Shortly after the surveillance was revealed, Rep. John Conyers, the panel's ranking Democrat, said he feared "that we are on the verge of becoming a surveillance state."

"Over the past decade - under the leadership of four chairman with diverse political views - the members of this committee have vigorously debated the proper balance between our safety and our constitutional right to privacy," Conyers said in remarks prepared for Wednesday's hearing. "We never - at any point during this debate - approved the type of unchecked, sweeping surveillance of United States citizens employed by our government in the name of fighting the war on terrorism."

Because, Comrade Johnny always reads EVERY word...