]

TOP FED SOURCE SAYS US TAPPING
ABC NEWS, NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST: DEVELOPING....

http://www.rawstory.com/

More here:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/federal_source_.html
Federal Source to ABC News: We Know Who You're Calling
May 15, 2006 9:33 AM

Brian Ross and Richard Esposito Report:

A senior federal law enforcement official tells us the government is tracking the phone numbers we call in an effort to root out confidential sources.

"It's time for you to get some new cell phones, quick," the source told us in an in-person conversation.

We do not know how the government determined who we are calling, or whether our phone records were provided to the government as part of the recently-disclosed NSA collection of domestic phone calls.

Other sources have told us that phone calls and contacts by reporters for ABC News, along with the New York Times and the Washington Post, are being examined as part of a widespread CIA leak investigation.

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. The next of several shoes dropping!

You can be sure that the Democratic Party has been completely monitored as well.

[lonestarnot]

3. OMG This is an interesting Monday! Going to be an interesting week.

[MelissaB]

I'm loving the sound of these shoes dropping.

Expose these criminals!

[ShortnFiery]

27. The Democratic Party has been completely monitored as well."

No! IMO they topped the priority list. Bastards!!! :puke:

[progressoid]

52. I wonder how many shoes have to drop before people wake up and get mad?

[Chomp]

2. Holy shit

I have always thought that nobody will care about the wire-tapping story UNLESS there are nefarious political elements to it.

So this story takes us right into that territory...

[lonestarnot]

4. Repukes exit stage right!

[katinmn]

54. Bush at next year's Correspondent's Dinner doing "Where's Osama?"

Is he under the reporter's desk? No. HAHAHA

Is he in John Kerry's campaign office? No HAHAHA.

Is he in Howard Dean's cell phone? No. HAHAHAHA

[file83]

59. Or..."Where's my approval ratings....Not here....(ha ha)....Not there..."

HA HA HA Now ITMFA!!!

[spag68]

7. Anyone who thought that they were

only listening to terrorists, has not been watching the gov. after nixon gave them the game plan. Don't forget rummy and cheny were there with I am not a crook.

[Neecy]

5. how fitting....

Gee, now that ABC news has slanted their polling about *our* privacy being invaded by adding the spooky-sounding "is that okay if it catches terrorists", I wonder if they'll gladly submit to the same if it's presented as "catching terrorists"? Or will they scream bloody murder?

I smell a double-standard coming up...

[mod mom]

6. Is this why ABC came out with the early bogus poll on how the public felt

about NSA spying? They want to get in their good graces?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1192084

[darkstar]

8. Wow...

Wow.

How long have I been out? What country have you taken me to? I want to go back to America. What's in that needle? But I'm not really in that much pain...I...really.....duuun't.....thiiiiii......zzzzzzzz...zzzzzzzz...zzzzzzz.......

[Coexist]

11. LaLa has a thread going about a big announcement on ABC

But I get The View - anyone?

[Pachamama]

58. I went sleep in the USA, and woke up in Amerika....

:omg: I swear we are resembling a Soviet Bloc country or the former Soviet Union. I remember the days of Pravda (the Truth - NOT)and how the media was run there and the role of the KGB and how they would spy on its citizens, and I'm realizing that we are just a few steps away from being there.

Scary...

[habitual]

9. TOP FED SOURCE SAYS US COLLECTING CALL INFO FOR

TOP FED SOURCE SAYS US COLLECTING CALL INFO FOR ABC NEWS, NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST: DEVELOPING....

[maddezmom]

17. here's the ABC story

May 15, 2006 9:33 AM

Brian Ross and Richard Esposito Report:

A senior federal law enforcement official tells us the government is tracking the phone numbers we call in an effort to root out confidential sources.

"It's time for you to get some new cell phones, quick," the source told us in an in-person conversation.

We do not know how the government determined who we are calling, or whether our phone records were provided to the government as part of the recently-disclosed NSA collection of domestic phone calls.

Other sources have told us that phone calls and contacts by reporters for ABC News, along with the New York Times and the Washington Post, are being examined as part of a widespread CIA leak investigation.

One former official was asked to sign a document stating he was not a confidential source for New York Times reporter James Risen.

~snip~

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/federal_source_.html

[Coexist]

18. Thanks! I updated to OP to include that.

much obliged.

[bigtree]

10. heh

now the shit flies

[Nickster]

12. Figured it was just a matter of time until something like this came out.

Now when are they going to mention the tapping of Democratic politicians?

