I object to the smearing of the word " democrat". The use of a reference book to define one word is worthy:to use personal pique and smear to define a whole group is unbecoming and unworthy.

I don't see anything wrong with reading posts on public websites. Youtube, etater, what have you. Those are public forums where any person with a computer can access. I do have a problem with public websites, with private accounts. Twitter, messanger, facebook, myspace. These sites a person can not read posts by members unless they are accepted as family or friends. However the goverment according to latest information, can go into and read any posts or emails they want on these sites without being on the list of acceptable people.

So the goverment easedrops on my conversations on the phone is illegal. If the goverment reads these same conversations then it's not. I think this and the patriot act is are both illegal. Remember what Ol Ben said.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

It's okay now that Obama is doing it. It was only a bad thing when George W. Bush was doing it.

Other than the public forum, this is like the police or government sneaking into my house while I'm gone and reading my personal papers. No search warrant. If this was only with forums or public bulletins where any Joe, Bob or Fred could access read and post, I do not see anything wrong and would encourage it. But they are crossing the line when they read private emails, and IM's of people that goes into the realm of 1984.

There is nothing private on the internet. The internet is basically a public forum invented by Al Gore.

If you are worried about somebody reading your emails or Instant Messages you should be careful what you say because they can be read by others.