New Zogby poll: approval up; 49% think Pres. has power to authorize spying

[wildflower]

This surprised me. It seems to contradict the Gallup poll?

A narrow plurality of likely voters nationwide believe President Bush acted within his Constitutional powers when he authorized the interception of international communications without the approval of a federal judge, but the public is closely divided on the issue, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.

Nearly half – 49% - said they think he has the power to authorize the intercepts, while 45% said he does not, the survey showed.

snip

Asked if the President’s actions made Americans more safe or less safe, 50% said the nation was safer because of his actions, while 18% said the actions put the country more at risk and 26% said it made no difference in our level of safety.

snip

The controversy, just days old, has not harmed the President, whose job approval rating has improved from a low of 38% earlier this month to 44% now - this as the nation has seen robust economic growth and the Iraq parliamentary elections last week were conducted with little violence and high voter turnout.

see the rest at http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1053

[linazelle]

1. Yeah and who's responding to these polls? I get them, but I stopped

because Zogby is biased, and therefore no longer reputable.

[WatchWhatISay]

2. Zogby is usually accused of being biased in favor

of the left.

[Snotcicles]

50. I wonder how they set rates for payment of doing such poll's

Seems to me that these pollsters would have to tout there popularity to sell there polls.
Popularity would be determined by how often they are named publicly and there polls mentioned.(Brand Recognition)
That seems to me that to be the King of the poll takers you would want to give numbers favorable to those in control of the media so they would use your name more.
On insignificant matters throw the other side a bone by showing a negative result so as to appear un-bias.

[wildflower]

7. I don't know...but here's the Gallup poll I referenced:

December 21, 2005

Americans Protective of Civil Rights
Two-to-one majority opposes violation of civil rights in fight against terrorism

by David W. Moore

By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans say they're opposed to allowing the government to violate basic civil liberties while fighting terrorism. When asked specifically about the Patriot Act, about one-third say it "goes too far." These views are highly related to party affiliation, with Republicans more supportive of the Patriot Act and of allowing the government to violate civil liberties while fighting terrorism than are either independents or Democrats.

http://poll.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=20572

[mrdmk]

37. Zogby was an online poll meaning it was freeped

The Gallup Poll was an actual poll. This is the reason for discrepancy!

[wildflower]

41. And check this out too: "Polls conflict on Bush's approval" -->>

Polls conflict on Bush's approval

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Two U.S. media polls were at odds Tuesday in interpreting public support for President George Bush, with one citing a surge, and the other claiming no change.

snip

In the Post-ABC poll, Bush's overall approval rating rose to 47 percent, from 39 percent in early November, with 52 percent saying they disapprove of how he is handling his job. His approval rating on Iraq jumped 10 percentage points since early November, to 46 percent.

By contrast, the CNN/USA Today Gallup poll found his approval rating stood at 41 percent, while more than half (56 percent), disapprove of how the president is handling his job. A majority -- 52 percent -- say it was a mistake to send troops to Iraq, and 61 percent say they disapprove of how he is handling Iraq specifically.

The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points, while the Post-ABC poll's margin was 4.5 points.

(not much) more at http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20051220-07294500-bc-us-bushpoll.xml

[OregonBlue]

58. This was not the usual Zogby poll. Many of us are on the

automatic poll list and we did not get it. Did they only poll those they knew would respond the way they wanted?

[sandnsea]

28. Likely Voters

Which means more Republicans.

[Mojorabbit]

35. I do and I am surprised at these results

If people are not pissed off at the spying and the polls show it, congress will do nothing.

[tomhayes]

3. I'm amazed

What is wrong with us Americans?

49% of the people think the president has the right to spy on citizens with no oversight from the other branches of government??

This country is half full of shit.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Brain drain

from too much CNN and Fox news

[Oversea Visitor]

6. haha

what you beleive in this stupid poll.

[napi21]

18. I didn't see that poll, but I'd like them to ask this in a poll.

If the President was a Democrat, would you still believe he had the authority to intercept your communitations?

I think that would at least show if there were more Pubs than Dems answering the poll.

I don't want ANY Pres of any party listening to my conversations or reading my emails or postings, but it seems to me that the Pubs trust Shrub so much, they don't care. I wonder if they ever thought how different they might feel if BC had done this same thing???

[babylonsister]

19. Yep, 1/2 full of it, and why are you amazed, and where

have you been? We've been waiting for you! Welcome!

[renate]

40. Mad props to that

Although I would suggest that the people who think the government can spy without oversight are not only full of shit but completely ignorant of the principles on which this country was founded.

