Posted May 27, 2009 at 9:48 AM by Maurice Berger
A plurality of Americans, according to Rasmussen Reports, believe the US is worried too much about individual liberties in the war on terror: "In the tension between individual rights and national
security, 39% of voters nationwide now believe that our legal system worries too
much about protecting individual rights . . . 24% believe our legal system worries too much about national security and
25% say the balance is about right. Those figures confirm a shift in perceptions that was first
recorded a month ago. In April, 37% thought the
courts were too concerned about individual rights. Prior to 2009, the number who
held this concern ranged from 25% to 34%.
Tagged: 2009, terrorism, national security, constitutional rights
Posted May 26, 2009 at 10:05 AM by Maurice Berger
If Americans approve of President Obama's handling of the terrorist interrogation issue, they're decidedly down on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's handling of the matter. According to Gallup: "More Americans disapprove than approve of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's
handling of the matter concerning the government's use of harsh
interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects. Majorities approve of
President Barack Obama's and the CIA's handling of the matter. Even though Obama has pledged that the United States will no longer
use harsh interrogation techniques (like water boarding) that many
consider to be torture, the issue has remained in the news, with some
in Congress -- including Pelosi -- calling for an investigation into
the use of such techniques during the Bush administration. Last week, Pelosi attempted to respond to allegations that she
learned of the use of water boarding in September 2002 during a CIA
briefing of congressional leaders. In her press conference, she
asserted that the CIA misled her by denying that water boarding was
being used, even though government reports indicate it had been used on
an al Qaeda terror suspect in the month prior to that briefing. The CIA
responded and disputed her assertions that the agency misled her.
Republican leaders have roundly criticized her remarks."
Tagged: 2009, terrorism, national security, President Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi
Posted Jan 14, 2009 at 2:27 PM by Maurice Berger
In what may well be a problem for the incoming Obama administration and the new Democratic Congress, voters by a statistically significant margin trust Republicans more on matters of national security. According to a just released poll, Republicans hold the biggest lead over Democrats on the
issue of national security since early September: 48% of voters trust the GOP more to handle
national security and the War on Terror, while only 40% trust Democrats more. In December, the GOP held just a four-point lead on the issue.
Trust in the Republicans hasn’t been this high since September 6, when they led the Democrats 50% to 40% on the
issue." Unaffiliated voters give Republicans a staggering edge on handle national security--51% to 31%.
Tagged: PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama, US Congress, national security
