Slim Majority of Americans Say Bush Wiretapping Was Wrong (Gallup)

[sabra]

http://poll.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=21058

Slim Majority of Americans Say Bush Wiretapping Was Wrong
Majority support appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate wiretapping incidents


A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll finds that a slim majority of Americans say the administration was wrong to wiretap conversations between U.S. citizens living in the country and suspected terrorists elsewhere without obtaining a court order. However, nearly 6 in 10 Americans say a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the matter. Republicans and Democrats remain divided on the Bush wiretapping, with most Democrats critical of the practice and most Republicans supporting it.

[Gman]

1. Why are they polling people that have, at best, incomplete understanding

and information of the actual legal issues involved. Obviously 60% of the people dont' even know there is no Special Prosecutor law and hasn't been for several years now. It's this type thing that actually legitimizes breaking the law in the eyes of the public. It comes across as there's little problem because only a slim majority of people think its illegal or wrong. This is exactly how the right wing wants people to be.

[grytpype]

12. You're the one who has it wrong, sorry.

It's the independent counsel law that expired, the Justice Department can still appoint a special prosecutor as they did in the Plame case.

[Gman]

16. I stand corrected!

You are correct and I was wrong. Nevertheless, the idea of asking people for an opinion on something where the details are everything is wrong. Wrong because it gives the appearance that that is the will of an informed electorate which is not the case.

[HuffleClaw]

17. its because they are PHRASING these poll questions

rather selectively.

[antonialee839]

19. Exactly. MSNBC had a poll today with the

wording: Is unauthorized spying okay in times of war?

What they need to be asking: Is unauthorized spying on you okay in times of war? Then let's see how okay it is.

[Burried News]

2. Well of course if someone at the NSA were to blow a whistle ...

But then again George Bush paid them a visit the other day to stress the importance of not doing that.

[HereSince1628]

3. A month of efforts to defend themselves didn't change most peoples minds

Our side has barely been in the news, and we still have the majority with us.

Think about it. If it weren't for blogs we'd have no idea about Conyers' hearings or Gore's speech. The Constitution and the rule of law still have a good chance to win this one.

[rodeodance]

4. gawd-this time I am in favor of that 'slim majority"--just wish I would

translate into an Independent Council.

[HereSince1628]

5. A timely indictment of Mr. Rove would cripple their PR blitz.

so would an honest Congressional hearing.

But, I'll keep breathing.

[Demit]

6. You have to log in to get the actual percentage number?

That "slim majority" phrase caught my eye in the LBN headline, so I clicked on the link. I had read the number before, elsewhere, but wanted to refresh my memory. Wanted to see if it was higher than 51%. That being the percentage of votes Bush won by, which, if I recall, was characterized as a "decided" or "definite" majority at the time. A number that major news outlets allowed him to declare a mandate on the basis of.

I know people consider Gallup numbers suspiciously soft for Bush...this example of downplaying the number is very obvious.

[sundancekid]

7. even when gallup tries to "fix" the stem of the question--hello, majority!

[Toucano]

8. The public opinion is irrelevent.

The U.S. Constitution says it's wrong.

Public opinion polls change with the wording of the question.

[debbierlus]

9. Considering that is a right wing poll, that is good

Most people don't have a friggin clue about what this mean...

6 in 10 at this point is very good.

[KansDem]

14. Yeah, 6 in 10 is a "slim majority"

Yet, 51% is a "mandate"

Corporate news strikes again!

[wordpix]

10. Slim Majority of Americans Know What the Constitution States

[endarkenment]

11. Bullshit question.

"administration was wrong to wiretap conversations between U.S. citizens living in the country and suspected terrorists elsewhere"

That is not what the administration did. They conducted wholesale monitoring of domestic communications. They did not have any suspects on either end of the conversations. If they had a suspect they could have gone to the FISA courts either before or after the monitoring started and obtained a warrant. They didn't. They are liars.

Gallup is facilitating the lies. Gallup is owned by a rightwing theocrat nutjob who needs to go to the Hague with the rest of the Bush Cabal and be tried for crimes against humanity.

[central scrutinizer]

13. What was the exact wording of the entire question?

What was their methodology? How was the sample obtained? I can't find the exact wording on the posted site. If they don't give the question, then it is impossible to know if the question was biased. Given how misleading USA Today's statistical pictographs are, I wouldn't trust anything they reported.

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. If a "slim" majority thought it was "right," the headline would blare:

MOST AMERICANS AGREE WITH BUSH ON TERROR PREVENTION!!!!

[AtomicKitten]

18. the sheep are so willing to give away their civil liberties .....

except their guns!

[politicat]

20. The same "Slim majority" that "won" the election, hmm?

What, 1%? or is it more?

Gallup is so full of themselves....

[alfredo]

21. Pretty good for a Gallup poll

Here's more on government spying

http://users.chartertn.net/tonytemplin/FBI_eyes/