53% of Americans think the NSA’s surveillance program “goes too far"

[NNN0LHI]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12771821/site/newsweek/

Newsweek Poll: Americans Wary of NSA Spying

Bush’s approval ratings hit new lows as controversy rages.

By David Jefferson
Updated: 11:59 a.m. ET May 13, 2006

May 13, 2006 - Has the Bush administration gone too far in expanding the powers of the President to fight terrorism? Yes, say a majority of Americans, following this week’s revelation that the National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone records of U.S. citizens since the September 11 terrorist attacks. According to the latest NEWSWEEK poll, 53 percent of Americans think the NSA’s surveillance program “goes too far in invading people’s privacy,” while 41 percent see it as a necessary tool to combat terrorism.

President Bush tried to reassure the public this week that its privacy is “fiercely protected,” and that “we’re not mining or trolling through the personal lives of innocent Americans.” Nonetheless, Americans think the White House has overstepped its bounds: 57 percent said that in light of the NSA data-mining news and other executive actions, the Bush-Cheney Administration has “gone too far in expanding presidential power.” That compares to 38 percent who think the Administration’s actions are appropriate.

There’s more bad news for the White House in the NEWSWEEK poll: President Bush’s approval rating has dropped to the lowest in his presidency. At 35 percent, his rating is one point below the 36 percent he received in Newsweek’s polls in March and November, 2005.

Iraq continues to be the biggest drain on the president’s popularity: 86 percent of Americans say the Iraq situation, coupled with new information about the decision to go to war, have negatively influenced their view of the president. Asked about Bush’s performance on a variety of issues, from the economy to taxes, respondents gave the president some of the worst marks of his tenure, and in no instance did approval reach more than 50 percent.


This is the kind of thing that the more people think about it the more they don't like it.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. If explained to the American public in non-push-polling terms...

...EVERYONE would see how dangerous it is to let the Fed into our personal lives.

Our founding fathers, if they were to be resurrected and plunked into our society today, would be shocked and saddened by what we've become.

K&R.:thumbsup:

[rodeodance]

5. Contact members of Specter's committee hear: Send them the article too.

http://www.House.gov

and

http://www.Senate.gov



http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.cfm

Arlen Specter - CHAIRMAN, PENNSYLVANIA

Orrin G. Hatch UTAH

Patrick J. Leahy - RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT
Charles E. Grassley - IOWA
Edward M. Kennedy - MASSACHUSETTS
Jon Kyl - ARIZONA
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. - DELAWARE
Mike DeWine - OHIO
Herbert Kohl - WISCONSIN
Jeff Sessions - ALABAMA
Dianne Feinstein - CALIFORNIA
Lindsey Graham - SOUTH CAROLINA
Russell D. Feingold - WISCONSIN
John Cornyn - TEXAS
Charles E. Schumer - NEW YORK
Sam Brownback - KANSAS
Richard J. Durbin - ILLINOIS
Tom Coburn - OKLAHOMA

[rodeodance]

2. I hve had cable on in the background today and have not heard this.

[rodeodance]

3. 'solid majority' say NO to NSA domestic snoopy! Should be a mantra

[zanne]

4. The ABC poll was pure garbage...

The ABC poll, stating that an overwhelming number of Americans actually support wiretapping of private citizens, was pure bunk. I remember they tried that the last time, too. The funny thing is, the last time there was only one poll that got any publicity, and that was the one favoring phonecall monitoring. I hope that this time, all the different polling companies get into it.

[rainy]

6. Its how they ask the question. Sure many, almost all think

the government should have the power to wiretap the people, IF THEY HAVE A WARRENT TO DO SO. The polls usually leave out the warrent part just to confuse the numbers.

[Inland]

7. Your analysis is right on:

"This is the kind of thing that the more people think about it the more they don't like it."

The more one thinks, the less sense it makes, the more dangerous it looks, particularly as one is reminded of the lies the admin told the last time there was a revelation on spying.

This story, and the questions it raises, eats at what little confidence there is left.

[samplegirl]

8. Then all 53%

need to prove it at election time.

[Marr]

9. I believe that's now considered a mandate.

[AnnInLa]

10. Some people may have actually changed their minds, too

After Joe and Newt did their numbers.