Posted on 01/07/2006 9:57:08 AM PST by squidly
A majority of Americans want the Bush administration to get court approval before eavesdropping on people inside the United States, even if those calls might involve suspected terrorists, an AP-Ipsos poll shows.
Over the past three weeks, President Bush and top aides have defended the electronic monitoring program they secretly launched shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, as a vital tool to protect the nation from al-Qaida and its affiliates.
Yet 56 percent of respondents in an AP-Ipsos poll said the government should be required to first get a court warrant to eavesdrop on the overseas calls and e-mails of U.S. citizens when those communications are believed to be tied to terrorism.
Agreeing with the White House, some 42 percent of those surveyed do not believe the court approval is necessary.
"We're at war," Bush said during a New Year's Day visit to San Antonio. "And as commander in chief, I've got to use the resources at my disposal, within the law, to protect the American people. ... It's a vital, necessary program."
According to the poll, age matters in how people view the monitoring. Nearly two-thirds of those between age 18 to 29 believe warrants should be required, while people 65 and older are evenly divided.
Party affiliation is a factor, too. Almost three-fourths of Democrats and one-third of Republicans want to require court warrants.
IPSOS is a French
polling outfit with a rather 'questionable' history
even in Europe.
"Nope. They don't say hang up and get a warrant. They say comply with FISA, and go get a warrant within 72 hours, but you can keep listening while you do so.
If you place the decision on who is deserving of being eavesdropped solely in the hands of the eavesdropper, you no longer have any protection against eavesdropping by your government."
The international call involving a known terrorist is a slam dunk "okay to surveil" without a warrant, even when the other side is in the US. I don't think the DEMs are saying "don't listen to that call until you get a warrant."
The question is how do we handle the person on the US end, after that call is terminated? You indicate that you think a warrant is required. I think President Bush disagrees with you. I think it's the allegation of warrantless surveillance of US persons other than their international calls that is being discussed.
I'd like to see the question in the survey - from your comment, it sounds as though you may have sided with the majority.
Poll done during the weekday while most people are at work and the survey questions 12% more that associate with the Rats.
Since when is it a good idea to decide points of constitutional law by polling?
I'm sick of seeing our republic devolve into a mob-rule democracy because of neverending polls and politicians who consult polls before taking a stand or making a decision.
Great post, thank you.
Thanks! I'm emailing those links to help spread the word.
I saw that breakdown....are we sure it is the same polling data??
I am pretty sure it was the same AP-Ipsos polling data, but I will go check.
You don't understand the technical issues in this data collecting/data mining. And you don't want to tell more people about it, not even some Judges, especially ones that will resign on you and go public. They might reveal our technical means. So I would trust any duly elected administration, Democrat or Republican, since they could save many lives by listening in on our dastardly terrorist enemies. If they listen in for political reasons, they will get caught.
Gee, just a few weeks ago the polls said the exact opposite. Either the AP is lying or the DNC talking points have had an effect. Time for Republican congresscritters to get busy defending the program.
And time for the Pubbies to remind voters that Democrats in Congress have been aware of this program since 2001 and didn't have complaints!
Most Americans couldn't tell you what 'NSA' stands for.
"You don't understand the technical issues in this data collecting/data mining."
I understand far more than you suspect about this data collecting. I used to work at the NSA. Don't tell me what I know and don't know. You'll be wrong, every time.
Poor AP/IPSOS must have had to so carefully word its question to get a majority even with its flawed and heavily Democratic sample.
I can imagine the question with adults who don't know the issue. Yeah, man, I guess a warrant is cool!
Yep, its the same polling data. Just a different date they released the answers in the polling.
Tens of thousands of us are going to have to die in one or more additional attacks before the huge majority of the general public gets the concept of "we are at war."
The MSM, et al. will never get it -- remember? There's no "we Americans" in the MSM, post 9/11 they took pains to point out that they are professional journalists they do not take sides. Prepare internment facilities for them should there be future attacks.
Well there is a segment of the American population that believes this what is important, and they dream of returning to the "good ole days" of Clintoon where every breath he drew was based on a poll conducted the prior day. These loony libs just seethe with their hatred of GWB, and are constantly bringing up their boy Clintoon and I suspect that Hillary would draw a large vote from these morons.
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