CBS News released a poll this morning, claiming a 2-point drop for President Bush's Approval numbers even after the death of the vicious terrorist Musab Zarqawi. It seems the "Fake But Accurate" meme is still hard at work at the Tiffany Network.
These numbers are so out of line when compared to the other available polls, that I was immediately suspicious. Also, CBS only polled "adults", not even asking for registered voters. Further, the respondent pool only numbers 659 adults, significantly below the threshold for satisfactory credibility in a national poll. The poll was taken June 10th and 11th, not even the full weekend. CBS does not verify that its "nationwide" poll made any effort to reach a representative cross-section by geography or age or race; no reference is made to the demographic characteristics of the respondent pool., which casts strong doubt on the methodology used in this poll. The collective impact is the creation of a hit piece, especially when the internal data from this poll, or rather its lack, is compared to previous polls in which CBS took part. The one demographic cited by CBS is that they counted 196 self-identified Republicans in the poll, against 244 self-identified Democrats and 219 self-identified Independents. CBS re-weighted the poll to count only 192 Republicans, against 236 Democrats and 231 Independents, or 29.1% Republican, 35.8% Democrat, and 35.1% Independent. This is a deliberate skewing of party representation, invalid in the face of the 2000 Census, exit polls from either the 2002 or 2004 Federal elections, and common sense in the fact that Republicans are the majority party in both houses of Congress.
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Polls
Comments (7)
These are probably really d... (Below threshold)1. Posted by P. Bunyan | June 13, 2006 11:13 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
These are probably really depessing days for the CBS news crew. What with Zarqawi being killed, Bush's poll numbers rising, and Rove not being indicted, they must being working overtime to try to fabricate more "news" stories that support their secular socialist worldview (since the facts do not support it).
I feel so sorry for them. NOT!
1. Posted by P. Bunyan | June 13, 2006 11:13 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 13, 2006 11:13
2. Posted by yetanotherjohn | June 13, 2006 11:36 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I used to get upset about these polling tricks. But then I realized their value was so limited, who cares. Yes, they help provide a general impression that things are politically worse than they seem. Just like MSM reports on the economy.
But the special elections have shown that the hype doesn't translate to the polls. In fact, it may have the opposite effect. Democrats, who believe in the group identity and the nanny state of let the faceless others do something, are lulled into thinking that those faceless others will be there, so they don't need to go to the polls. Republicans, who believe in individula responsibility, are motivated to participate in the get out the vote effort and to do their part to turn the tide.
And while the left stands scratching it's head as to why the polls don't match the elections (it must be a conspiracy), the right can actually do the math behind the polls to recognize what is really going on.
2. Posted by yetanotherjohn | June 13, 2006 11:36 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 13, 2006 11:36
3. Posted by JohnMc | June 13, 2006 11:39 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hmmmmmm.
I think we need a drive-by MSM excise tax to help correct errors like this. DJ gets part of the rebate for his efforts.
3. Posted by JohnMc | June 13, 2006 11:39 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 13, 2006 11:39
4. Posted by KnightHawk | June 13, 2006 2:39 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Pretty much par for the course from CBS. John your not suggesting a POLL tax are you? :)
4. Posted by KnightHawk | June 13, 2006 2:39 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 13, 2006 14:39
5. Posted by Charles | June 13, 2006 2:54 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Better yet, Tax the AP, the BS Network and the NY Terrrorist Times for false reporting to pay for all election costs nation-wide!
One year could possibly finance a decade's worth of U.S. elections.
(I might ought to post this comment over on Scrappleface, although it is probably not Satire, but Truth)! Sigh!
5. Posted by Charles | June 13, 2006 2:54 PM |
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Posted on June 13, 2006 14:54
6. Posted by Craig | June 13, 2006 6:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Someone once asked me why CBS can't tell the truth. My response was, "The TRUTH? To CBS, the truth is usually just an excuse for a lack of imagination!" Thank you Mr. Garak, for that classic line...
6. Posted by Craig | June 13, 2006 6:47 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 13, 2006 18:47
7. Posted by Peg C. | June 16, 2006 1:53 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So typical of the drive-by MSM. And they wonder why we don't trust anything from them anymore.
7. Posted by Peg C. | June 16, 2006 1:53 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 16, 2006 13:53