US - Democrats Beat Quick Retreat

What a great headline in the New York Times for this piece on the Democrats reaction to the motion to censure Bush by Senator Russell D. Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin.

WASHINGTON, March 13 — Senate Democrats on Monday blocked an immediate vote on a call by one of their own to censure President Bush for his eavesdropping program.

Retreating Democrats. Has a nice ring to it.

And get this howler from the Times.

Though polls on surveillance are mixed, Republicans say the public generally backs the idea of eavesdropping on people suspected of being in contact with terror suspects.

Polls are mixed and Republicans say? Only in the Times alternate universe.

Here's an earlier Times piece where they tried to spin the poll. But look what's buried near the end.

The poll found that 53 percent of Americans approved of Mr. Bush's authorizing eavesdropping without prior court approval "in order to reduce the threat of terrorism"; 46 percent disapproved. When the question was asked stripped of any mention of terrorism, 46 percent of those respondents approved, and 50 percent said they disapproved.

That's not mixed, that's a clear majority and it's not just Republicans, it says "Americans".

And here's a newer poll that shows support for Bush's program has even greater support - even among Democrats.

Nonetheless, the president can take some consolation in the fact that almost seven in 10 (68%) adults think that he is justified in authorizing wiretaps without court authorization. A substantial 43 percent think the president is often justified, with another quarter (25%) saying that he is sometimes justified. Less than one-third (31%) say that the president is not justified, with 13 percent saying he is rarely justified and 18 percent saying he is never justified.

As one might expect, most Republicans (92%) say that the president is either often (67%) or sometimes (25%) justified in authorizing wiretaps without court authorization. Independents also support the president on this issue, with seven in 10 (70%) saying he is justified. However, what is perhaps most surprising is that Democrats appear to be split on this issue, with half (50%) saying he is justified and half (49%) saying he is not justified.

Hell, it looks like everyone supports the program - except far left wing Democrats and the Times.

Rewind to the Times: "Republicans say the public generally backs the idea of eavesdropping..."

Just more proof the Times is a left wing rag mouthpiece for the Democrats.
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