"The Polls"; the ultimate self-fulfilling prophecy.

I have written before about how I hate polls. I repeat my opposition to polls here. I do this even as the Republicans supposedly enjoy an upswing in "the polls" that threatens to wipe out Democratic leads in the final day of the 2006 campaign.

As I wrote in April 2005, Polls serve the MSM/DNC as self-fulfilling prophesies:

4. Polls. An offshoot of ventriloquist journalism is the MSM/DNC's reliance upon polls. The polls that the MSM/DNC uses are either (1) unreliable or blatantly false and/or (2) self-fulfilling prophecies. It is a common tendency among humans (especially those who have been softened by 70 years of the welfare state) to want to be on the winning side. When the MSM/DNC releases its polls showing some Democrat with a lead or that the "public" thinks that Social Security is just fine, those who might otherwise harbor doubts are intimidated into going along with the majority. I am sure that the MSM/DNC will continue their efforts to bully the public into acquiescing in the status quo on social security with just this tactic.

We all know the extent to which exit polls were wildly wrong on election day 2004. Expect that same tactic this (and every) year.

Polls have destroyed the entire meaning of elections in recent years. We no longer seek information about the candidate or his beliefs. Instead, we seek to learn who is leading in "the polls". We support, work for, contribute to and even vote for candidates based on their "electability."

MSM/DNC broadcasts spend as much time talking about who is "ahead" in "the polls" as they do talking about issues. The key to victory for any candidate seems to be the ability to claim an early lead in "the polls" so that opponents will forever be hampered by the image of having to "come from behind."

In local elections, I have often heard acquaintances discuss candidates in terms of whether "he can win." These acquaintances will often distance themselves from a local candidate when it appears that the candidate is not in the lead. This is true even when that candidate agrees on the issues with those who keep their distance for fear of backing a losing candidate.

MSM/DNC broadcasts discuss any issue in terms of how it will affect "the polls" instead of how it will affect the nation and its future.

It is as if our country, its economy, our culture and our political processes exist to serve "the polls." The polls have become an end in and of themselves.

If polls were not so powerful as self-fulfilling prophecies, the MSM/DNC would not use them as weapons on a regular basis.

This fixation on polls also gives the impression that elections affect only the candidates themselves, like a sporting event, instead of the nation as a whole. Success or failure in Iraq, for example, is examined only insofar as it may help or hurt President Bush - as if President Bush is the only one who has a stake in the outcome. Very rarely does any MSM/DNC outlet mention the danger to America if terrorists are allowed to conquer Iraq. Five years after 9-11, terrorism is quickly being added to the list of items that can affect only "the polls."

"The polls" have attained status as an ancient oracle or even a temple that we humans must appease and before which we must bow. All considerations of philosophy, ethics and ideology must take a back seat, lest we upset "the polls." In exchange for this appeasement, "the polls" will give us guidance and will even smite our enemies with bad poll numbers, thus inhibiting their fundraising efforts and driving away their volunteers, supporters and voters.

Elections have become little more than sporting events. When we pick our candidate, we are doing the equivalent of gambling on a sports team. Just as we only gamble on the teams we expect to win, we only vote for the candidate that we think will get the most votes. Even the pretense of discussing issues is becoming unnecessary.

The whole point of elections in the 21st century is for the candidate to spend a year or more (plus his entire incumbency if he is lucky enough to win) convincing voters that he will get the most votes on the next election day.

It seems absurd and pointless when we say it this way, but perhaps this is what it will take to break the stranglehold that polls seem to have on our election process. Only when we identify what we are doing (only when we actually say that the emporer has no clothes), does the absurdity of the process become apparent. If the blogosphere can bring down such giants as CBS, Reuters, USAToday, CNN, AP, etc., we ought to be able to discredit the entire concept of polling. Otherwise, we will be forever condemned to joining the charade in which we spend every day doing nothing more than predicting the outcome of an event that takes place one day a year.

I hate polls; MSM/DNC lie # 2 of 2006

Hat tip to Blonde Sagacity for pointing out a new poll showing Republican Lynn Swann leading Democrat Ed Rendell in the race for Pennsylvania governor.

Swann's lead is small, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette somehow has reversed the results, giving Rendell the lead.

