To Poll or Not to Poll-- what was the Question?

[giddyup]

I'm tired of the polls. How about you?

Were you polled in this last election? Do you know anyone who was polled in this last election?

Are polls used to manipulate the mood of the electorate or are they really intended to measure something accurately?

How could polling be better utilized in our electoral process?

[Batman Jones]

giddyup:

By this time tomorrow, polling could be nigh obsolete. Until they find a new model anyway. Even a poll junkie like myself has started getting headaches looking at the conflicting, daily contradictory and reversible data from virtually every one of the polling organizations. It might be done for a while until they can figure out how to do it to suit the times we live in. Of course, that'll only happen if the polls were very wrong. And if they were, that's probably to Kerry's advantage. Which would you prefer? And end to polls and Bush or "staying the course" with regard to both?

[bobmarley]

Originally posted by Batman Jones
And if they were, that's probably to Kerry's advantage. Which would you prefer? And end to polls and Bush or "staying the course" with regard to both?

huh?:confused:

[giddyup]

Originally posted by Batman Jones
giddyup:

Which would you prefer? And end to polls and Bush or "staying the course" with regard to both?
You seem to be saying here that polling effects the outcome of the election. Is that what you meant to say?

They do give us something to talk about and they do, perhaps, energize the electorate-- kind of like a good pre-game show.

[bobmarley]

Originally posted by Batman Jones
Of course, that'll only happen if the polls were very wrong. And if they were, that's probably to Kerry's advantage. Which would you prefer? And end to polls and Bush or "staying the course" with regard to both?


I am confused as to your lumping of ending polls and electing Kerry, and keeping polls and electing Bush.

[Batman Jones]

Originally posted by bobmarley
I am confused as to your lumping of ending polls and electing Kerry, and keeping polls and electing Bush.

My point was that he might get his wish that polls would become obsolete. But if polls become obsolete, at least temporarily, it will likely be because the pollsters this year undervalued first time voters, young voters and cell phone users (who are mostly young), resulting in a better result for Kerry than predicted. My point was that, as a Bush supporter, giddyup might want to be careful what he wished for -- that he might be better served if the polls were dead on.

I wasn't trying to lump the two things with regard to causation. That was just sloppy late night posting.

[bobmarley]

Originally posted by Batman Jones
Yeah, it was a confusing post. My point was, if the polls are wrong this year, they're almost definitely wrong to Kerry's benefit. I know giddyup's expressed disdain for polling before and he's also pro-Bush. My point, I guess, was that he ought to hope the polls are right this year.

oh ok. I don't want either guy to win. But, if i had to choose my poison I'd choose Bush.

[Batman Jones]

Originally posted by bobmarley
oh ok. I don't want either guy to win. But, if i had to choose my poison I'd choose Bush.

Quoted me before I edited another awkward post.

I can understand not wanting either to win, but a Bob Marley/Hunter Thompson fan preferring Bush? Wild. God bless America.

[bobmarley]

Originally posted by Batman Jones
Quoted me before I edited another awkward post.

I can understand not wanting either to win, but a Bob Marley/Hunter Thompson fan preferring Bush? Wild. God bless America.

Well, to tell the complete truth I am a bit selfish in my remarks.
When I say I'd rather Bush win, its because he will have the least impact on my life. If Kerry wins I will have to pay more taxes most likely. Bush's "other" decisions don't really affect me in the slightest. And he won't make me pay any more taxes. Even though there are people dying in Iraq as I speak it really doesn't affect me, truthfully. I know it sounds cold and it probably is but hey, like you said "God Bless America"

P.S. Me liking Bob Marley and Hunter S. Thompson don't impact my voting in the slightest.