After all it only makes sense that if they have a database of phone records that they probably have the presidents as well.
The real unanswered question is have they abused the database? In other words have they used it to blackmail and or bribe?

The real unanswered question is could they abuse the database?

We need to protect ourselves against potential future abuse. We also need to encourage our security and intelligence experts to focus on finding and stopping real threats rather than just collecting everything.

As for the need to protect ourselves thats what this database is allegedly meant to be used for though I personally would rather it not be under the thumb of the NSA and would rather have the Judicial branch assume control of it to provide a firewall like between the varies government agencies on accessing the records only after obtaining a warrant.

Oversight of the day-to-day activities of the NSA is crucial. That cannot be left to insiders in the intelligence community considering the extent of NSA's surveillance. I think the surveillance needs to be cut back a great deal. It is totally unnecessary to keep a database of the communications of Americans who are simply making personal calls or communications and political and social communications that are protected by the First Amendment.

Many DUers do not seem to understand the concept of chilling First Amendment rights. If a poliice officer stood outside your church or joined your church in order to identify the church members or report on the activities of the church to the police command or to take notes on the conversations of church members, we would recognize that the fact of that surveillance might make it difficult for members of the church to worship freely. Well that is true of all of our First Amendment rights. When we are observed, identified and under observation in our exercise of our rights by our government, we do not really have those rights. The fact that we are being observed deprives us of our freedom to express ourselves and exercise our rights. The word freedom means that we may not be observed as long as we are exercising our rights peacefully and without damaging others' property or rights. The NSA surveillance deprives us of that kind of freedom.

time date and what number called what number makes sense.
What doesnt make sense is letting the NSA or any law enforcement agency being the ones maintaining it and or providing access to it.
After all you dont let the fox guard the hen house.

of our metadata. That is an invasion of privacy. That is where they can find out what newspapers and magazines you subscribe to (implicating freedom of the press), what church you attend (implicating freedom of religion), who you know, and from your cell phone where you go.

It's your best friend against your enemies. Real or perceived. And I have no doubt J. Edgar's ghost is in congress this very minute. We're being rooked and many cheer this travesty.

He might even decide to really restrain their operations or (God Forbid!) cut their over-blown budget.

When do they ever tell the truth?

Say, didnt a past administration claim waterboarding wasnt torture?

Let's quit screwing around with these people. They have violated our Constitutional rights and the oath they swore to upon taking their positions of trust. Why do they repeatedly get a pass?

Some even seem to do so rather covertly. Go figure.

Some people become smarter when they get ripped off. Some people go into denial and learn nothing.

It is hard for many people to accept that they have been duped into believing the lies they were told.