[Spying, Polls]

Check That, Americans Don't Like Spying

I can't actually open the page at USA Today (either it's buggered up, or my computer is, but it's not opening), but I see that they have findings from a poll that--suprise!--indicate Americans aren't exactly hot on the secret NSA spying. Via the excerpted blurb on Memorandum, I offer you this much of the story:

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 …

I can only assume the wording on the questions was phrased a little different than for the WaPo poll that incensed me last week. Side by side comparisons if I can ever open the damn thing. (If anyone can open it and wishes to mail me the story, that'd be cool.)

[Update: Atrios provides a link to another unopenable page that, judging by the url, has the raw data. That'd also be handy, if you're already in the process of emailing me anything.

I also see that the righty news "source" Newsmax has a little spin piece about how Bush's "approval rating jumps six points!" They compare last week's Harris poll, which had Bush at 29% (but which was so unreliable I didn't even bother mentioning it) contrasting a poll out by Newsweek today having him at 35%. I'm certain that the folks at Newsmax will announce "Bush's approval down three points" when the next Gallup is out.

Their obvious spin aside, I will expect the NSA business to give Bush a bump in the polls--or stop the freefall. Thanks to the administration's regime of fear, people really are rattled about terrorism, and a good many of them who have jumped the SS Iraqi Blunder are jumping back on, thanks to Bush's "strong resolve" on terror. But fear not, it won't last.]