[Ian David]

13. Until the story actually goes up, I'll take it with a grain of salt

RawStory is awesome, but I've learned to wait until they have an actual article on their site.

Anything more than one paragraph long on RawStory is usually pretty credible.

Still, RawStory is one of the best of the best when it comes to reporting real, breaking news.

[Gregorian]

14. So just send important information by mail.

They aren't opening every letter. Which makes this whole thing rather pathetic. I guess it's like having a patriot act, but not checking cargo on planes and ships.

[Semblance]

15. Speech

Hopefully, this news will override the Chimp's speech tonight in terms of news coverage.

[originalpckelly]

16. My salt shaker has about run out with raw story.(n/t)

[originalpckelly]

19. OKAY ABC NEWS(n/t)

[MallRat]

21. BRIAN ROSS CONFIRMS: ABC PHONE CALLS BEING TRACKED.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/federal_source_.html

[Media_Lies_Daily]

23. Oops.

[babylonsister]

20. Could this please be the final straw for the journalists involved?

Time to get pissed off finally?:grr: :grr:

[ShortnFiery]

31. Time to get seriously pissed off! :(

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

I wonder how these corrupt and power mongering bastards are going to try and spin THIS?!?

[dogday]

22. So Are They Doing This To The Democratic Party

as well? This question needs to be asked.. If they are doing it to the M$M, who enjoy the right of the constitution to free speech, this is a total breech of the constitution and everything we stand for...

I cry for my country... I want a Free America Back!!!!!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. You bet they are. Anyone on the NeoCon enemies list.

[ShortnFiery]

32. If they will eavesdrop on our "Free Press", then they will NOT hesitate

to listen-in to their Political Enemies. Impeach the whole damn * Administration! :grr:

[EFerrari]

41. They were probably doing it to them first. n/t

[glitch]

57. Not just dems, anybody, including repubs, who oppose them.

Bet on it.

And even those who don't oppose them. Got to be sure about everyone, don't you know.

[mod mom]

24. but..but...the pResident said they are only tapping links to al qaeda.

Does this mean Brian Ross has ties to OBL? (or is it the Quaker Peace movement?)

[stop the bleeding]

25. did the MSM finally get the MEMO????

I knew it would take something like this for them to finally sit up and take notice

[Coexist]

28. ::: STORY UP ::::: !!

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/ABC_News_Top_federal_source_says_0515.html

ABC News: Federal official says US tracking calls made by ABC News, New York Times, Washington Post

RAW STORY
Published: Monday May 15, 2006

ABC News' press office just sent out this release to news organizations, RAW STORY has learned. The story has been posted at the ABC NEWS blog (Read here).

#
ABC's Brian Ross and Richard Esposito Report:

A senior federal law enforcement official tells ABC News the government is tracking the phone numbers we call in an effort to root out confidential sources.

"It's time for you to get some new cell phones, quick," the source told us in an in-person conversation.

<SNIP>
Other sources have told us that phone calls and contacts by reporters for ABC News, along with the New York Times and the Washington Post, are being examined as part of a widespread CIA leak investigation.

One former official was asked to sign a document stating he was not a confidential source for New York Times reporter James Risen.

Our reports on the CIA's secret prisons in Romania and Poland were known to have upset CIA officials.

[0007]

29. Time Magazine sez that the NSA spy thingy could give junior

a much need boost? WTF!

[ShortnFiery]

33. Not now, The American People are beginning to Wake Up ...

and WE ARE AS MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE! :grr:

[seafan]

37. Maybe a *boost* out of our WH? n/t

[Occulus]

49. Imagine that statement being true in a negative fashion.

It could give him a boost- because they would know who is leaking, or blowing the whistle, or whatever. Then could then can that person, or shuffle them into an unimportant job, and nobody would be able to know more about what's going on regarding what the leaker was talking about.

So, yes, it could help *.

[SOS]

56. Time hasn't changed much over the years...

"America needs at this moment a moral leader, a national moral leader. The outstanding national moral leader of the world today is Mussolini."
- Henry Luce, founder of Time magazine, March 1928

[jayfish]

30. Maybe They Should Run A Flash-Poll To See If...

Merkans are peachy with this.

Jay

[katinmn]

34. 70% of Americans approve of NSA spying on US journalists

of state run media entities.

SUCK IT UP, JOURNOS. You asked for it. Now fight back, dammit!

[Coexist]

35. Can you imagine?!

[katinmn]

40. Can I imagine them fighting back with the tools at their disposal?

Based on past history -- NO.

