noteworthy wrote:
Matt Welch:

In 2006, Gallup asked the public whether the government posed an "immediate threat" to Americans. Only 21 percent of Republicans agreed, versus 57 percent of Democrats. In 2010, they asked again. This time, 21 percent of Democrats said yes, compared with 66 percent of Republicans.

It's a mistake to characterize the survey results in the way that Reason has done here.

Its not Matt Welch in Reason. Its Ross Douthat in NYT - Welch is just blogging.

I don't think public concern for civil liberties waxes and wanes like this -- it's more like a permanent slump. It's just not something that drives people to the polls, which is in no small part what drives elections in this country.

You're right but I think you're missing the point - there is no widespread genuine concern for civil liberties but there are a lot of people who feign concern - there were a lot of people on the left feigning concern 5 years ago and there are a lot of people on the right feigning concern now. Partisans of whatever party is out of power.

What drives people to the polls is partisanship and advertising. Genuine issues are not important, politically speaking.

RE: Civil Liberties As A Pet Concern of the Opposition