Attitudes Shift Against Snowden; Fewer than Half Say NSA is Unjustified

[ProSense]

Attitudes Shift Against Snowden; Fewer than Half Say NSA is Unjustified

By Gary Langer

<...>

The public by 57-39 percent in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll also says it’s more important for the government to investigate possible terrorist threats than for it to protect privacy rights – a substantial margin, albeit the narrowest in polls since 2002.

See PDF with full results and charts here.

A plurality thinks Snowden’s disclosures have harmed national security (49 percent say so, 37 percent not, with the rest unsure). And 53 percent now support charging him with a crime, up from 43 percent last month, with a 13-point rise in “strong” support. People who think Snowden has harmed security are far more apt than others to favor criminal charges.

At the same time, this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that most oppose the idea of President Obama canceling his planned visit to Russia if that country were to give Snowden temporary asylum. More than half also oppose economic retaliation against any country that provides haven to Snowden. And Americans broadly reject a boycott on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia if it aids Snowden, as one U.S. senator, Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, has suggested.

PRIVACY – Americans overwhelmingly think the NSA surveillance efforts intrude on some citizens’ privacy rights – 74 percent say so – and about half, 49 percent, see the spying as an intrusion on their own personal privacy. In each case, though, some also see such intrusions as justified, 39 percent and 28 percent, respectively.

- more -

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/07/attitudes-shift-against-snowden-fewer-than-half-say-nsa-is-unjustified/

http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1150a3SnowdenandSecurity.pdf

[EOTE]

1. Great job! It's working!

See how effective propaganda is in getting people to ignore their best interests?

[ProSense]

2. Snowden

did it to himself when he fled overseas and released U.S. state secrets to other countries.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023288332

As the OP poll shows a lot of people are still concerned about the intrusive NSA programs.

[EOTE]

5. This isn't about Snowden. It's about what the government is doing in our name.

People like YOU are trying to make it about Snowden to distract from what the government is doing. You only distract and obfuscate with regard to what the government is doing, then go back to attacking the messenger. It's a good thing that most of DU isn't nearly as stupid as you seem to think they are.

[ProSense]

9. Snowden is a "hero."

"People like YOU are trying to make it about Snowden to distract from what the government is doing."

"People like YOU are trying to" make him out to be one " to distract from" his bullshit claims and his actions overseas.

[EOTE]

10. Bullshit, practically no one here considers Snowden a hero.

I assured you that you'd distract from the main issue again and sure enough, you did. You never fail to disappoint. So once again you refuse to (and simply can't) address the main issue, you just throw out more bullshit propaganda. Let me say this one more time so it can slip through that pasta strainer again: No one gives a fuck about Snowden, they care about the information that he revealed. Attacking the messenger is a tactic of the intellectually lazy. It's no surprise that you rely on it so thoroughly.

[ProSense]

11. .

[EOTE]

12. I know, your inanity and incapacity can be hilarious.

Luckily, no one here is anywhere near daft enough to fall for your bullshit.

[ProSense]

14. "Bullshit, practically no one here considers Snowden a hero."

WH Petition. Edward Snowden Is a Hero.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/102353

Why Edward Snowden Is a Hero
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022994058

Oliver Stone Calls Edward Snowden A 'HERO,' President Obama's TACTICS A 'DISGRACE'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023171976

Snowden will go down a hero for my generation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023123618

There are dozens more like that.

May I qoute you: "Luckily, no one here is anywhere near daft enough to fall for your bullshit."

[EOTE]

16. And exactly ONE of those is from here. Thanks for making my point so well.

But then again, I'd be incredibly surprised if you ever said something that made a lick of sense.

[ProSense]

18. Ooh, denial.

[EOTE]

19. So, you deny objective reality?

Christ, what else is new?

[ProSense]

23. Stop projecting.

There are hundreds of comments here declaring Snowden a hero.

Deal with the reality.

