[dvmmh]

No. The congress/president are so scared of having another terrorist attach on their watch that they are 100% sold on letting the NSA/FBI/CIA/NYPD do anything they want to do in the name of safety/security.

This stems from the fact that the average American demands that they be safe and anyone that "drops the ball" will bear their wrath next election cycle. The average American values an illusion of safety/security FAR HIGHER than their privacy.

[fnordfnordfnord]

>The congress/president are so scared of having another terrorist attach

This is an excuse. I'm more inclined to think it is the fantastical amounts of money they get to play with, spoils for their districts and such.

[saraid216]

Those two explanations are not mutually exclusive. It's probably both, to varying extents, in many different members.

[jamesjporter]

To me this seems like the root of the issue. Politicians give the voters what the want; If most are willing to trade civil liberties for security (or at least the illusion of security) than that's the way it will be :(

[gnaritas]

Simply not true; Busk dropped the ball, 9/11 happened, and he was re-elected.