Polls & Research

Americans Not So Keen on Bush Censure

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States believe a proposal to reprimand George W. Bush is erroneous, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 53 per cent of respondents think Congress should not censure the U.S. president for authorizing wiretaps without a court order.

In December, Bush defended a secret domestic electronic surveillance program that includes the wiretapping of the telephone calls and e-mails of Americans suspected of having terrorist ties. The president's remarks came in response to media reports that, since 2002, Bush has authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to operate this program without any judicial oversight.

Last month, Democratic Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold officially introduced a resolution to censure Bush, saying, "The president has broken the law and the censure resolution (...) is intended to hold him accountable." The resolution must be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. 56 per cent of respondents think Feingold is calling for censuring Bush mainly to use the issue for political advantage.

In 1834, Andrew Jackson became the only U.S. president to be censured for removing the nation's money from a private bank in defiance of the Senate.

Democratic Michigan congressman John Conyers—who has been mentioned as a possible House Judiciary Committee chairman if the Democrats regain control of Congress this year—has suggested creating a committee to look into impeaching the president. 66 per cent of respondents disagree with this idea.

In the U.S., the federal process for impeachment begins with a vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a trial in the Senate. Only two American presidents—Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998—have been impeached by the lower house. Both Johnson and Clinton were later acquitted by the upper house. In April 1974, Richard Nixon resigned after impeachment hearings had started.

Polling Data

As you may know, U.S. president George W. Bush authorized wiretaps on telephone calls and e-mails of people suspected of involvement with terrorism, without first getting court approval to do so. Democratic senator Russ Feingold has called for Congress to censure or officially reprimand Bush for doing this. Do you think Congress should or should not censure or officially reprimand Bush for authorizing these wiretaps?

Do you think Feingold is calling for censuring Bush mainly to use the issue for political advantage, or mainly because he believes it is the right thing to do?

Democratic congressman John Conyers has called for creation of a committee to look into impeaching Bush and removing him from office. Do you think Congress should or should not impeach Bush and remove him from office?