[EOTE]

28. You found exactly one of them.

There might be 1 or 2 more, but certainly not more than a tiny fraction of a percent. Projecting? I'd learn a tiny little bit about math and then make a reassessment.

[Abukhatar]

91. actually..

It was you who fell for Snowden`s bullshit. Old news was passed off as new news so gullible people like you can get self righteous

[madokie]

29. Not only is it laughable

but I've seen some avatars of a picture of snowden with hero emblazoned on it.
Some just don't pay attention is all I can figure out

[Kolesar]

38. & There are sig lines with pics of little-too-young-to-shave ... eom

[Scurrilous]

108. LOL

I've seen those too.

[madrchsod]

65. really?

i`m on this board from 6-7 in the morning till 12 or so the next morning. the majority of posters think he`s either a hero or he did the right thing. only a few actually criticize greenwald `s role in this and his exploitation of snowden.

[EOTE]

68. I know he did the right thing.

And anyone who doesn't believe the government has the right to do anything to the public it wants without the public's consent does as well. There are, however, extremely few people here who think Snowden is a hero or is involved in any kind of hero worship. That's merely bullshit to distract from the information that Snowden released.

[dionysus]

86. "practically no one here considers Snowden a hero"

[EOTE]

99. I asked for examples and I got exactly one from DU.

But I'm sure you'll be able to provide dozens, right? The surveillance state supporters pretty much have nothing if you take away their ability to attack the messenger.

[Matariki]

128. That post you're answering proving the point of your previous post

incredible, no?

[sgtbenobo]

31. People like "YOU"....really.

People like you are waste deep in the Big Muddy. Go back to sleep little brother everything is just fine.


Carry on.

[ProSense]

37. There was a reason it was in "quotes"

Really!

"People like you are waste deep in the Big Muddy. Go back to sleep little brother everything is just fine. "

Welcome to DU. More hyperbole is just what's needed.

[Katashi_itto]

76. Good Job! A quote comes to mind

“The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.”
― Joseph Goebbels

[ProSense]

77. Your comment brings "to mind"

Goodwin's Law.

[Katashi_itto]

78. I am only complementing you on a successful methodology

After all it's you that are using the very same techniques. It's masterful!

Kudos!

[ProSense]

79. No, your cheap tactic is a fail and you were not "complementing" anyone.

[Katashi_itto]

81. It's easy to see you mastered the old techniques

I commend you!

[ProSense]

82. Lame

FAIL

CYA silly.

[Katashi_itto]

83. Wow, after all the complements too!

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

[ProSense]

84. .

[Katashi_itto]

85. ..

[NuclearDem]

121. Actually, the MSM did that when they failed so miserably in their journalistic duties

and turned this into a "where in the world is Edward Snowden" human interest story rather than actually covering the NSA's intrusion into Americans' private lives.

[newfie11]

25. Scary isn't it

Lemmings come to mind.

[KurtNYC]

71. It isn't working -- they asked a bogus question in order to get the response they wanted

To show a shift in attitudes they would have to ask the same question every 2 weeks or so.

The real threat posed by mass surveillance run by secret courts under secret rules isn't against our privacy. It is what Russ Tice describes:

Tice: Okay. They went after–and I know this because I had my hands literally on the paperwork for these sort of things–they went after high-ranking military officers; they went after members of Congress, both Senate and the House, especially on the intelligence committees and on the armed services committees and some of the–and judicial. But they went after other ones, too. They went after lawyers and law firms. All kinds of–heaps of lawyers and law firms. They went after judges. One of the judges is now sitting on the Supreme Court that I had his wiretap information in my hand. Two are former FISA court judges. They went after State Department officials. They went after people in the executive service that were part of the White House–their own people. They went after antiwar groups. They went after U.S. international–U.S. companies that that do international business, you know, business around the world. They went after U.S. banking firms and financial firms that do international business. They went after NGOs that–like the Red Cross, people like that that go overseas and do humanitarian work. They went after a few antiwar civil rights groups. So, you know, don’t tell me that there’s no abuse, because I’ve had this stuff in my hand and looked at it.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/06/nsa-whistleblower-nsa-spying-on-and-blackmailing-high-level-government-officials-and-military-officers.html

[Warren Stupidity]

3. A push poll got the desired answer!

[Ed Suspicious]

39. This is the point. Garbage data yields garbage results.

[Igel]

90. And the expected results.

Not the poll results, but the expected sides on DU. Most argue over the meaning of the poll but nobody's going to change their views at this point and it's unlikely that the DOJ will alter its course. I'm at the point where I find the DU response to the poll more entertaining (if not mildly interesting), because it'll be the same kind of response in the media and by politicians.

Poll sides with us: What enlightened, well-informed citizens we have. Truly the people are wise! It is a mandate urging us to higher and greater thing.

Poll doesn' side with us: What can you expect from low-info voters when confronted with a push-poll after an intensive media blitz? Truly the people are benighted! We must intensify our agitprop(*) to lead the people to higher and greater things.

Thing is, it's the same public confronted with the same media. Some polls are pushier than others but we only care about that when we need a justification for why the poll doesn't put the majority clearly on our side rather than condemn the public immediately.


(* I use "agitprop" in a left/right-neutral way, even though it was a SovCom term.)

[Babel_17]

106. More than just a push poll

A push poll is designed to affect the perceptions of the person subjected to it.

But by publishing this push poll it is hoped that average voters will see that the majority has come around to the idea that (somehow) going after Snowden is an affirmation of our government protecting us from terrorist attacks.

What sensible person wouldn't want to associate themself with the government protecting us from terrorist attacks?

Terrorist bad. I agree.

[mrdmk]

110. Actully, nothing has changed! Just the verbage

From the poll posted by the O.P.

17. Do you think that the National Security Agency’s surveillance of telephone call records and internet traffic does or does not intrude on some Americans' privacy rights?

7/21/13 Does 74% Does not 22% No Opinion 4%


18. (IF NSA INTRUDES ON AMERICANS’ PRIVACY) Do you think those intrusions are justified or not justified?

7/21/13 Justified 39% Not Justified 55% No Opinion 6%


19. Do you think the NSA surveillance program does or does not intrude on your own personal privacy rights?

7/21/13 Does Intrude 49% Does not Intrude 44% No Opinion 7%


20. (IF NSA INTRUDES ON RESPONDENT’S PRIVACY) Do you think those intrusions are justified or not justified?

7/21/13 Justified 28% Not Justified 70% No Opinion 2%


21. Would you say the NSA’s surveillance program is making the United States (safer) from terrorism, (less safe), or not making much difference?

7/21/13 Safer 42% Less Safe 5% Not much Difference 47% No Opinion 6%


Talk about people cheering a headline, goodness gracious!

[mrdmk]

117. Here is the question that is being hyped

12. What do you think is more important right now - (for the federal government to investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy); or (for the federal government not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats)?

Let's deconstruct the question

What do you think is more important right now: How important is this to you?

for the federal government to investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy: To have an investigation of a possible threat, meaning a possible problem and the people involved are going to be investigated!

or the federal government not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats: To have an half-assed investigation!

My IMHO, most people will agree to this question or should agree to it. Oh by the way here are the numbers:

Investigate 57% Don't intrude threats on privacy 39% No opinion 4%


In the end, this poll is a No-Shit-Sherlock, and there is no change

[Le Taz Hot]

4. The vast majority of people know nothing more

than what the MSM propaganda people tell them and they're too lazy or stupid or both to find out the truth. They still think the Iraqis had something to do with 9/11. A whole lot of them think Obama is a "Muslin." Face it, the average America is dumber than a box of rocks. Any questions: See how many voted for "W." TWICE.

Here's more stuff that stupid people believe:

http://coed.com/2010/01/24/the-10-most-ridiculous-things-people-believe/

[ProSense]

6. Polls are

Last edited Wed Jul 24, 2013, 11:18 AM - Edit history (1)

are only good when they say what we want to hear.

Greenwald: Edward Snowden's worst fear has not been realised – thankfully (cites polls)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023016898

[Le Taz Hot]

7. LOL!

Don't you just love irony?

[NoOneMan]

101. Polls are not indicative of right or wrong

Nor are blue links

[ProSense]

102. Deep! n/t

[NoOneMan]

103. Someone has to be

[NuclearDem]

120. Like ones suggesting attitudes are shifting against Snowden

Amiright?

[DontTreadOnMe]

8. 57% of those polled don't have their hair on fire...

There are plenty of Democrats who are concerned with intrusion on our privacy rights... including me.

But I can't support what Snowden did, he is a traitor and should be charge with a crime. If he had stayed in the US and stood up for his actions, I would have supported him. But fleeing to China and Russia with secret information that potentially could hurt American NSA workers is unforgivable.

[EOTE]

13. If he had stayed in the US, he'd be detained now and charged under the Espionage Act.

We don't support whistle blowers, we put them in jail for life.

[ProSense]

15. Actually,

"If he had stayed in the US, he'd be detained now and charged under the Espionage Act."

...had Snowden remained in the country, he would likely have been charged and released on bail.

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury in Washington has indicted a State Department analyst suspected of disclosing top-secret information about North Korea to Fox News, the third time the Obama administration has filed criminal charges accusing people of leaks to the news media.

The indictment, dated Aug. 19 and unsealed on Friday, named Stephen Jin-Woo Kim, 43, of McLean, Va., a specialist in nuclear proliferation who worked as a contractor for the State Department. Mr. Kim, who has worked as a high-level foreign affairs analyst for a decade for various federal agencies, is accused of disclosing the information in June 2009 and of lying to the F.B.I. in September 2009.

Mr. Kim, an American citizen, pleaded not guilty on Friday in Federal District Court before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly and was released on $100,000 bond.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/world/americas/28leak.html

There are several whistleblowers who served no jail time.

If Snowden's case as a whistleblower is so strong, why is he afraid to face the consequences?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023236549

[EOTE]

17. You do know that the Obama administration has more Espionage Act prosecutions than all

previous presidents COMBINED? No, of course you don't know that. That would require you to actually, you know, know stuff.

[ProSense]

21. Being charged

"You do know that the Obama administration has more Espionage Act prosecutions than all"

...and prosecuted does not = being "in jail for life."

William Binney, Thomas Drake, and Thomas Tamm are whistleblowers who stayed and faced the consequences for their actions. They were not persecuted, they faced prosecution. They are not in jail.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023236549

[EOTE]

26. It means that this is the most hostile to whistle blowers in HISTORY.

Christ, is there NOTHING you won't justify away? What about all those actually go to jail? You don't give a fuck that this administration which promised to be the most transparent ever is going after whistle blowers in an unprecedented manner? Of course you don't give a fuck. He's your guy and that's all that matters. I'm always trying to figure out what's going on in that little mind of yours. Every time I think about it, I realize that it's probably a good deal less than I previously thought.

[JoePhilly]

56. How many have they prosecuted? Hundreds, thousands?

I heard it was almost triple the total for all other administrations.

[EOTE]

58. The grand total prior to this administration was 3.

As of now, it's at 8. It used to be something that was extremely rare, now it's commonplace.

[JoePhilly]

60. See ... it is almost triple. Just need 1 more to make it to police state status.

Apparently.

[EOTE]

69. What are you going on about?

I said nothing of a police state. Just that it's abhorrent and ridiculously hypocritical that this administration said it would be the most transparent ever and is actually one of the worst in that regard. This administration has gone after whistle blowers like no other administration before it. And that's disgusting.

[bobduca]

95. Nailed it

this is what is going on in those minds:

$$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$

[marions ghost]

36. To keep insisting

that Snowden would get the same treatment as Ellsberg is delusional. These are very different times. Our government in the last decade has engaged in criminal abuses of power.

If public opinion goes against Snowden, he should definitely NOT come back. He's not stupid enough to do that willingly.

[thucythucy]

100. "Our government in the last decade

has engaged in criminal abuses of power."

So did the government under JFK, LBJ, and most especially Richard Nixon.

As in: contracting with the mafia to assassinate foreign leaders (Castro)
supporting clandestine paramilitary organizations to overthrow foreign governments (Bay of Pigs)
outright military invasion to suppress popular uprisings (Dominican Republic)
destabilizing foreign politics and politicians (Guyana, Congo)
plotting with military leaders to overthrow and assassinate corrupt puppets we no longer supported (South Vietnam, Diem)
plotting with military leaders to overthrow and assassinate democratically elected governments (Chile, Allende),
illegal bombing of Cambodia
illegal invasions of Cambodia, Laos
assassinations of political opponents of the RSV (Operation Phoenix)...
and on and on and on...

As for domestic abuses:
COINTELPRO--FBI program to infiltrate and disrupt antiwar activism
RNC efforts to disrupt Democratic primaries (re: Muskie campaign, 1972)
illegal wiretaps on Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and hundreds if not thousands of other civil rights and antiwar activists
blackmail by the FBI against Martin Luther King, threatening to release illegal recordings of his sex life
harassment and killing of Black Panther Party members and leaders
break-ins to the Democratic National HQ to place illegal wiretaps (no warrants)
break-ins to Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office to dig up dirt on him (no warrants)
operation of a secret White House extra-legal group of crazies to harass leakers (White House "plumbers&quot
use of the IRS against Nixon's political enemies
use of the IRS to blackmail George Wallace into abandoning his third party ticket in 1972
and on and on and on...

I have no idea how Snowden would be treated today, but to imply that the governments of the '60s and early '70s were somehow not engaging in outrageous and highly illegal abuses of power "is delusional." It is revisionist history, nostalgia for an era that never was.

It also minimizes what Ellsberg went through, and the tremendous courage he showed going public, and staying and fighting the massed power of the highly corrupt Nixon administration, which included a Justice Dept. so out of control the Attorney General himself was eventually tried and convicted of abuses of power.

[marions ghost]

123. What a giant info dump...!

which I don't need but others might. I never said it was all fun & games way back then. I believe it would be worse now, considering the government's extreme surveillance activities that we now know about and the serious loss of basic rights of the 2000's. It's all that from the past and then some. We have fewer protections than ever before.

You "have no idea how Snowden would be treated today" -- kinda says it all. At the very least you might acknowledge the fact that it would be even worse.

[thucythucy]

125. I don't know if it would be worse or not.

I was just reacting to the implication that somehow the Nixon administration in particular played bean bag with people it considered its opponants.

For every Ellsberg who was exonerated by the courts and was able to move on with his life, there were no doubt dozens of people we never heard of whose careers and lives were ruined because they tried to do the right thing.

And all this was arguably worse in the '50s, when even Charlie Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin!) was forced to flee the country because of his "unAmerican activities."

I don't want to argue--I agree the current situation sucks. I'd like to see the Patriot Act repealed, the national security apparatus scaled way back, etc.

Not likely to happen anytime soon, though, sad to say.

Best wishes.

[Hissyspit]

53. The Espionage Act is shit.

Leftover from a terribly suppressive era.

[NorthCarolina]

61. And as an added bonus,

we torture them.

[treestar]

74. He might be out on bail

Had he not proven himself a flight risk.

The charges against him to do provide for a life sentence; ten years maximum.

[SidDithers]

20. DU rec...nt

Sid

[cantbeserious]

22. The Character Assassination Continues

eom

[ProSense]

24. The deflection continues. n/t

[cantbeserious]

27. The Defense Of Misdirection Continues

eom

[ProSense]

30. The lame defense of deflection continues. n/t

[cantbeserious]

35. The Lame Defense Of Misdirection Continues

eom

[ProSense]

43. Lame, but thanks for kicking the thread. n/t

[cantbeserious]

46. Thanks For Validating The Character Assassination

eom

[ProSense]

47. LOL!

Lame.

Thanks again.

[cantbeserious]

92. Glad Too See That Character Assassination Is So Amusing

eom

[reformist2]

93. Don't get in fights with posters with six-figure post counts.

They may not outwit you or outplay you, but they will outpost you every time.

[bahrbearian]

98. Thats really a DUzy.

[grasswire]

104. why is that disruptor allowed to remain on DU, I wonder?

Snarls up thread after thread after thread. Eats bandwidth.

[cantbeserious]

122. Ah, Yes - Too True

eom

[ProSense]

96. You're the one that's funny. n/t

[Pholus]

33. So the "legal" NSA is 6% less popular than Bush's version was...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/12/AR2006051200375.html

The new survey found that 63 percent of Americans said they found the NSA program to be an acceptable way to investigate terrorism, including 44 percent who strongly endorsed the effort. Another 35 percent said the program was unacceptable, which included 24 percent who strongly objected to it.

[kentuck]

34. Why do you think the attitudes are shifting?

Are people becoming smarter or dumber? I guess it depends on where you stand?

[ProSense]

41. Likely because

"Why do you think the attitudes are shifting?"

...Snowden fled the country and the focus shifted to his actions overseas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023288332

His press conference likely didn't help, and neither did Greenwald's implicit threats. Greenwald and Snowden did more to shift the focus to Snowden's overseas activities than anyone.

[kentuck]

44. So people shifted their focus to Snowden and Greenwald?

And away from the NSA spying?

[ProSense]

50. No,

"So people shifted their focus to Snowden and Greenwald? And away from the NSA spying?"

...people shifted their focus to Snowden and Greenwald doesn't mean that they care less about the concerns raised about the NSA programs.

It does mean that hyping Snowden's international actions likely had a negative impact.

[kentuck]

55. But didn't the polls go down on holding NSA accountable...

at the same time they went up on holding Snowden and Greenwald accountable? Is one separate from the other?

[ProSense]

63. No,

"But didn't the polls go down on holding NSA accountable..."

..the trend shows more people believe it's intrusive. It was 62 percent in June, 68 percent in November 2010, 75 percent in January 2010.

I'd say an 18 percent drop in "investigate threats" and a 16 percent increase in "don't intrude on privacy" is a good shift in public opinion.

In fact, the poll shows that justified/not justified shifted from 54/40 percent in 2006 to 39/55 in this poll.

[kentuck]

64. But here is the meat of your post:

"The public by 57-39 percent in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll also says it’s more important for the government to investigate possible terrorist threats than for it to protect privacy rights – a substantial margin, albeit the narrowest in polls since 2002."

In other words, they agree with what the NSA is doing even though they believe it is intrusive with some people.

[ProSense]

70. Right, and it means attitudes are shifting. Don't you agree? n/t

[kentuck]

80. But why?

Is the question? Was it because Snowden went to Moscow and got stuck? Was it because of Greenwald's comments? Was it because of a very effective propaganda campaign by the powers that be? Pick one.

[ProSense]

97. Wait

"But why? Is the question? Was it because Snowden went to Moscow and got stuck? Was it because of Greenwald's comments? Was it because of a very effective propaganda campaign by the powers that be? Pick one."

...what the hell are you asking? You believe attitudes are shifting away from the NSA because of "a very effective propaganda campaign by the powers that be"?

No, I don't have to pick one of the straw men. Take the poll for whatever you want. I can't interpret it for you.

[kentuck]

124. You are right about one thing.

You cannot interpret it. We can see the numbers and make up our own minds.

[Cannikin]

40. So Prosense is pro domestic surveillance.

I'm not. And no poll will change my mind.

[ProSense]

42. No, I'm not, but if it makes you feel better to think that, go right ahead. n/t

[think]

45. Cheerleading for the CIA & the Carlyle Group while ignoring their crimes is pathetic....

[marions ghost]

51. That is what it amounts to

Clueless Nationalism in the face of unrestricted criminal abuse of power is sad & Fox worthy.

[Mojorabbit]

57. +1000 esp when the op was so against it when Bush was doing it. nt

[Douglas Carpenter]

66. well of the Republicans win the White House they we il be back to extolling the virtues of a

free and adversarial press and singing the praises of the right to privacy and the glory of the fourth Amendment and reminding us that when the Democrats come to power again then and only then can these sacred institutions be protected and free

[Hissyspit]

48. Do you think this is a GOOD thing?:

"The public by 57-39 percent in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll also says it’s more important for the government to investigate possible terrorist threats than for it to protect privacy rights"

[ProSense]

59. Yes,

Do you think this is a GOOD thing?:

"The public by 57-39 percent in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll also says it’s more important for the government to investigate possible terrorist threats than for it to protect privacy rights"

...in the context of the trend, it shows more people believe it's intrusive. It was 62 percent in June, 68 percent in November 2010, 75 percent in January 2010.

I'd say an 18 percent drop in "investigate threats" and a 16 percent increase in "don't intrude on privacy" is a good shift in public opinion.

[Hissyspit]

62. O.k. I see what you are saying.

But that's still a majority of Americans who can't see it's not an either/or thing and don't seem to understand how the Constitution works. Reminds me of past polls where a majority say the press has too much freedom.

[Capt. Obvious]

49. No links to your own posts?

[ProSense]

52. You're astute!

Great comment.

[Capt. Obvious]

54. meh

[John2]

67. I don't consider

a hero or villain. I don't think he did anything to hurt Americans at all except maybe embarrass the Government. have you seen the Polls about our government?

As far as the Main stream Media, maybe they should take a Poll about how people feel about them? We probably can charge them all with crimes.

[djean111]

72. Why are we even still talking about Snowden?

Anyway, looks like Obama and the NSA will not be affected one little bit, and, as supposedly everybody already knew everything (literally and figuratively), - why the continuing fixation on Snowden?

Saw a cool little software package for sale to just anyone - they can store all your phone and Skype conversations, and then you can search them for words, at your leisure. This is why I laugh at sneers that anyone thinks NSA is "listening" to our plebeian little conversations. Of course they aren't. They are storing all conversations so they can sift through them for key words if they want to. Nothing needed but storage and a little software. I could buy Calltrunk and Argosearch for $5 - $50 a month. Searches through stored conversations instantly. Their motto - "The conversation just got more interesting". They say it is like turning all phone and Skype conversations into searchable email. And storage for all this stuff is stupendous, but then again, phone conversations are condensed for transmission anyway.

[bowens43]

73. so in your opinion , more Americans thinking it's ok tp SPY on ALL Americans

is a good thing?

Wow. What can you say to that kind of un-American, anti-freedom, cowardly (protect me big brother) rhetoric?

[sheshe2]

75. K&R

[raindaddy]

87. Shifting attitudes..

Only 12 % of the public approves of the job Congress is doing in Washington. And Obama's approval ratings continue to drop down to 45%. Looks like the public doesn't have a whole lot of faith in the current government that wants to prosecute Snowden either.

[Zorra]

88. See? Your continual, repetitive catapulting of conservative propaganda is working!

[polynomial]

89. ABC news Washington post Maddana Gaga Calculus

The American Broadcasting Company presents the new lady Gaga reduction method in multivariable calculus methods. Yes, if you believe that math in the probability what Americans think that secret Meta data collecting currently going on is good for everyone; All righty than, Snowden is really a frosty drink mixed with rum and vodka, shaken not stirred.