Two days after the initial article appeared, the "mistake" has not been corrected.

I have always stated that I hate polls.

Check out item #4 from the bias category list:

4. Polls. An offshoot of ventriloquist journalism is the MSM/DNC's reliance upon polls. The polls that the MSM/DNC uses are either (1) unreliable or blatantly false and/or (2) self-fulfilling prophecies. It is a common tendency among humans (especially those who have been softened by 70 years of the welfare state) to want to be on the winning side. When the MSM/DNC releases its polls showing some Democrat with a lead or that the "public" thinks that Social Security is just fine, those who might otherwise harbor doubts are intimidated into going along with the majority. I am sure that the MSM/DNC will continue their efforts to bully the public into acquiescing in the status quo on social security with just this tactic.

When you hear of polls, always remember the exit poll fiasco of November 2004. We can expect more dishonest exit polls this year.

Polls should not matter to us, as our decisions are determined by economics, history, culture and other substantive issues. The left's decisions are determined partially by the bandwagon effect, of which polls play a major role.
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update - New link for Rasmussen poll

The Culture of Ventriloquism; L.A. Times; Michael Hiltzik; Patterico

Big thumbs up to Patterico for exposing yet another example of ventriloquist journalism.

For those who have not read the story, here is Patterico's summary:

Is an L.A. Times columnist leaving comments on the Internet under assumed “sock puppet” identities — identities which he pretends is someone other than himself?

Read on and judge for yourself. As for me, I’ve made up my mind, and the answer is “yes.”

Read Patterico's post for the details.



Based on the updates to Patterico's post, either more than one L.A. Times' employee has been doing this, or Michael Hiltzik continues to do this even after his suspension.

The Washington Post and Wuzzadem weigh in also.

I have not maintained a list of MSM/DNC lies this year as I did in 2005, but this episode certainly qualifies. As the fictional character was quoted as saying in that post,

we can't be sure of anything we do . . . anything we see.

The Times' columnist's use of alter egos to convey propoganda is standard operating procedure for the MSM/DNC.

Here is entry # 3 from the bias category list:

3. Ventriloquist journalism. A common tactic of the MSM/DNC is to get others to do its dirty work. Let it appear as if someone else is doing the talking so that "media bias" won't be so obvious. [Update] MSM/DNC often uses phrases like "critics say" "some say" "experts say" "sources have told CBS news" . . . .

A previous example of ventriloquist journalism from December 2004 and related commentary:

A good ventriloquist will never let you see his mouth move. But the MSM's ventriloquist act gets more obvious every day.

Usually, ventriloquist journalism takes the form of vague references to "widespread assumptions," "popular beliefs" and "generally recognized" facts:

But as far as good old fashioned MSM/DNC propaganda is concerned, nothing beats Reuters' subtle ventriloquist journalism and well poisoning technique:

Ratzinger, the strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for the past 23 years, was elected Pope on Tuesday despite a widespread assumption he was too old and divisive to win election.

Ventriloquist journalism is category # 3 on the bias list. Referring to a "widespread assumption" is an MSM/DNC commonly used technique that allows MSM/DNC to hide behind unnamed "others" as it spreads its propaganda.

emphasis added

That story, from April 2005, reveals the ease to which the MSM/DNC attributes its own biases and venom to the general public. In this atmosphere of widespread ventriloquism, it was too easy for Michael Hiltzik to make the transition from reliance on invented "widespread assumptions" to posting comments on others' blogs under assumed identities.

And don't forget ventriloquism's twin, the poll:

4. Polls. An offshoot of ventriloquist journalism is the MSM/DNC's reliance upon polls. The polls that the MSM/DNC uses are either (1) unreliable or blatantly false and/or (2) self-fulfilling prophecies. It is a common tendency among humans (especially those who have been softened by 70 years of the welfare state) to want to be on the winning side. When the MSM/DNC releases its polls showing some Democrat with a lead or that the "public" thinks that Social Security is just fine, those who might otherwise harbor doubts are intimidated into going along with the majority. I am sure that the MSM/DNC will continue their efforts to bully the public into acquiescing in the status quo on social security with just this tactic.

[Also - I hate polls.]

