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Not just "plenty of people" -- actual majorities in both parties: "There are significant partisan differences [in 2013] in views of the government's program to

Not just "plenty of people" -- actual majorities in both parties: "There are significant partisan differences [in 2013] in views of the government's program to obtain call logs and Internet communication. Democrats are more likely to approve, by 49% to 40%. Independents (34% vs. 56%) and Republicans (32% to 63%) are much more likely to disapprove than approve. "In 2006, when Gallup asked the similar question about a program that came to light at that point, Republicans were significantly more likely to approve than Democrats. The differences in partisan reaction between 2006 and 2013 reflect the party of the president under whose watch the programs were carried out at those two points in time." http://www.gallup.com/poll/163043/americans-disapprove-government-surveillance-programs.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/163043/americans-disapprove-gover... It just baffles me that many Americans are so myopic on this issue that they can't even see past a single election cycle!

gojomo 13y ago
Party-affiliation is volatile and self-reported: these aren't the same 'Democrats' nor 'Republicans' as in 2006, both due to switched-voters, new-voters, and expired-voters. In particular, I believe there are a significant number of respondents who either (1) aren't very politically aware, but do have high trust in "our leaders" (whatever party they may be), or (2) don't trust pollsters -- believing they could be "with the government" or other loyalist groups -- and thus answer as if the questions were a loyalty test. Note that for both type (1) and type (2) respondents, they are especially likely to answer (a) "Yes, I'm the same party as the President in power"; and (b) "Yes, I approve of what the President's policing/border/drug/terrorism agents have been doing". The respondents have different reasons, but neither want to express dissension. And yet it's not really telling us what party "true believers" think, just situational switchers. Of course, many party "true believers" can forgive "their guy" in office for the same things they'd raise a stink about from "the other guy". That's also a very common bias/behavior. But I suspect these other low-ideology, "kiss-up-to-whoever-is-in-office" respondents are another significant, 5-15% contributor to what looks like a "partisan swing" in polls like this.
ianstallings 13y ago
It's not baffling when you consider Jersey Shore and Honey Boo Boo.

gojomo 13y ago

Party-affiliation is volatile and self-reported: these aren't the same 'Democrats' nor 'Republicans' as in 2006, both due to switched-voters, new-voters, and expired-voters. In particular, I believe there are a significant number of respondents who either (1) aren't very politically aware, but do have high trust in "our leaders" (whatever party they may be), or (2) don't trust pollsters -- believing they could be "with the government" or other loyalist groups -- and thus answer as if the questions were a loyalty test. Note that for both type (1) and type (2) respondents, they are especially likely to answer (a) "Yes, I'm the same party as the President in power"; and (b) "Yes, I approve of what the President's policing/border/drug/terrorism agents have been doing". The respondents have different reasons, but neither want to express dissension. And yet it's not really telling us what party "true believers" think, just situational switchers. Of course, many party "true believers" can forgive "their guy" in office for the same things they'd raise a stink about from "the other guy". That's also a very common bias/behavior. But I suspect these other low-ideology, "kiss-up-to-whoever-is-in-office" respondents are another significant, 5-15% contributor to what looks like a "partisan swing" in polls like this.

ianstallings 13y ago

It's not baffling when you consider Jersey Shore and Honey Boo Boo.