Good article. Shows why the executive branch is responsible for this mess.<p><i>The 2009 dissent, led by a senior NSA official and embraced by others at the agency, prompted the Obama administration to consider, but ultimately abandon, a plan to stop gathering the records.<p>The secret internal debate has not been previously reported. The Senate on Tuesday rejected an administration proposal that would have curbed the program and left the records in the hands of telephone companies rather than the government. That would be an arrangement similar to the one the administration quietly rejected in 2009.</i><p>Good news is the patriot act now expires in a couple of months and the party will all be over. Oh, wait. POTUS will have to sign the law fixing/extending it. Or not. Its all on him at this stage.