I have nothing to hide. If I found out that the NSA were spying on me I would have only pity for them for having to listen to my conversations with my parents about my kid's band class and what to do for Christmas. But do I enjoy the idea of my government being privy to this boringness without my knowledge or consent? Well, gee, no, as an American I do not.

[global1]

4. Get Real - These Numbers Are Bogus.......

there's no way *'s numbers are going up. Everybody - literally everybody - I talk to - hates this guy and want him out of office. And I mean waitresses, sales people, bus drivers, colleagues, etc.

[Carolab]

8. Really. Who in hell is Zogby polling these days anyway?

I used to get their polls in my e-mail but I didn't get this one!

[blogslut]

47. me neither

I'm bummed about it too. :(

[Stand and Fight]

10. I agree. And I live in RED Oklahoma.

In fact we had TWO LTTEs calling for impeachment from people who live in strong Bush areas. If these people are turning against him -- he's toast.

[Oversea Visitor]

12. haha

a selection of sample of the population a couple of thousand more accurate then 100 over thousand as in the MSNBC on line poll :rofl:

[Marlie]

24. The real problem with on line polls.

Most people on line are way more knowledgeable than most of the American
people who spend their time in front of as they used to refer to it 'the boob
tube'. They really don't have a clue and the powers that be will keep it that
way. Without the internet, what would we really know?

[Oversea Visitor]

36. So

the intelligent majority mush bow to the brainless minority :rofl:

Unless they show me the methodlogy of how the sample was selected and the actual sample itself the poll dont mean a damn thing.

If I want to proof a finding all I have to do it sample the people that agreed with my finding.
Poll and survey are very good for spinning.

Internet poll damn hard to spin cause of the massive number of participation. You just dont have control.

[wildflower]

13. I don't get it either...but see my reference to the Gallup poll in reply 7

above.

[tularetom]

9. Temporary at best IMHO

As the revelations continue to pile up, judges quitting and protesting, Daxchle's astonishing claim, talk of lawbreaking, impeachment polls, etc etc begin to take hold of the public consciousness, I believe you wiil see those polls below the previous lows. And it is getting play in the MSM so it's not like anybody has to look too hard to find unfavorable stories about *.

[DemInDistress]

11. this is not a public opinion iussue,its a criminal matter and

an Impeachable matter. Wash.Post reports bush sought and was denied these very powers back on Sept 18 2001. Furthermore,Laehy also rejected the last minute spy provisions and bith were anthraxed 2-3 weeks later. Hmm

[eleny]

14. I'd like to see the text of the question

Frankly, I think that this question revealed how little people know about the Constitution - and that's about all. I'm encouraged that 45% know the score. It might be a good baseline to start from. Know what I mean? Maybe as time goes by, more and more people will get a Fourth Amendment education and realize that what they thought was incorrect.

[wildflower]

16. My first thought was...is it the media? I'd like to see the questions too.

Anyone take this poll?

[regnaD kciN]

30. Exactly...

Ask "is it legal for the President to order surveillance of suspected terrorists?" and you'll likely get a positive response.

Ask "is it legal for the President to order spying on any American he chooses, without cause and without any judicial oversight?" and you'll get a completely different one.

[bpilgrim]

48. If the question didn't ask about warrant-less wiretaps it's a bust

i want to see the txt, too :hi:

peace

[babylonsister]

15. I just did a Zogby prior to the spying incident; I honestly don't

think there's been time enough to conduct another effective, thorough poll.

[eleny]

21. I haven't been contacted by them in some time

I used to get the online polls on a regular basis. I expect it will pick up again during the campaign season.

It'll be interesting to see the polling results over time. If W's numbers plummet on this issue it will mean that wingnut talking points didn't find fertile ground. The way things have gone for them in '05, I expect the numbers to go downhill on skates.

[incapsulated]

17. "Interactive Poll"

Doesn't that mean it's a web poll?

[wildflower]

22. I think so. Maybe Gallup (see above in #7) is more reliable? n/t

[incapsulated]

25. I don't trust his online polls

People have to sign up for them and that means they could have an agenda. Give me old-fashioned methodology.

I believe Gallup simply becasue it's so skewed to the right, normally. If Gallup is saying Bush is in trouble, he IS in trouble.

And everything depends on the phrasing of the question, obviously. I don't know what Zogby asked, exactly.

[Triana]

20. WHO are they polling? I'm on Zogby's list but...

..I have not received any notice lately about taking a new poll. :wtf:

[babylonsister]

23. I received one about 3 weeks ago that I answered

last week. AFAIK, nothing new yet, but the last poll was finally relevant.

