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The Problem With Polls

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 12:04:33 PM EST
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I've long been skeptical of political polls and "polling inisghts." So of course I love this line from Ezra Klein's review of pollster Mark Penn's new book:

Penn['s] . . . new book Microtrends is so bad that the question—in a fair world—isn’t whether it will destroy his own reputation, but whether it is so epically awful as to take the entire polling industry down with it.

From Klein's pen to God's ears.

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    The Problem With Polls | 10 comments (10 topical)

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    I will never forget seeing Wonkette's exit poll (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 12:42:13 PM EST
    info early on election day in 2004.  Thought we had it nailed.  

    Elections are merely large polls... (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 12:46:12 PM EST
    ...their results should thus be taken with a grain of salt?

    Be serious.  The problem is INNACURATE polls (be they biased in their framing or tampered in their balloting).

    A poll is simply a vote, polling questions as two-faced as candidates.

    Dadler - I agree (1.00 / 0) (#7)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 05:52:29 PM EST
    I only agree with polls that agree with me.

    I only agree with Pols that agree with me.

    Parent

    This statement isn't news. (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Molly Bloom on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 08:56:11 PM EST


    Parent
    The innacuracy of the "insights" (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 06:01:04 PM EST
    as well as the polls themselves is my issue.

    Do I need to bore you with my dissertation on the subject.

    I spent years debunking polls.

    And, FWIW, I am an expert on them.

    Parent

    Your link goes to an unrelated post (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 12:52:15 PM EST


    Thanks (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 03:48:37 PM EST
    Fixed

    Parent
    Latest TL post: (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 01:02:34 PM EST
    AP Poll: Republicans Divided, Hillary Still Leading
    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 03:48:23 PM EST
    J. and I seem not to have the same view on this.

    Parent
    Evidence there is no (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by oculus on Fri Sep 14, 2007 at 06:41:08 PM EST
    conspiracy after all.

    Parent
    The Problem With Polls | 10 comments (10 topical)

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