I think it is incorrect for bloggers to focus mainly on Michael Hiltzik. The fault lies in the culture of ventriloquism that pervades the MSM/DNC. If the MSM/DNC expressed its opinions in its own name instead of hiding behind contrived polls or vox populi, it never would have obtained the power that now slips further away with each passing day. We can hardly blame individual employees when they follow the pattern set by the establishment for which they toil.

Rathergate anniversary - 9 days and counting - GOP 2004 convention

One year ago today the GOP 2004 convention began in New York.



I wrote two weeks ago that the sequence of events that led to Rathergate was already well underway by mid-August 2004:

The Swift Boat Vets had as much to do with Rathergate as anyone else. They pummeled Kerry with their TV ads all through August. Kerry had gained no traction from his own (end of July) convention and he fell far behind in the polls (BTW - I hate polls) by the beginning of September. The MSM/DNC was desparate.

Ann Coulter believes (and I agree) that CBS' airing of the ANG phony documents on September 8th instead of October 31st was the direct result of Kerry's wounds caused by the Swift Boat Vets. The MSM/DNC could wait no longer. The MSM/DNC would have to find something else for its October surprise. Because the Swift Boat Vets forced MSM/DNC's hand early, the blogosphere had time to react. Rathergate was a 12 day scandal. That 12 day window would not have existed in late October. Read Ann Coulter's column.

So as we look back to one year ago, the sequence that would lead to the earthquake known as Rathergate (and all that followed) was already in motion.

On August 30, 2004, another domino fell that accelerated the Rathergate countdown. With Kerry struggling after having received no momentum from his own convention, the highly successful GOP convention began. For an entire week, Republicans and Democrats combined to refocus the country's attention on the war, the continuing danger and John Kerry's lack of answers.

Bush would walk away from this convention holding (by some accounts) a double digit lead (BTW - I still hate polls). That lead prompted CBS to broadcast the phony ANG documents more than a month-and-a-half ahead of schedule. The Swift Boat Vets and the GOP convention forced the MSM/DNC to run its October surprise in September. As the blogosphere proved in 2004, an October surprise doesn't work unless it is used in October. CBS' premature surprise attack left plenty of time for Powerline and Little Green Footballs to nullify the attack.

One year ago today

Rathergate anniversary - 25 days and counting - Swift Boat Vets, the run up to Rathergate - what a difference one year makes

One year ago today, I stumbled onto the blogosphere for the first time when I followed a Lucianne.com link to a Captain's Quarters post regarding the Swift Boat Vets. The story of my discovery of this post and Captain Ed's blog is discussed here.

By mid-August 2004, the Swift Boat story had been brewing for some time. It is difficult to assign an anniversary date to that story, so August 14th is as good a date as any (not really, but I don't feel like doing more research right now).

The Swift Boat Vets had as much to do with Rathergate as anyone else. They pummeled Kerry with their TV ads all through August. Kerry had gained no traction from his own (end of July) convention and he fell far behind in the polls (BTW - I hate polls) by the beginning of September. The MSM/DNC was desparate.

Ann Coulter believes (and I agree) that CBS' airing of the ANG phony documents on September 8th instead of October 31st was the direct result of Kerry's wounds caused by the Swift Boat Vets. The MSM/DNC could wait no longer. The MSM/DNC would have to find something else for its October surprise. Because the Swift Boat Vets forced MSM/DNC's hand early, the blogosphere had time to react. Rathergate was a 12 day scandal. That 12 day window would not have existed in late October. Read Ann Coulter's column.

So as we look back to one year ago, the sequence that would lead to the earthquake known as Rathergate (and all that followed) was already in motion. But none of us had any idea that events would move so quickly. The Swift Boat Vets were beating up Kerry, the MSM/DNC was desparate to save Kerry, and the blogosphere stood ready to expose MSM/DNC lies.

One year ago today, the network news was still dominated by the big three anchors that had occupied their chairs for the previous 20+ years. The "celebrity anchor" was very much a force to be reckoned with. Today, all three celebrity anchors are now gone, while the blogosphere's power to force the truth on to the front pages is recognized (but not admitted) by all. For those who are still in doubt, read the latest events in the growing Air America scandal.

One year makes a tremendous difference. I cannot wait to see what strides we make by this time in 2006.

Rathergate Anniversary - 75 days and counting - they aren't buying the Gitmo spin.

