Of COURSE they hacked the phones...

[PCIntern]

I would do this the Rethug way and posit that you would have to prove to me that they DIDN'T do that - a near-impossibility, but I would state that if they had the capabilites to do this, then they would have.

And they most certainly did...can you imagine them sitting around and saying, "We can do this...but it would be wrong."? No, me either...

[KurtNYC]

1. they have been hacking phones and voice mail for years

Seems to me they finally hacked the wrong people. And by wrong people I mean people who can fight back (not the 9/11 families, etc) -- the royal family and other corporations.

[kestrel91316]

2. Pretty obvious to me that prominent politicians on the left have been hacked.

They have likely also been told they have been hacked, and better toe the line or the secrets get released.

And like in the UK, I wouldn't be surprised if law enforcement and Murdoch's people have been in cahoots, which would explain why nobody takes the issue of blackmail to LE.

[blkmusclmachine]

3. They said 9/11 would change everything

[no_hypocrisy]

4. And they thought they could hide their sources by way of the First Amendment right

of not having to reveal that information.

[PCIntern]

5. Yeah...is it OK with the First Amendment for them to break into my home and

steal my jewelry and a car or two?

They probably could get a couple goons on the air to defend that 'policy'...I can almost hear Pat Buchanan now.