Big Brother gets bigger

From McClatchy (h/t mistermix at Balloon Juice):

The Obama administration's Justice Department has asserted that the FBI can obtain telephone records of international calls made from the U.S. without any formal legal process or court oversight, according to a document obtained by McClatchy.
That assertion was revealed — perhaps inadvertently — by the department in its response to a McClatchy request for a copy of a secret Justice Department memo.
Critics say the legal position is flawed and creates a potential loophole that could lead to a repeat of FBI abuses that were supposed to have been stopped in 2006.
The controversy over the telephone records is a legacy of the Bush administration's war on terror. Critics say the Obama administration appears to be continuing many of the most controversial tactics of that strategy, including the assertion of sweeping executive powers.

This issue is ready-made for a link up between the Tea Party and liberal civil liberties types.  If this isn't already dealt with, the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks would be the perfect point to plan for the end of the war on terror.  The idea that worthwhile information can be gleaned from all the data collected by the government is foolish.  Let's try to return to normal.  As a side note, after that anniversary, I would like to see someone push a bill to rename September 11 from Patriot Day to Terrorism Victims Memorial Day or something, and while we are at it, let's get rid of the Patriot Bonds.  These names are way too Orwellian for me.

Update: Glenn Greenwald addresses the Tea Party civil liberties possibilities and difficulties. (h/t The Dish)