First of all, I hate polls. Polls are unreliable and are constantly used as a tool by the MSM/DNC. Polls are useful to the MSM/DNC even when the outcome temporarily favors those opposed to the MSM/DNC.

My mistrust of polls notwithstanding, it is interesting to note the recent Rasmussen poll that shows an overwhelming number of Americans [even Democrats] aren't buying the MSM/DNC Gitmo spin:

A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 20% of Americans believe prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have been treated unfairly. Seven-out-of-ten adults believe the prisoners are being treated "better than they deserve" (36%) or "about right" (34%).

The survey also found that just 14% agree with people who say that prisoner treatment at Guantanamo Bay is similar to Nazi tactics. Sixty-nine percent disagree with that comparison. This helps explain why Illinois Senator Dick Durbin apologized for making such a comparison.

I am a little disheartened that only 36% believe the prisoners are being treated better than they deserve. If the poll is accurate, 14% of those polled are beyond the reach of rational discourse. That number, while low, is disturbing. It should be zero.

That the results are as good as they are is attributable to the blogosphere. We have kept the pressure on Durbin, Newsweek and all of the other MSM/DNC outlets. The MSM/DNC attacks have fallen largely on deaf ears over the past few weeks.

Our victory (for the time being) over the anti-Gitmo MSM/DNC is another occasion to celebrate the Rathergate anniversary.

James Lileks has more on Gitmo.

Check out a recent post to help explain the significance of the Rathergate anniversary countdown.

Rathergate anniversary - 5 days and counting - the double digit lead

Salt asked me to publish this today.

One year ago today, another domino fell that pushed CBS into using its "October surprise" early. After the RNC 2004 convention, Time Magazine released a poll showing that Bush had opened up a double digit lead. As I commented 4 days ago:

Bush would walk away from this convention holding (by some accounts) a double digit lead (BTW - I still hate polls). That lead prompted CBS to broadcast the phony ANG documents more than a month-and-a-half ahead of schedule. The Swift Boat Vets and the GOP convention forced the MSM/DNC to run its October surprise in September. As the blogosphere proved in 2004, an October surprise doesn't work unless it is used in October. CBS' premature surprise attack left plenty of time for Powerline and Little Green Footballs to nullify the attack.

While the Time poll lead proved to be temporary, the damage was done. CBS was forced into an early lie that could be disproved (and with plenty of time for the blogosphere to do the disproving).

I can remember cautiously celebrating the news of the Time poll at the time, but none of us knew that the real cause for celebration would soon follow.
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update. 9-07-05 - I have fixed the links for this post. The Blogger program sometimes severely limits what one can accomplish with a blog. In this case, Blogger would not allow me to transfer a post to a guest blogger for subsequent posting without destroying the links and screwing up the format of the blog. Please remember, the link garbling was Blogger's fault, not Sue Bob's. Sue Bob did an excellent job guest blogging for me over the past few days.

The MSM/DNC plan for dealing with a Romney victory

Dick Morris has a plausible argument for the proposition that this year's election should be a Republican landslide. There are several reasons that Americans should remain cautious despite this seeming good news:

1. I hate polls.



2. Rather than allow such a result, George Soros' minions may have Obama killed and blame his death on Republicans/whites/Christians/Tea Partiers/taxpayers/Bush, etc., etc.



3. Democrats cheat in elections.

More importantly, the MSM/DNC will not wait for the election results and will begin trying to destroy the Romney presidency before it begins. The MSM/DNC will treat Romney as if he is already the president and attack him as they did Bush during his presidency. The entire 2000 Florida recount episode was an attempt to delegitimize Bush before his administration started. The MSM/DNC could use a 9 month head start in doing that to Romney. The MSM/DNC attacks Romney now not so much for the purpose of defeating him in November 2012, but for the purpose of destroying any progress he might make between 2013 and 2017.

The economy has been so badly sabotaged it is doubtful that even a completely Republican government could make significant progress in only four years. The economy will continue to suffer under the weight of trillions of dollars of federal spending. The MSM/DNC is preparing to blame these problems on Romney. The script for the next 5 years is now being written.

Americans must think beyond November and prepare to resist the MSM/DNC narrative for the Romney administration.