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Why Polls Drive Us Crazy
There's a great Alternet story by Joshua Holland that might hit the spot for those of you (us) cringing over small movements in the national polls this election cycle. It may not completely settle your racing heart -- nothing will until there's an election (followed by a scandal, a recount and hand-ringing over the failures of our electronic voting system) -- but there's a money quote or two worth reading:
The bigger picture is this: For about 10 days during the past 10 months -- after Sarah Palin's introduction to the country but before Americans got a good look at her beliefs -- McCain inched ahead of Obama in the national head-to-heads. Now, the tide appears to be turning back in Obama's favor: As the electorate has gotten enough of a look at Palin to distrust her, her once-high approval numbers have taken a nosedive.
Even though things have actually stayed pretty close the even-keel over many, many months, the truth is that there's not much we can really know. We're going to have to wait for -- and, if you elect to do so, volunteer and donate money in the interest of helping campaigns affect -- the voting and the results.
More to the point, the significance of those head-to-head polls -- the yardstick featured in so much political reporting -- is completely overblown. The reality is that nobody knows what's going to happen in November.
posted by itodd on 09/22/08 at 07:45 PM. [printer-friendly version]
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Hot Sauce: The man, "Melton" has no right to harass people for speaking to the FBI! If he would have followed the law then there would be nothing to tell the FBI. Melton always have ...
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ladd: Argh. I would like to see an intelligent dialogue on the drug war begin nationally, instead of more of the same useless rhetoric and strategies that seem to make the country more dangerous, ...
Nov 21, 2008 | 11:11 AM
Officer Sues Melton, City for Retaliation
classy: The part that disturbs me is that McMillian backs Melton up in this crap. He recently stated he was the one that reassigned the officer. Melton has done this since his first ...
Nov 21, 2008 | 10:32 AM
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Whitley: Too funny...I see his colleagues appreciate a real player: He got a standing ovation.
Nov 21, 2008 | 10:02 AM
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Whitley: I bought some Christmas gifts in Rainbow Foods last year. Maybe you can encourage someone to develop healthy habits in the process. I also am going to make a gift of ...
Nov 21, 2008 | 08:53 AM
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Whitley: I see that Ann Coulter, one of the proposed panelists according to the story, has a column in today's Ledger in which she equates the Congressional Black Caucus with the Klu Klux ...
Nov 21, 2008 | 08:35 AM
[Publisher's Note] Think Global, Buy Local
gwilly: Would it be too commercially oriented if folks could make comments to this editorial listing some of their favorite local shops and merchandise? It might help us plan our ...
Nov 20, 2008 | 11:28 PM
Melton Claims No 'Evil Motive'
AGamm627: This whole argument that posters are following is a great example of Merida Coxwell"s prowess at getting an "evil intent" defense entered. There is no such defense. Intent is not a ...
Nov 20, 2008 | 06:15 PM
Melton Claims No 'Evil Motive'
Hot Sauce: Evil intent was proven when Melton without a warrant, without probable cause, ordered a police officer to point a deadly weapon at a human being without cause. Melton selected the ...
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WMartin: That's cool, but it ain't no place for a southern boy cuz fish don't fry in the kitchen.
Nov 20, 2008 | 05:54 PM
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Hot Sauce: The man, "Melton" has no right to harass people for speaking to the FBI! If he would have followed the law then there would be nothing to tell the FBI. Melton always have ...
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