The internals for that NYT/CBS poll are absolutely lolz-worthy.
Obama is still undoubtedly popular. There's no need for these news outlets to embarass themselves trying to prove it.
"I don't see the need to talk about polls until Rasmussen releases one with results I like."
I'm not quite sure why he would drop torture, Gitmo, etc. - but not wiretapping?
From the article, it looks like they're trying not to release information about past wiretapping, rather than going forward with a similar program (though they could very well be doing that also). That's fairly consistent with what they're doing on the other topics. There aren't going to be any major truth and reconciliation commissions.
Also there's a weird possible double-reverse where it might be better for the administration to take the wrong position.
See, if they fight this in court and lose, that would set a judicial precedent that keeps the executive branch from doing those things in the future. If they released the information of their own volition, that can be interpreted as them retaining the right to secrecy in the future.
The opposite situation is the Ali Al-Marri case. The Supreme Court was going to hear his case (on whether the government can indefinitely imprison someone without trial) but Obama said he would be transferred back to the court system and given a trial. It's a good thing in the one instance, but if the Supremes had found in Al-Marri's favor it would have had much wider implications.
