Who's Spying on YOU? And New York Walks...

Big Brother? Are you there?

Recent revelations that President Bush used executive powers to approve domestic spying on U.S. citizens by the National Security Agency (NSA) dominates blog buzz. In fact, eight of today's top 10 blog posts discuss the issue -- with far-ranging reactions. And today's most-cited news story, from Newsweek, gives the entire affair a not-so-original name: "Snoopgate."

In today's top blog post, for example, Kevin Drum at Washington Monthly asks bluntly: "What kind of program is so intrusive that even Republicans, even with 9/11 still freshly in mind, wouldn't have supported it? At Defense Tech (No. 4 blog post), reactions from current/former intelligence workers range from "mildly creeped out" to "completely p'd off" (caution: offensive language). The Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal Online raves about the presidential powers (No. 5). Talking Points Memo (No. 6) provides evidence of Congressional concern in July 2003. Atrios/Eschaton (No. 7) quotes from a 2004 President Bush speech that contradicts (imagine that!) the President's current explanations. PowerLine bloggers (No. 8) trust the President. The Volokh Conspiracy (No. 9) provides legal background and tenatively thinks Bush's order "probably violated" federal law. Ameriblog (No. 10) wonders who's defining "terrorist" when gay/lesbian meetings are being monitored.

Put on the Big Apple walking shoes
Also in today's top blog posts is an entry from GOP and the City, which details some of the financial ramifications associated with the transit strike in New York City. The union behind the strike, TWU Local 100, has its own blog, and it's today's No. 7 most-cited blog.

Spying or striking?
A BlogPulse trend graph shows nearly equal concern for both issues: