Bogus WaPo/ABC poll on Americans' "support" of NSA spying-FIGHT THIS SCAM!

[Nothing Without Hope]

Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake explains the methodology, the history, and the probable future use of this Bush-supporting gambit, now cited and pushed not only in the Washington Post but throughout the printed, online and TV media. We have to fight this meme, because it's a weapon made to undermine political and public resistance to the illegal, outrageous NSA spying that is continuing to be revealed. (And Russel Tice says so far only the tip of the iceberg has been seen: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1172305)

Here is the earlier DU thread announcing this bogus WaPo/ABC poll - there are many expressions of doubt and outrage in the responses:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2279032
thread title (5-12-06): (ABC)Phone-Records Surveillance Is Broadly Acceptable to Public

Reply #84 in that thread gives an excerpt and link to the Washington Post report on the bogus ABC/WaPo poll:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2279032&mesg_id=2279742
This article is written by Richard Morin, who, as Jane Hamsher shows, has a history of this kind of deliberately misleading "polling." It purports to show how surprising majorities of the US public are fully supportive of the NSA spying programs and the whole Bush administration approach to "anti-terrorism" domestic spying.

Link/Excerpt of the WaPo article by Richard Morin pushing the bogus poll data:

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

Poll: Most Americans Support NSA's Efforts

By Richard Morin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 12, 2006; 7:00 AM

(snip)

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.

A slightly larger majority--66 percent--said they would not be bothered if NSA collected records of personal calls they had made, the poll found.

Underlying those views is the belief that the need to investigate terrorism outweighs privacy concerns. According to the poll, 65 percent of those interviewed said it was more important to investigate potential terrorist threats "even if it intrudes on privacy." Three in 10--31 percent--said it was more important for the federal government not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats.

Half--51 percent--approved of the way President Bush was handling privacy matters.

(snip)

********
Poll data here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_nsa_051206.htm

We need to debunk the propagandizing misinformation of the Washington Post's Richard Morin, who, with this and earlier "polls" has shown himself to be a fomenter of deliberately misleading "poll results" and slanted articles designed to support GOP goals. Read what Jane says and put together your rebuttals to fight this pernicious disinformation:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/05/12/bush-league

Bush League

By Jane Hamsher
Friday, May 12th, 2006 at 3:00 pm



The headline blazing across the Washington Post this morning reads: "Poll: Most Americans Support NSA’s Efforts." (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/12/AR2006051200375.html)

It was written by Richard Morin, and we’ve been down this road before. Just days after the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal broke, before people had become wise to what was going on (and long before Clinton’s popularity soared during the congressional hearings), Morin was polling on impeachment with carefully worded questions (http://mediamatters.org/items/200512100004#20051220). He got the results he was looking for, and long after public opinion had turned they existed as a bulwark against any change in conventional wisdom on Capitol Hill.

(snip - describes how Morin has consistently refused to poll on Bush impeachment)

So before the phone records story even breaks, Morin — who knows absolutely what he is doing — starts polling people who have no idea what he’s talking about and giving it his best shot, tying it to the War on Terra. It works. Today it’s plastered across the front page of the washingtonpost.com like Carol Doda’s bright red lightbulb tits flashing at the Condor Club.

As eRiposte (http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/006769.php) has noted, in a CBS/NYT poll earlier this year this was one of the questions posed: "In order to reduce the threat of terrorism, would you be willing or not willing to allow government agencies to monitor the telephone calls and e-mails of ordinary Americans on a regular basis?" At that time 70% responded "no." A rather strong indication that a lot has to do with how these particular questions are worded.

(snip - Jane shows how "just like clockwork" the results of this new WaPo/ABC "poll" on NSA spying has been picked up by the corporate media and plastered on TV screens nationwide.)

This was a carefully run PR campaign that depended on the full cooperation of the cocktail weenie set. They’re run it before, they’ll run it again, and long after people have started listening to Joe Scarborough (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/05/12.html#a8261) and Jack Cafferty (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/05/11.html#a8245) and deciding they feel quite uneasy about this, the poll will still be quoted. And it might have its desired effect: make Democrats fearful of going on the attack. Amazing that could happen with a President at 29%, but they’ve managed to bully key Democrats into the crouch position (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/11/AR2006051101950.html) with regard to impeachment, it just might work here too.

(snip - Jane concludes with "bad news for the GOP" - that people are beginning to be suspicious of obvious propaganda-mongering like Morin's "poll.")

Get the truth out - write your senators and representatives to show that not only do YOU not support the massively illegal NSA domestic spying, but that obvious gambits like the ABC/WaPo "poll" do NOT represent the true response of the American people to this dangerous, unconstitutional outrage.

John Dean says this administration has gone far, far beyond Nixon:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1173417
thread title (5-12-06): John Dean on Olbermann: "we've just seen the tip of the iceberg"

And remember, Russ Tice will be testifying (unfortunately in a closed-door session) on major additional areas of illegal domestic spying by the NSA:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1172305

OPPOSE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR ENABLERS IN THE CORPORATE MEDIA WHEN THEY TRY TO USE THE DELIBERATE MISINFORMATION LIKE THIS WAPO/ABC "POLL" TO UNDERMINE OPPOSITION TO THE NSA DOMESTIC SPYING PROGRAM

ed: grammar

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. I'll shamelessly self-kick until someone notices n/t

[Loge23]

2. Other polls , including the WSJ dispute this

The CNN and the WSJ poll both show overwhelming opposition to the spying.
The ABC poll is BS.

[KAT119]

28. MSNBC vote today was approx. 75% against NSA spyscam-25% for it=TRUTH!!

[KAT119]

30. MSNBC vote now @ 76% against NSA spyscam--24% for @ approx.29,000votes

It's 10:30 pm in AZ. Friday eve-Full Moon of Truth shining worldwide for the people !!

INDICT-IMPRISON ALL WH CRIMINALS NOW !!

ABC/NBC/CBS Polls show THIS is what America TRULY WANTS !! ONLY FOX (WH) POLL AGAINST obviously....

Americans of both parties are united re ending this evil cabal/nightmare !!

[marmar]

3. Media Matters has an analysis of the poll on their website...

A Washington Post/ABC News poll on the National Security Agency (NSA) program to collect phone call records of tens of millions of United States residents -- conducted on May 11, the same day the program was first publicly disclosed -- asked respondents: "It's been reported that the National Security Agency has been collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans. It then analyzes calling patterns in an effort to identify possible terrorism suspects, without listening to or recording the conversations. Would you consider this an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?" According to the poll, 63 percent of respondents found the program acceptable.

However, the poll question affirmatively claimed that the NSA is not "listening to or recording the conversations" captured by the data collection program. This statement suggests -- falsely, according to the Post itself -- that the data collection program is separate from the NSA's warrantless domestic eavesdropping program, first publicly revealed by The New York Times in December 2005. In fact, according to a May 12 Post article, the two programs are directly linked: "Government access to call records is related to the previously disclosed eavesdropping program, sources said, because it helps the NSA choose its targets for listening. The mathematical techniques known as 'link analysis' and 'pattern analysis,' they said, give grounds for suspicion that can result in further investigation." In other words, according to The Washington Post itself -- and contrary to the poll question -- the NSA might well be "listening to or recording the conversations" of at least some Americans as a direct result of its analysis of the phone record data the NSA is collecting.

The complete article is at: http://mediamatters.org/items/200605120005

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. Excellent. This really exposes - yet again - how the WaPo uses distortion

and falsehood to push the Bush agenda.

According to Jane's post at Firedoglake, the bogus "poll data" have been relentlesslly pushed in the major media. For example, she cites Howie Klein: "I’m sitting in a hotel room in NYC and CNN has repeated those numbers every 20 minutes since I woke up. Every one of the talking heads they bring on to comment, cites it. I can only imagine what Fox must be making of it."

[bdamomma]

4. these are very very desperate men

they will do anything and use anybody. This is total BS, wait until bush's poll numbers slide down a little more.

[5X]

5. You get a K & R from me. n/t

[fooj]

6. Here was my contribution...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2622161

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. Good one, Fooj! Yes, they're shameless about ignoring even their OWN

polls so they can push the preferred propaganda.

[fooj]

17. It truly is pathetic.

Jeez........

[Catrina]

7. Thank you!! Great post! I knew that poll was suspicious. All the polls

I've seen have been overwhelmingly against Domestic Spying. Thank you for verifying the suspicions of so many people. Everyone I talked to this week, is absolutely livid about this latest outrage.

They will not stop telling these lies. I will pass this around to everyone I know, and post it on another board.

The truth will get out ~ their days are numbered in terms of getting away with this kind of disgusting lie.

:kick: and I will rec. if my browser lets me.

[me b zola]

9. K&R

:kick:

[treestar]

10. Since the only one claiming this actually helps in tracking down

terrorists is Bush, only people who believe every word out of Bush's mouth would believe that anyway. Which makes the poll rather odd, since his approval rating is way lower.

[autorank]

11. The Washington Post is giving new meaning to the word "CRAVEN"

I live here so I loath them. They are so far beneath contempt it's difficult to see them.

Oh, sure this is true and I'm the worlds richest man (well I am but don't tell;)

GREAT POST. Recommended. Nobody does it better.

There's a mass torts law firm out there that's been collecting speeches, references, names, etc. of faux scientists and groups who "debunk" global climate change. The theory is that as the damage accrues, the mass tort suits against these people and their funding sources will be huge.

Let us dedicate a thread in some forum to posting deliberate, contrived disinformation about the * administration, like this poll. These actions should have consequences.

ON EDIT: Look what I found, Question 47.
--------------
47. Do you think it is right or wrong for the news media to have disclosed this secret government program?

5/11/06:

Right-56
Wrong-42
--------------

Gee, isn't that a contradiction of sorts. They "strongly" favor the spying but it's ok for the WaPost to out the valiant efforts of the 1984 crew.

We are in the age of manufatured news. I don't think that this was biased or skewed...or even distorted. I think that they're so desperate they are fabricating numbers. After all what do you expect from an administraiton and it's supporters who lie us into a disaster like Iraq.

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. Hey, Mike! I like your idea of a forum on current disinformation campaigns

by the lying Bushies and their enablers. Would have be bigger than General Discussion!!!! ;)

[fooj]

18. Most excellent idea!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

I'm all for keeping track of these lying, rat bastards! We should name it the "Tracking Treason" forum.

[chill_wind]

21. You are so on the money!

From your first sentence to your last.

And oh lord what I would give to see this become a reality:


"There's a mass torts law firm out there that's been collecting speeches, references, names, etc. of faux scientists and groups who "debunk" global climate change. The theory is that as the damage accrues, the mass tort suits against these people and their funding sources will be huge."

[katinmn]

22. Yes, WaPo is becoming as scandal-ridden as BushCo!

They are THE worst among corp media (now that the NYT no longer has Miller on staff and seems to be trying to mend its loss of credibility). WaPo is a constant source of lies and distortion on behalf of Bush and his regime.

Worthy of contempt.

[robbedvoter]

12. Right from Abramoff's playbook of early push polling

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Oh, this is an exquisite find. They've made this a science.

It's very clear that the wording used in the ABC/WaPo poll discussed in this thread was chosen very carefully to push buttons producing the desired responses. Very Pavlovian, really. And of course the intense "reporting" that was poised to run with the bogus "poll results" has not mentioned how this one "poll" has results so diametrically opposed to so many others. It's so blatant, and yet so far they are pretty much getting away with it yet again. More opposition is needed.

ed:sp

[fooj]

20. Excellent find.

This should be posted over at Firedoglake.

[Nothing Without Hope]

33. A separate thread on this Abramoff email has been posted:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1175414
thread title (5-12-06): ABC bogus poll on NSA & Abramoff playbook on early push polling

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. Note that this bogus "poll" was a HEADLINE in the WaPo today

Even in my emailed updates (free - I refuse to give them a penny) it is the subject line of today's email of the WaPo contents. It's also been pushed, pushed, pushed on TV. Oh yeah, Jane's surely right about this being a planned Bush -boosting PR project from the start. They must have put a lot of effort into tinkering with the wording of the questions, and who knows how they chose which people to call and which respondents' data to include. The only value of polls is their trustworthiness - and Richard Morin has shown more than once just how little of that his work deserves. Information is not his goal - pro-Bush propaganda is.

ed:sp

[genieroze]

19. Oh, let's play follow the sheeple. What Bullshit

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. ***IMPORTANT FIND AT FDL: the company doing the poll has TELCOS AS CLIENTS

This EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FIND is in a comment (#183) by "JP" in the replies to Jane Hamsher's Firedoglake piece cited in the opening post (http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/05/12/bush-league):

(snip)

ABC credits the poll to TNS Intersearch Corporation in Pennsylvania. A little digging reveals this:

“TNS is one of the world’s leading market information groups. We provide market measurement, analysis and insight through our global network of operating companies in 70 countries. Working with national and multi-national organizations, we help our clients to develop effective business strategies and enhance relationships with their customers. In July 2003, the group merged with NFO WorldGroup, Inc. Further information on TNS can be found on www.tns-global.com.”

TNS Intersearch is a unit of UK-based market research conglomerate Taylor Nelson Sofres.
according to Hoovers “TNS Telecoms, a unit of UK-based market research heavyweight Taylor Nelson Sofres, provides market data and research reports to clients in the telecommunications industry. The company’s primary clients are telecommunications service providers”

So the poll was done by a company whose primary client is telco’s.
Not that they would have any interest in scewing a poll about how people feel about telcos right?

http://www.hoovers.com/tns-telecoms/–ID__126280–/free-co-factsheet.xht ml

[glitch]

24. Geesh, they don't bother to hide their corruption anymore, do they? nt

[Nothing Without Hope]

25. Nope, they think they can get away with it. WE HAVE TO GET THIS INFO OUT

Olbermann, for example, and sites like Media Matters and Editor & Publisher, for a start.

[Nothing Without Hope]

26. MyDD poster gets statistician's input, says "shame on Wash Post":

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/5/12/121451/078

NSA Poll: Shame on WaPo

by Jeff Huber, Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:14:51 PM EST

(snip)

In an overnight poll conducted by WaPo and ABC News, "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," Not surprisingly, WaPo doesn't tell us what the poll questions actually were or what the multiple choice answers were. It does, however, admit at the bottom of the article that: "A total of 502 randomly selected adults were interviewed Thursday night for this survey. Margin of sampling error is five percentage points for the overall results. The practical difficulties of doing a survey in a single night represents another potential source of error."

I want to talk to the statistician who claims that 502 randomly selected adults, called at home at night, who may or may not have been familiar with the story or the issues involved, or have understood the questions. can give an accurate snapshot of what "Americans" actually think within any margin of error. What pool of "adults" were the 502 polled selected from? The same pool that logs online to vote in those instant polls that ask, "Do you believe Nancy Holloway is still alive?"

WaPo's Richard Morin is on MSNBC with Natalie Allen echo chambering the poll results. He's making all kinds of claims about what the poll says without giving any granularity as to how it was conducted. And the rest of the talking heads are citing the poll results as if they were Gospel truth.

We need to start insisting on transparency in poll reporting. Who was polled, what questions were asked, what the answer choices were, and an honest assessment of any given poll's statistical accuracy.

(snip)

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. Matt Stoller at MyDD suggests that a REAL poll on NSA spying be done:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/5/12/174756/397

A New MyDD Poll on Spying?

by Matt Stoller, Fri May 12, 2006 at 05:47:56 PM EST

Given the Richard Morin hackery on NSA wiretapping, we're thinking of doing another poll, this one on privacy issues across the board. Would you be open to crafting and funding another poll? Given that blogs are bigger and more influential than we were last time we did a poll, we could have a bigger impact this time and change how Democrats run scared away from this issue. Of course this always takes money, so we'd have to ask you for $$$.

Vote below on whether this is something you'd help pay for...

(snip)

[Nothing Without Hope]

29. AGAIN, THE COMPANY DOING THE POLL HAS "TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

PROVIDERS" AS THEIR PRIMARY CLIENTS. Conflict of interest, much? No wonder this "poll" is so totally bogus. It's not just a boost for the Bushies. See reply # 23.

[EFerrari]

32. Desperation. They know we know this is bs.

And they don't have a clue what to do about it except the same old same old.

In their heart of hearts, they're scared to death that the apparency of consent would disintegrate instantly if they stopped faking it.

[Nothing Without Hope]

31. Another DU thread on the deliberate "bogosity" of the ABC/WaPo "poll":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1172535
thread title (5-12-06): MODERATELY BREAKING: THE WP POLL WAS TOTAL BS AND WAS CONDUCTED IMPROPERLY

And if "bogosity" isn't a word, meaning "the state of being bogus," it should be.

[understandinglife]

34. Recommended.

Never Forget: George W. Bush willfully violated National Security to cover-up his willful launch of a war of aggression and illegal occupation of Iraq.

[Nothing Without Hope]

35. Glen Greenwald's thoughtful post on the bogus WaPo/ABC NSA spying "poll":

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/05/polling-hysteria-and-nsa-program.html
Friday, May 12, 2006, 12:04 PM

Polling hysteria and the NSA program

Somehow, The Washington Post -- on the very same day most people learned about the new NSA data-collection program -- managed to conduct a poll (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/12/AR2006051200375.html) which purports to show that "63 percent of Americans said they found the NSA program to be an acceptable way to investigate terrorism." The reaction is painfully predictable. Bush followers (http://hughhewitt.com/archives/2006/05/07-week/index.php#a002148) are celebrating (http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/1797) with glee, as though the issue is resolved in their favor and they won, while some Democrats (http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/007637.php) are quivering with caution, urging that this issue be kept at arm's length lest they take a position that isn't instantaneously and overwhelmingly popular.

I didn't even read about this story until yesterday morning and it took awhile to process the various issues and implications. I'm still doing that. I have a hard time believing that less than 24 hours after this program was first revealed by USA Today, most Americans had informed themselves about what this program is, why it is a departure from past practices, and what are its potential dangers and excesses -- let alone had an opportunity to hear from those who are opposed to the program explain why they are opposed to it.

(snip - Glen covers lots of territory here)

The danger here is that Bush followers are attempting to instill as permanent conventional wisdom that the "vast majority of Americans" favor this program, something the national media stars (who love polls -- at least poll results -- because they're really easy to understand and explain) will be only too happy to pass along. This only works because Bush opponents allow it to work. They so often internalize this notion, too - "oh, boy - we better stay away from that issue. Most Americans are against us on this. They won't like it if we speak out." And then they run away from the issue, never articulate or advocate the other side, and then point to the fact that that position is a minority view as proof that they were right to run away from it.

It was just revealed yesterday that the NSA is trying to build a data base showing every single call that every single American makes or receives. It is not that hard to explain why that is so dangerous, how powers of this type have been continuously abused in our history by administration's of both parties, and why oversight is therefore critical in both preventing abuse and in ensuring that we engage in aggressive and effective anti-terrorist efforts. It's hard to fathom that Democrats are going to leap at this insta-poll and conclude that it's just too "risky" to take a stand on this issue, and just run away from it. I've seen signs that some of them intend to do just that, but I also believe that many of them view this program as simply too much -- finally over the line -- and will throw some caution to the wind and act on their passion and beliefs. One can hope.

[treestar]

42. IA just because a position is a minority position doesn't mean

there is no reason to speak out. You could persuade somebody! It's ridiculous the shallow way this sort of thing is treated.

[Nothing Without Hope]

36. A final kick for what's left of the night. n/t

[Vinnie From Indy]

37. The poll was bogus!

Lying bastards!!!!

[texpatriot2004]

38. They didn't ask me! Or anyone that I know either. I DO NOT

approve of this illegal information gathering expedition whereby the Federal Government goes "trolling" for information.

Again, W has broken Federal Law...

Exactly how many laws does he get to break before people conclude that he has committed "high crimes"?

[Nothing Without Hope]

39. ***The WaPo LIES AGAIN - this time claiming the telcos aren't liable:***

In reading this, remember that the bogus ABC/WaPo poll discussed in the current thread was done by a company whose primary clients are TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS - Telcos (Reply #23).

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/13/falkenrath-wrong

Telco Liability: Falkenrath Gets It Wrong

5-13-06, posted by Judd 11:47am

On Thursday, ThinkProgress argued that the telcos could be liable for tens of billions of dollars (http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/11/telcos-liable/) for turning over phone records to the government in violation of the Stored Communications Act. In this morning’s New York Times, law professor Orrin Kerr (http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/13/falkenrath-wrong/%3Cbr%20/%3Ehttp://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/washington/13phone.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1) agrees:

Orin Kerr, a former federal prosecutor and assistant professor at George Washington University, said his reading of the relevant statutes put the phone companies at risk for at least $1,000 per person whose records they disclosed without a court order.

“This is not a happy day for the general counsels” of the phone companies, he said. “If you have a class action involving 10 million Americans, that’s 10 million times $1,000 — that’s 10 billion.”

In today’s Washington Post, Richard A. Falkenrath – former deputy assistant to President Bush – takes the opposite view. Here’s Falkenrath’s argument (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/12/AR2006051201656.html):

The three companies reported to have supplied telephone records to the NSA also appear to be acting lawfully….{T}he Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 explicitly permits telecommunications companies to provide customer records to the government if the government asks for them.

Actually, that’s false. The relevant portion of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act – known as the Stored Communications Act – explicitly prohibits voluntary or required disclosure of phone records to the government with several limited exceptions. {See 18 U.S.C. 2702-03 (http://www.cybercrime.gov/ECPA2701_2712.htm)} As we explained here (http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/11/telcos-liable/) and here (http://thinkprogress.org/answers-telco/) none of those exceptions apply.

It’s clear from his column that Falkenrath is obviously a huge fan of Michael Hayden, the administration, and the NSA program. That’s fine, but it doesn’t change the law or the telcos’ potential liability for turning over the phone records of tens of millions of Americans.

[Nothing Without Hope]

40. ***I've posted a NEW THREAD on this latest WaPo lie:***

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1178358
thread title (5-13-06 GD): The Wash Post LIES AGAIN - claims the telcos aren't liable in NSA spying:

[dogday]

41. Contact your representative

that is the only way to have your voice heard.... I have and will continue to let them know where I stand on this issue....

[Nothing Without Hope]

43. Like clockwork: ***BUSHIES FILE FOR DISMISSAL OF SUIT AGAINST AT&T:***

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2281872
thread title (5-13-06): Motion filed to intervene in AT&T secrets case(seeks dismissal)

This is a California-based case filed before the latest revelations of NSA domestic spying:

The class-action suit was filed by San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation on behalf of AT&T customers in January -- before reports this week that AT&T and two other phone companies were secretly helping the government compile a massive database of phone calls made in the United States. In its motion seeking intervention, posted on the court's Web site, the government said the interests of the parties in the lawsuit "may well be in the disclosure of state secrets" in their effort to present their claims or defenses.

More in opening post of the other thread; there's a link to a Yahoo News article.

[Nothing Without Hope]

45. Info on the judge in this case - a Reagan nominee & Bush41 appointee:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1178358#1179627

Also, another thread on the government's quash motion in the AT&T suit:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1179222

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. Newsweek poll gives different results:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2282063
thread title (5-13-06): Newsweek Poll: Americans Wary of NSA Spying (53% against spying)

Actually, that thread title is somewhat misleading. See for yourself:

A majority of Americans polled, 53 percent, believe that reports that the NSA has been secretly collecting the phone records of U.S. citizens since the 9/11 terrorist attacks to create a database of calls goes too far in invading people's privacy, according to the new Newsweek Poll, while 41 percent feel it is a necessary tool to combat terrorism. In light of this news and other actions by the Bush-Cheney administration, 57 percent of Americans say they have gone too far in expanding presidential power, while only 38 percent say they have not.

The 53% number are those who believe that the NSA has been secretly collecting domestic phone records. The number who think the Bushies have gone too far is higher.

Just a BIT different from the bogus WaPo/ABC poll, but then this one wasn't done by a company whose primary clients are THE TELCOS THEMSELVES - see Reply #23.

[spanone]

46. Our local rag ran this article as proof 'we' don't really mind being spied

on. Really pisses me off. They didn't even print the poll question, only the results.

[Nothing Without Hope]

49. Yes, that's the PURPOSE of the fraudulent "poll" - to give the rags

"proof" to report - those stupid Americans really don't care about the NSA domestic spying and just love Bush. So the Dems will cower and not fight.

[Nothing Without Hope]

47. US Cartoonists know better than the fraudulent WaPo poll:

[Nothing Without Hope]

48. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

50. Buzzflash editorial - significance of the "fixed" WaPo poll on NSA spying:

http://www.buzzflash.com/index.php?story=Story2

Washington Post "Fixes the Polls" for Bush by "Fixing the Questions"

May 13, 2006

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

As the blog Firedog Lake so ably reports, the Washington Post loaded a poll so that it would appear that Americans support illegal domestic spying. The problem is that when you read the poll closely, they only support it when it might lead to apprehending terrorists. As we know, that is the discredited and highly dubious claim being used by the Busheviks to implement their domestic spying program -- and the dismantling of the Constitution in general. So, it is an extremely incompetent, even propagandistic poll.

Why is this Washington Post poll important?

Because the Democrats retreat at the slightest indication that their principled position might not be supported by the American public (although we are dumbfounded that with a president at 29% approval ratings that wouldn't be sufficient proof that the public wants the Democrats to stand up for the Constitution and competency, as well as the rule of law.)

So, as Firedog Lake astutely observes, the Post poll quickly became the "conventional wisdom" benchmark of the mainstream media and Democratic Congressional leadership, even though it never emphasized the real pertinent questions, such as: "If the Bush Administration was using domestic spying for purposes other than tracking Al Qaeda suspects, would you support it?" or "If it was highly unlikely that the kind of domestic spying being used by NSA, including records of virtually every call being made in the U.S. -- including your own, could effectively be used to stop much terrorism, would you support its use?"

(snip - more at link)