[Rainscents]

26. I'm on their list too and I didn't get this one either!

Mmmmm, make me wonder who the hell they were polling. I usually get thier polls, it's been two week since I got one in the email. I'm wondering, if they only polled all Republicans this time.

[Mojorabbit]

59. I took this poll

but I cannot remember exactly how it was worded. I just remember the satisfaction of picking he should be impeached.

[converted_democrat]

43. I'm mailed Zogby Polls to do too, but I never got this one....n/t

[mark414]

27. this country has lost its fucking mind

[bluestateguy]

29. You should not have posted this

it's nothing more than corporate media propaganda. By posting it you are spreading the lies and giving them credibility.

[wildflower]

42. Sorry; heard of it on Mike Malloy's show and thought people would want to

know what's going on. But, this poll seems to conflict with other polls...see post #7 and #41 above (Gallup and other polls).

[Tom Joad]

31. It matters alot how the questions are phrased. Even a slight

change of wording makes a big difference.
Ask someone if they think the President should have absolute power to wiretap US citizns might get a different answer than "Should the President be allowed to protect the US by intercepting phone calls".

[Hardrada]

32. 1935 Poll

95% of Germans approve Hitler

Big fucking deal.

[depakid]

33. Then 49% of the survey need to take a civics class

but then, we already knew that.

Americans are by far the most ignorant people I've seen when it comes to government and politics. Travel anywhere in Western Europe, Australia and Canada and average people have a much better knowledge of government and politics.

I think that's due both to lack of education and a media that constantly misinforms and lies to them about the true state of affiars.

[Lex]

34. What if his spying is found NOT to be related to terrorism?

What if it's found that his spying is against churches and peace groups and other politicians?


Bet the numbers change then.

[burrowowl]

38. This is because

civics is no longer taught. Civics has been changed to how to get along with your neighbor since stabings, etc. have become common place in even middle-school.
It means that the People no longer know what the 3 branches of government are and what these branches control, nor what "Checks and Balances" mean. :(

[KharmaTrain]

39. Whistling Past The Grave Yard...I Haven't Seen This Zogby Poll

I usually get their latest samplings and hadn't been polled since this scandal came to light, but I think we're starting to hit a problem here of "critical mass". There have been so many scandals and screw-ups and corruption by this regime, people are starting to lose track and perspective. One mess rolls into the next, and for some, this appears to be an attack on asshat's character or some personal thing...not germaine to the lying and desceptions that have gone on.

I suspect we'll see a lot more of this confusion next year as the scandals are sure to increase as is the corruption and lies, but so will the strident defenses and distortions by this regime and its proxies that have and still effectively boggle people's minds. I don't mind the fuktard having an "uptick" in the polls right now...these are the ones we use as the barometer on his next slide.

Merry Holidays...

[DanCa]

44. I dont believe that 49 percent would approve of spying on thier own.

Where are all the government has no place in your private life republicans when you need them?

[janx]

46. Most of those have been gone for a long time. n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

45. Oh No, We're Doomed! Everyone Polled were lawyers and judges!

On no! They were all constitutional scholars and know exactly what the case was. OMG we're done. We're doomed now! How can we fight numbers like that? Oh no, this poll is gonna go straight to congress and force them to shut down any and all investigation into the matter! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH


:cry:




:)

[Marleyb]

49. I call BULLSHIT

I can't believe Zogby is willing to toss their credibility over this but they did...

This is more like it


DU is the biggest best and most informed group of online activists and there was nothing here about this poll.

[Yavin4]

51. Stop Attacking the Messenger

The poll is probably accurate. You live in a nation where a large percentage of the people want authoritarian control. That's the country you live in. Plain and simple. Attacking Zogby is not going to help the cause.

[skipos]

56. Yes. ZOGBY is a self proclaimed DEMOCRAT.

Come on people, Bush had a 90% approval rating because he spoke through a bullhorn with his sleeves rolled up. The sheeple are easily moved. I don't doubt that he approval ratings have bounced a bit, maybe up into the mid 40s. Wow, Bush should be really proud, only half of America thinks he sucks at his job.

[zanne]

52. Bull...

shit

[npincus]

53. people are more generous at Christmas time

but this is not great news, either. Fitzy, where are you?

[EFerrari]

54. Just wait till they get their credit card bills in January

It's going to be ug lee

:evilgrin:

[ultraist]

57. LOL.

I think you're right, there will be a post holiday crash.

People tend to get depressed right after the holidays anyway, and when the increased heat/utility bills and holiday shopping bills come rolling in...well, as you said, it wont be pretty.

[Maestro]

55. Wow

A lot of ignorant people here in the U.S. :eyes: