51% oppose NSA database (New USA Today/Gallup poll)

[ProSense]

51% oppose NSA database

Posted 5/14/2006 4:01 PM ET

By Susan Page, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The majority of Americans disapprove of a massive Pentagon database containing the records of billions of phone calls made by ordinary citizens, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. About two-thirds are concerned that the program may signal other, not-yet-disclosed intelligence efforts directed at the general public.

Poll:NSA database reaction

The survey of 809 adults taken Friday and Saturday shows a nation that continues to wrestle with the balance between fighting terrorism and maintaining civil liberties.

By 51%-43%, those polled disapprove of the program, disclosed Thursday in USA TODAY. The National Security Agency has been collecting phone records from three of the nation's four largest telecommunication companies since soon after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Most who approve of the program say it violates some civil liberties but is acceptable because investigating terrorism "is the more important goal."

"The combating-terrorism issue still has resonance with the American public," says political scientist Richard Eichenberg of Tufts University. "But the public's tolerance for this sort of invasion of privacy may be topping out. It may be people are starting to say, 'When is the other shoe going to drop? What else are they doing?' "

About two-thirds say they're concerned that the government might also be gathering other information on the public, such as bank records and Internet usage, or listening in on domestic phone conversations without obtaining a warrant.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-14-nsa-reax-poll_x.htm?csp=34

Wait until they wake up to the fact that it's not about finding terrorists!

[EVDebs]

1. All they had to do is follow FISA and get Constitutional 4th amend warrant

and there wouldn't have been a problem. Unless they were using that datamining to spy on US citizens for political purposes, a la Karl Rove & Co.

[Kagemusha]

2. Why would that be enough for 100% domestic calls

That's the FBI's domain, not the NSA's. NSA is not a law enforcement organization.

And I'll keep saying it until people hear.

[EVDebs]

3. You're right, but if they feel that listening to my sister talk talk talk

talk talk talk, well, you get the picture, is a good use of limited taxpayers resources (tax dollars that is), then you've got to have a high BS tolerance level. Most judges wouldn't pass on this crap, so ANY kind of warrant wouldn't be allowed for a 'vacuuming' operation, which is what this datamining is.

[Supersedeas]

4. but but but the Whorington Post would have you believe the Sheeple luv it

[EVDebs]

6. Obviously the WashPost editors ignore Robert O'Harrow's reporting

on the Global Information Group Ltd./CAPPS-II/Ben H. Bell, III'rd's company that has offshored and outsourced the TIA program. By being offshore it is 'out of reach' of DOJ/Congress oversight etc, or so they think.

[ladjf]

5. I saw the question put to an auditorium today with about 500

people. It appeared that less that 10 felt that the NSA database was OK with them. I don't believe the 51% number. It makes no sense and doesn't gibe with other polls of the question.