Stephanopoulos: Bush is winning debate on NSA spying

[quaoar]

On Stephanopoulos' show this morning on ABC he said that Bush's PR blitz is apparently paying off for him and that he had turned around public opinion. He cited ABC's new poll, which included a question that asked whether people support warrantless wiretaps to fight terrorism:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PollVault/story?id=1549959

A better result for Bush, noted above, is the apparent lack of traction for critics of the warrantless NSA wiretaps. A clear majority now says such wiretaps are acceptable, 56 percent, compared with 43 percent who call them unacceptable. That compares with a closer 51 to 47 percent split earlier this month.

If you word the question that way -- to fight terrorism -- naturally people are going to say OK.

Nonetheless, the panel concurred that if Bush went to Congress to ask it to rubber stamp his spying program, Congress would do so.

[NanceGreggs]

1. And when, Mr. Stephanopoulos ...

... did YOU stop beating your wife?

[sproutster]

11. OMG he DENIES beating his wife!

... Yes all americans embrace being spied upon.

[joemurphy]

2. Since when is "a PR blitz" a "debate"? N/T

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

8. The truly disturbing part is that we've sunk so low in terms of what

IS considered "debate" or "discourse."

And if that weren't bad enough, the veracity of the propaganda doesn't EVEN get looked at.

A whole generation will be conditioned to accept this lowest common denominator as "political discourse."

:puke:

[Telly Savalas]

31. "Debate" was the OP's word, not Stephanopolous's

[niceypoo]

3. What about this question:

Would the public support warrentless wiretaps if the administration was using them for political purposes? If they have the phone numbers of Al Quaeda terrorists in the US why aren't they arresting them?

[quaoar]

10. It is actually a difficult question to ask

without having bias intrude into it.

Perhaps the only way to neutrally ask it is: "The president says ..... Others say ... With whom do you agree?"

[wellst0nev0ter]

29. Someone Tell That To ABC News

21. On another subject: as you may know, the National Security Agency has been investigating people suspected of involvement with terrorism by secretly listening in on telephone calls and reading e-mails between some people in the United States and other countries, without first getting court approval to do so. Would you consider this wiretapping of telephone calls and e-mails without court approval as an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_ethics_012706.htm

Yes, people will always support unwarrantless wiretapping of people suspected of terrorism. That's why FISA provided a provision that can give warrants retroactively. They should do what CBS did and ask people if they are willing to let Bushco spy on ordinary Americans. 70 percent disapprove.

[sasha031]

4. oh how nice to see fair and balance in the MSM

:sarcasm:

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Stephanopoulos is a turd

who doesn't know shit. Turn him off.

[Selatius]

6. If the poll is an accurate reflection of public opinion...

then I guess I'll have to get used to being in the minority. My ideals make me of a kind that's always had to be in the minority anyway, and sometimes we pay a heavy price for daring to hold to these ideals, the ideals of freedom, equality, justice, cooperation, and solidarity.

If the poll isn't accurate, then whatever, it still won't change my views.

[AX10]

7. I do NOT believe that most Americans believe that...

the Iraqi War has made us 'safer'. That is just crap.

[McCamy Taylor]

9. Bullshit. This topic continues to generate letters to editor and anger.

It has legs and teeth and is not going away. Plus, it resonates with independents and with the GOP base. It is hurting the GOP a whole lot. Brave talk from a RNC toadie.

[SHRED]

12. Absolute BS

The question gets framed as if "warrantless" is the only way to spy on terrorists.
Of course people will answer yes.

Fuck this shit.
:grr:

Critical thinking is no longer part of our citizenry.
TV and crappy schools have dumbed down the USA.
The brainwashing is nearly complete.

[quaoar]

16. Subtle word changes make big differences in poll results

For instance, if the question was, "If the president needs warrantless spying to defeat al Qaeda would you support that?" most people would answer "Yes."

But if the question was "If the president says he needs warrantless spying to defeat al Qaeda would you support that?" a lot fewer people would answer "Yes."

[Justitia]

13. Check out this demographic info of the poll respondents....

[BOSSHOG]

14. HITLER ALSO WON THE MINDS OF THE GERMAN CITIZENRY

[buff2]

15. Yes and he's winning the war on turrer,the Iraq war,he's got Osama

"on the run". Isn't the master Jesus bu$h GREAT?:sarcasm: :puke:

[Warren Stupidity]

17. Here is a shocking revelation:

Stephanopoulos is a reichwing mediawhore.