Can I imagine them coming to the public with hat in hand asking us to support legislation and hearings - YES.

And people will support them but it will be as effective as every other petition or request we've made of Congress in the last six years. It is BushCo doing exactly what they want and getting acquiescence from Congress.

[Coexist]

50. I don't think the American public will put up with this.

I really don't.

[katinmn]

51. I hope you're right.

[Zorra]

36. The fascists need to identify and eliminate dissent and opposition

in order to conclude their plan for turning the US into a repressive and authoritatrian totalitarian state.

Under the loose definitions of "acts of terror" described in the "Patriot Act", anyone that speaks out against this fascist government can be "disappeared" KGB style.

We haven't gotten to that point yet, but the OP sure indicates that we are pretty far down that road.

The fascists have got to be stopped before they turn the US into a Stalinesque hellhole.

[Reader Rabbit]

38. Purpose: To discourage, catch, punish whistleblowers?

This is some scary shit.

[kentuck]

39. Trying to stop all those leaks ?

I suppose?

[Neecy]

42. a slight correction...

Rawstory's headline indicates these news organizations are being "tapped"; while this may be the case, ABC says only that the numbers they call are being tracked.

Still, this is different in what the NSA is doing with our phone records - while they are indeed tracking our calls, the chances of them doing anything with that information are remote. It would appear these news organizations are having specific tracking done in an effort to ferret out sources. Bush will always - always - justify this criminality by linking it to 'terrorists' - he's already spouted that the stories being printed about secret prisons etc. are 'helping the enemy' - so he'll spin it that he's protecting us by again breaking the law.

I don't think he'll get away with it, though. This may be the act that finally awakens our media and starts a shitstorm. I'm not holding my breath, though.

[Jacobin]

43. This should be the equivalent of the Saturday Night Massacre

in Nixon times, but sadly, in these times, it won't.

[dennis4868]

44. but but but....

the TV told me that Bush is doing all of this because the bad guys want to blow us up?

[Nimrod2005]

45. I am 100% convinced they tapped John Kerry's campaign phones

They know what the DNC is saying and doing right now, and probably reading this:

Fuck you agent Mike!
Bush sucks!

[dipsydoodle]

46. Just checked CNN

to see if they cross reported but zilch. What do expect from a cowboy outfit - Tonto !

[vickitulsa]

47. I look forward to your update...

An interesting week unfolding, indeed!

In a rare "spot-check" of so-called news channels I made over the weekend, I heard a reporter explaining how polling on Americans' response to the most recent revelations of NSA domestic spying revealed a significant change in just three or four days. At first, apparently "we" thought it might not be such a big deal, but a few days later some definite concern was being expressed by the public.

What I thought when I first heard about the "overseas-calls-only" spying by the NSA (No Such Agency) was that most American citizens would not find that very objectionable. IF they believed it was that limited. (Strangely, many people seem to be willing even now to believe what this administration says in response to breaking news about its many transgressions against the people.)

HOWEVER -- and this to me is the key: When folks have time to think about it for a while, they may well decide that spying activities aimed at "dangerous others" may soon expand to include the rest of us, if it hasn't come to that already. Thus it becomes a matter of whose ox is being gored, and personal outrage may increase.

Also, some people might be pondering the idea that all the data collected so far on Americans is now in their files forever, since we can safely assume that government agencies aren't going to expunge all that info from their databanks. To me, it's kinda like when law enforcement agencies ask for -- and often get -- voluntary DNA samples from everyone remotely connected to a crime "for ruling out" purposes. Family members, friends, witnesses, any and all innocents involved in an event where a crime was committed are frequently asked to submit their DNA so they can be "cleared."

What they don't realize is that those DNA samples go into a permanent record and are therefore always on file for ANY future use.

Same with the personal info spy agencies gather on us.

Perhaps some who assumed at first such spying wasn't a threat to them might now be thinking they could have been mistaken about that....

[sellitman]

48. In the process of sticking their finger in the hole in the dam they..

missed and stuck it up the Constitutions asshole.

:grr:



Can we Impeach yet?

[in_cog_ni_to]

53. Holy CRAP! NOW will the MSM take down the cabal?

How much more will they take?

[Coexist]

55. We'll see - so far nothing on CNN or MSNBC about this.

[demo dutch]

60. Are they finally getting pissed off?

[rman]

61. They want to know who the leakers are

Obviously

[myrna minx]

62. This is such a disturbing development.

I don't recognize my country anymore.