Isn’t it interesting those two master collectors of who knows what Meta data or how Meta data collectors are persuading America. All of a sudden we have an epiphany. How does ABC get its data, perhaps sifted from Booz Allen and Hamilton. Or ah ha, now we know how elections are predicted.

Via Meta data the one percenters already know what to print to paralyze your creative thinking. Since both data methods are secret how in the freqaizoid world would anyone know what the mainstream media is saying is true. You have to be lame brain stupid to believe ABC or the Washington Post.

[Babel_17]

105. Change the question, change the results

Exchange "violate" for "intrude" and throw in a reference to the Constitution and see what happens.

[Rex]

107. Well certainly more important to not ask questions and not get involved.

nt.

[AZ Progressive]

109. Read the Poll itself, NOT the propaganda

The News Article doesn't mention question 18-20:


18. (IF NSA INTRUDES ON AMERICANS’ PRIVACY) Do you think those intrusions are justified or not justified?

Justified Not justified No opinion
7/21/13 39 55 6
9/7/06* 54 40 6
1/8/06 49 46 5
9/7/03 63 29 8

*9/7/06 earlier among those who said “federal agencies like the FBI” are intruding; 1/8/06 and “federal agencies are intruding”


19. Do you think the NSA surveillance program does or does not intrude on your own personal privacy rights?

7/21/13

Does intrude 49

Does not intrude 44

No Opinion 7



20. (IF NSA INTRUDES ON RESPONDENT’S PRIVACY) Do you think those intrusions are justified or not justified?

Justified 28
Not justified 70
No opinion 2

[ProSense]

111. Um,

"Read the Poll itself, NOT the propaganda"

...the text in the OP is directly from the poll pdf.

http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1150a3SnowdenandSecurity.pdf

Note the author: Gary Langer of Langer Research Associates, who conducted the poll.

Still, what are you suggesting is "propaganda"?

[AZ Progressive]

114. Read the Poll Questions, not the analysis

[AZ Progressive]

112. As well as on Snowden

13. A former government contractor named Edward Snowden has released information to
the media about intelligence-gathering efforts by the U.S. National Security Agency. Do you support or oppose Snowden being charged with a crime for disclosing the NSA’s intelligence-gathering efforts? Do you feel that way strongly, or somewhat?

-------- Support --------

NET Strongly Somewhat

7/21/13 53 36 17
6/16/13* 43 23 20

--------- Oppose --------

NET Somewhat Strongly No Opinion

7/21/13 36 16 19 11
6/16/13* 48 20 27 9

*”surveillance program” instead of ”intelligence-gathering efforts”

[great white snark]

115. DU rec.

Thanks for posting this "propaganda" and please get your head out of "the muddy"

[LanternWaste]

116. Popularity contest are indeed, often indicative of little more than what's popular rather than what'

Popularity contest are indeed, often indicative of little more than what's popular rather than what's ethical.

However, if I was attempting to rationalize a general acceptance, and then allowance of being spied upon, I imagine a popularity contest would be my first line of justification.

[Scurrilous]

118. Glenn Greenwald better hurry with that book.

[railsback]

126. That would be a good idea

Russia, who put conditions on SnowdenWald's 'asylum', is just looking for an excuse to boot him out of the country.

[Cali_Democrat]

119. I told the Snowdenwald fanboys this would happen

but they just didn't listen.

[AtomicKitten]

127. It seems seeking asylum in Russia was the turning point.

[Downtown Hound]

129. Who gives a shit?

Americans as a group are a bunch of fat-assed cowards that quiver in fear every time the government throws a bogeyman out for them to hate. A majority of Americans thought that invading Iraq was a hell of an idea before we actually did it. How quickly they changed their minds when the bodies started piling up.