He is busy catapulting the propaganda, facilitating the tyranny of one party rule and executive dictatorship. He joins the long list of perpetrators who need to eventually go to The Hague for their trial for Crimes Against Humanity. I have a very long list. I am the non-violent robespierre of the revolution. Never forget.

[Frank Cannon]

18. Would you support torturing George Stephanop. if it helped fight terror?

See, George, that's called a question based on a false premise, just like your bullshit poll question. If I called up Americans at random and asked them this, they would overwhelmingly respond yes. But if the fallacy that the question is based on were to be revealed, I would get quite a different answer.

[Justitia]

21. I like your polls way better!

:thumbsup:

[Vickers]

19. It's not a "debate" it's a "crime" and George needs to get "impeached."

:eyes:

Why do I have to explain these things to people who should KNOW better???

[Terran1212]

20. Even GEORGIANS are revolting against the NSA thing..

If people in my ultraconservative state are mad, BUSH IS NOT WINNING

[SoCalDem]

22. Don't you just 'love it' when media people report shit like that?

He's only 'winning' because the MEDIA says he is..They SAY it, then report it as truth..
Media has the opportunity to interview anyone they choose. If they choose to only interview/poll people who think one way, then THAT's what the "survey says". I bet if they went out and interviewed people in chi-chi areas where only rich people live, they would only have great things to say about their medical care...but if they went to a county hospital, they would get another version..

[Mark E. Smith]

23. Oh horseshit

Does anybody take this bug-eyed nebbish seriously anymore?

[jbnow]

24. The problem isn't Stephanopoulos

It's true if the question is him needing warrantless wiretaps in calls to or from Al Quaeda a good portion of people agree.

But what we don't know is why a warrant wouldn't work.

How we know who they monitor? They say Al Quaeda or terrorists. Why take their word with no oversight? How do we know even that one side is always overseas?

Even if it's true, what about domestic calls that are routed through Canada for instance?

There is not a strong, clear Democratic voice framing the truth of the issue. But the problem is no one has a way to prove or really investigate these questions. The bush group does not cooperate with investigations and in this case even says he can't get a new law because it will give info away to the enemy.

He will use that to block it all...and try to delay it enough that if it's pushed harder alito will be on SCOTUS and decide any questions in his favor.

That is republican framing and it works with too many. especially after that convenient osama tape.

[Warren Stupidity]

25. "needing warrantless wiretaps in calls to or from Al Quaeda "

There is no need for warrantless wiretaps to or from suspected al qaeda operatives. The president can readily obtain a warrant for such wiretaps either BEFORE or AFTER the wiretap is initiated through the FISA courts and has done so on thousands of occasions. The whole question is bullshit.

[jbnow]

26. I know that

and of course it is bullshit.

Yet when asked, that's what bush won't answer. He is vague, too fast, new technology. What does that mean? Yet so far much of the public is buying it.

As far as that goes if he knows they are al qaeda operatives, why not arrest them?

As we hear about the vast numbers people have to wonder how there can be that many terrorists or connection in the US.

But bush isn't answering, he is using platitudes. Since no one has oversight, who can demand the answers.

I am not defending bush, I am talking about the problems in public perception and getting to the truth.

[quaoar]

28. Good point

the real problem with this issue for Democrats is the lack of a point man on it.

Maybe once the hearings get underway someone will emerge.

[rucky]

27. Then we get what we deserve.

stupid people in a stupid country run by a stupid dictator.

[Oilwellian]

30. What a crock of caca

New Zogby poll shows majority of Americans support impeaching Bush for wiretapping:

http://www.democrats.com/bush-impeachment-poll-2


Now look at this summary of the Pew Poll and note how they worded it:

But there is not an outcry or even consensus opinion about the government's monitoring, without court permission, the phone and email communications of Americans suspected of having terrorist ties; 48% feel this is generally right while about the same number (47%) think it is generally wrong.

Now think about that....ONLY 48% felt warrantless wiretapping of Americans suspected of having terrorist ties was OK. Less than half of all polled felt warrantless wiretapping was ok, EVEN if they have ties to terrorists. 5% of the people were too afraid to even answer the question. Gee, I can't imagine why.

Further down in the summary you find this:

As has been the case since shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Americans overwhelmingly reject the idea of the government monitoring their phone calls, emails and credit card purchases. By about three-to-one (73%-24%) the public opposes allowing government surveillance of their personal phone calls and emails. This measure has changed very little since September 2001, just after the attacks, when 70% opposed government monitoring of private communications.

Well what do you know! The vast majority of Americans flat out reject warrantless spying overall.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=267

Stephapieceashit is just that.

[oasis]

32. The corporate press also pads the actual number of pro-lifers. They

serve their masters well.