Apparently so.

James Risen, NY Slimes reporter, has a book coming out in early 2006. You guessed it: another Left-spin, anti-Bush, anti-WOT garbage-in-a-flashy-cover, misinformation piece.

So how does the Slimes help sell the book hit piece? By helping our enemies and assisting in the violation of federal law, of course. I'm sure the fact that portions of the Patriot Act are up for renewal played right into their hands with the timing of this law-breaking release, either.

The Slimes, in their never-ending, Dowd-ish campaign to discredit anything good that may have President Bush's name attached, went into a tizzy over the fact that the federal government is spying on Americans. The Slimes intentionally buries (or simply omits) the truth of the matter — that the government is not spying on John and Jane's phone call discussing how mush cheese they like on their pizza. No, the use of spying is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and a viable link to some terrorist organization (or enabler) must be established. But leading the story with that information would be detrimental to the intentionally desired hysteria that would be caused by the OH-MY-GOSH factor, wouldn't it? Now that's objectivity for you.

Do they tell you that simply publishing information regarding classified operations is a violation of federal law? No. They sit in their breakrooms and snicker at the damage they can cause to President Bush. National security be damned! Full steam ahead with the anti-Bush propaganda!

But, but, but, but...the American people have a right to know that the government is snooping on their private calls and emails, don't they? Obviously terrorists and their enablers do to.

Look. If you're not using those communications to plan or execute a crime — more pointedly, an attack on United States interests — you shouldn't have any worries. I mean, If one seriously thinks about it, the realization that millions (billions?) of phone calls are made (and emails sent) each day. Do you seriously think that the gummint is listening to/reading each and every one of them? Be real! But, if Joe Citizen is placing a call to a known al Qaeda operative, I would certainly want my government listening in. Wouldn't you?

And then there's the leakers. Where is the Slimes standing on them? Where is the hue and cry from the ACLU to nail the anti-security thug(s) who take this classified information and give it to major publishers? Theft of this type of information is a crime.

So is knowingly receiving it.

So is willingly dissemenating it.

Michelle Malkin has all the goods in her piece RED ALERT: CHICKEN LITTLES ON THE LOOSE.

I'm sure the New York Times editorial page will be clamoring for a special counsel to get to the bottom of the illegal, national security-compromising leaks that fueled this story.

Not.