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Let's talk recycle! It could not have been easier! I WANT ANSWERS AND I'M GOING TO GET THEM! Okay! Now I've really, really had it! To my friends, the undecided voters of Victoria The Problem with Political Polls ABSTINENCE ONLY SEX EDUCATION HUH? WHAT DID HE JUST SAY? THIS JUST IN! AND YOU WANT THIS YO-YO AS YOUR PRESIDENT? February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 
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The Problem with Political Polls
Well, today I read or heard that John McCain has overtaken and surpassed Barack Obama in the polls by anywhere from 4% to 10% [I think the 10% was posted by an overly zealous McBush (oops, I meant McCain) supporter on another website]. Now in the past I believe polls were pretty accurate. I’ll just say probably more often than not. Most of you know that I no longer put much stock in the polls of today. The current poll was a news article, but I’ll be darned if I remember where I read or saw it. It could have been Yahoo! News or CNN. Wherever it was, I thought at the time, “Now how could that have been a very accurate poll?” I don’t even know who the pollster was. I do know that it was a poll of registered voters. DUH! At least give me ONE point for knowing that! I think pollsters are discounting the fact that there are millions of registered voters out there who do not have landlines at all. This is the Now generation. They rely on wireless exclusively and they are not polled at all. Most polls are based on calling landlines whose phone numbers are sold or just by dialing blocks of phone numbers (361 575-0000 to 361 595-9999). There is no such access to cell phone numbers. If you want your cellphone number on a national wireless directory, you have to opt in. How many of you know a cellphone user that wants to open himself up to every telemarketer/pollster in the country? I, for one, never would. How often do you get a telemarketing call on your cellphone? I’m betting never. That is because telemarketers do not have access to your number unless you have provided it to the national wireless directory. How often do pollsters call you on your cellphone? I’m betting never because pollsters do not have access to your number unless you have provided it to the national wireless directory. So, in my opinion, pollsters are giving very skewed results because most of the polling done is based on calls to middle-aged voters with landlines. I don’t think the election is going to be won by either party by these exclusive voters. I think, come November 4th, the “wireless” generation is going to rise up and decide this election. Obama has a huge following of these young adults who have not been included in the polls. 12 comments from 7 users
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posted by
pat
on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:04 AM
OMG! Y'all gotta watch this and then I've got to see this Mad TV thing! posted by
pat
on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Just what I needed before I head off to work! You always seem to make my day, VietnamVet!
posted by
VietnamVet
on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:36 AM
My friensh, thought you might like a laugh: http://www.236.com/video/20... BTW, did you all know McCain was a POW? posted by
Mike
on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Lotex,I do not ignore favorable or unfavorable polls,I have said many times they are just tools...It is not up to me to present both sides,you should be able to do that........Befor you go accusing me of being deceptive,you should know that I said months ago that a Newsweek poll that had Obama ahead by 15 pts.was a flier,because movement in state polls did not reflect that...GWB has been under 40% in all the polls since he was reelected,no one else has done that. Lotex asked "What's the problem?"....I could spin that to say a genuine war hero with 26 years of experience is not leading a senator with only 3 years of experience,but I won't........It is well known that Republicans are great campaigners ,but the y don't govern well...The McCain camp will milk this "I am like you " for all it's worth. posted by
pat
on Sep 9, 2008 at 04:20 AM
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POL... Since all but 2 states are "winner-take-all", I believe, then maybe people should be more interested in state-by-state polls as Mr. Easton stated. I am still convinced that the polls would be skewed because Obama has a major block of registered voters who are young and "wireless". I just think the McBush people are throwing a big 'ole party based on a 2 point lead which is not substantive. Lotex, if your purpose for coming on here is to goad me, it is not working. I told you I won't debate politics. If you are smart enough, go look at the link I posted.
posted by
Lotex
on Sep 9, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Since you insist that McCain is the elder brother of George (ok, is Sr. his daddy, or Babs his moma?), then they must be one in the same. Question. How weak is the Democratic Party that this sitting unpopular President's party still has a candidate is still even in the running? By this forums poll, a Blue or Yellow dog running against Bush's record should be a easy trot to victory.....what's the problem? posted by
ragman
on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Geez! What poll shows Bush in a "postitve light?"
posted by
Lotex
on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Interesting that certain poster like polls when they favor their side (Yes Mike, polls show Bush to be the most unpopular President since Jimmy Carter), but discredit them when they show the opposition in a favorable light. posted by
pat
on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Mr. Easton, I think you'd still get a skewed result in today's wireless environment even if the polls were done on a state-by-state basis. I would never give my cell phone number to anyone whom I did not want to have it. If a website told me that I HAD to provide my cell phone number in order to purchase something from them, I'd look for another vendor. You are right. Those people are building a telemarketing data base to use for their own ends and also probably plan to sell the data base to others. We see how well the "Do Not Call" list works. Can you imagine if we had the same annoying calls at home and on our cells? I'm like you, Maryann. I always try to be polite when I get unsolicited calls. After all, these people are trying to make a living; but, Lord, I get so tired of them. The only time I refuse to answer the phone is if my caller ID says "Unknown" or if it is a call from a toll-free number. I can't think of anything I might have of interest to say on either occassion. posted by
Mike
on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:36 PM
I agree with you Pat,Chuck Todd of NBC/MSNBC thought that poll was a flier...Sure,McCain got a good bounce ,because the convention was successful for the GOP.....The GOP is now pumped up..The Dem's have been pumped up for quite a while...Anyway a 10 point lead would mean a landslide and people like Todd,Rove and John King of CNN would have seen movement in the electoral map..Obama still holds a slight lead...I do believe the race is close. This afternoon the pollsters got busy and posted these results. ABC/WaPo Obama 47 McCain 46 CBS McCain 48 Obama 44 CNN Obama 48 McCain 48 You are right, it's heads I win tails you lose..Close election so far.
posted by
AltonEaston
on Sep 8, 2008 at 04:35 PM
What I find interesting about the polls is they are going on the assumption that the popular is going to elect the next President. I would perfer to see polls that show that is happening in each state. The electoral vote is what really counts. I contend there are hidden groups that are collecting cell phone numbers. I have noticed a numerous on-line vendors "requiring a cellphone number" to place a on-line order. I have also seen an increase in sweepstakes requring the disclosure of cell phone numbers. If one has read or listen to the news networks this week, they woulld have found out that Goggle has in depth information on almost everyone that has ever used the brower. posted by
maryann
on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Hope they call my house. I always give them an earfull, but in a nice way. I have to catch the phone before the hubby- he's really direct.
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