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http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q39« ImNotBlue : Popularity, and electability are not necessarily one in the same.

Tom Cruise is popular... but won't be elected to anything, anytime soon.

...At least I hope not.We should tell that to the people in California who didn't vote for Schwartzen... swartzen... for Arnie...]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q38« theclansman : I personally think it is impossible to attain a truly random sample, I NEVER take surveys and I know there are others like me..therefore you can never have a truly random sample.Yeah I agree.

But that's a whole 'nother issue. But these are random enough.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q37« Alton:If you search Plime for McCain, you come up with 81 articles.

If you search Plime for Obama, you come up with 161 articles.

Obama is clearly the more popular candidate.

:)Popularity, and electability are not necessarily one in the same.

Tom Cruise is popular... but won't be elected to anything, anytime soon.

...At least I hope not.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q36« Alton : If you search Plime for McCain, you come up with 81 articles.

If you search Plime for Obama, you come up with 161 articles.

Obama is clearly the more popular candidate.

:)If only there were more Plimates than aging Republicans...]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q35
If you search Plime for Obama, you come up with 161 articles.

Obama is clearly the more popular candidate.

:)]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q34« theclansman : I personally think it is impossible to attain a truly random sample, I NEVER take surveys and I know there are others like me..therefore you can never have a truly random sample.Ha - Yup. You can never get a good read of that, "I hate polsters" demographic :)]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q33« JoshSF49 : Actually if you take a statistics course you'd find out that polling even 200 people in a truly random sample will give you pretty accurate results.
I personally think it is impossible to attain a truly random sample, I NEVER take surveys and I know there are others like me..therefore you can never have a truly random sample.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q32« chinook : You can't prove that the survey wasn't biased. We don't know how the questions were phrased, how the "random callers" were selected and how their voter eligibility was confirmed and how honest those polled actually were.

Actually, if you take a research methods course you'd find out that polling even 200 people in a truly random sample without taking proper precautions such as ensuring your questions aren't biased or difficult to understand, you can get heavily biased results.Well right, and I'm aware of that. But those are mostly in single-instance polls.

With polls such as these, the questions remain the same, and you can chart differences. The change is the thing we should be looking at, not the percentages. It's better to look at change over time instead of just one poll.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q31« chinook : I think Jax wants less categories so Plime stays running smoothly.

Also, that category would be irrelevant in a few months. IMO, politics is fine, and people just need to ignore things they don't want to read.Oh. Okay. :) *shrugs*

it took me a minute for it to sink in that election posts are being called Obama posts, too. I suppose if you're for or against, it is still corrolated with mr.O]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q30« JoshSF49 : Actually if you take a statistics course you'd find out that polling even 200 people in a truly random sample will give you pretty accurate results.

With 800 people surveyed, the margin of error is only about 3%. The survey is not biased.You can't prove that the survey wasn't biased. We don't know how the questions were phrased, how the "random callers" were selected and how their voter eligibility was confirmed and how honest those polled actually were.

Actually, if you take a research methods course you'd find out that polling even 200 people in a truly random sample without taking proper precautions such as ensuring your questions aren't biased or difficult to understand, you can get heavily biased results.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q29« bunnysutra : Maybe there should be an "election 2008" category?

:)I think Jax wants less categories so Plime stays running smoothly.

Also, that category would be irrelevant in a few months. IMO, politics is fine, and people just need to ignore things they don't want to read.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q28« JoshSF49 : Actually if you take a statistics course you'd find out that polling even 200 people in a truly random sample will give you pretty accurate results.

With 800 people surveyed, the margin of error is only about 3%. The survey is not biased.I took stats, and you're correct, however as ieldanth stated above the questions that are asked AND the demographics of those callers plays a very large part on what type of results you will get.

This is hardly a scientific survey, and therefore should be taken with skepticism.

Personally I dislike both candidates. But would choose Obama over Mccain, the lesser of two evils.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q27« Boomshank : "The survey is not biased" depends on exactly how the questions were phrased. I suspect they were fairly balanced, but I get the general impression that the questions were right leaning.But the great thing about Rasmuessen and these other polling companies is that they have history. And that's great, because they can compare it with the same exact phrasing as they did in previous polls and compare it.

Even if this set of questions were right leaning, you would see that McCain has gained on Obama.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q26« Tegan:True but this survey was only taken from 800 "Likely Voters" hardly enough to get accurate results, AND it doesn't mention the demographics of the callers.

Bottom line is the survey stinks and is most likely biased.Most polls, as indicated with Boomshank's disclaimer, are rigged to generate a desired outcome, either through selective sampling or leading questions, or both. Their favorite is the presumptive question. Such as:

Do you agree with Obama's stance that we should flee Iraq with our tails between our legs leaving millions of people to die? (y/n)

An extremely exaggerated example, yes, but it gives you a clear view of the effect. Most people would not agree with such a stance even though if you unspin it, it simply means pulling out, to which a much larger percentage would agree.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q25« JoshSF49 : Actually if you take a statistics course you'd find out that polling even 300 people in a truly random sample will give you pretty accurate results.

With 800 people surveyed, the margin of error is only about 3%. The survey is not biased."The survey is not biased" depends on exactly how the questions were phrased. I suspect they were fairly balanced, but I get the general impression that the questions were right leaning.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q24« Tegan : True but this survey was only taken from 800 "Likely Voters" hardly enough to get accurate results, AND it doesn't mention the demographics of the callers.

Bottom line is the survey stinks and is most likely biased.Actually if you take a statistics course you'd find out that polling even 200 people in a truly random sample will give you pretty accurate results.

With 800 people surveyed, the margin of error is only about 3%. The survey is not biased.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q23« Boomshank : Actually, when good* random polls are taken with a large enough sample size they can be surprisingly accurate of the population of a whole. I think the general variance is around 2% 19/20 times, which is really well done.


*that's the tricky bit though - most aren't done to be accurate.True but this survey was only taken from 800 "Likely Voters" hardly enough to get accurate results, AND it doesn't mention the demographics of the callers.

Bottom line is the survey stinks and is most likely biased.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q22http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q21« Tegan : Right...this seems like a biased survey to me.

Did they call everyone in a known republican state/district to get these results?

Polls and surveys...all a bunch of BS!Actually, when good* random polls are taken with a large enough sample size they can be surprisingly accurate of the population of a whole. I think the general variance is around 2% 19/20 times, which is really well done.


*that's the tricky bit though - most aren't done to be accurate.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q20« bunnysutra : Maybe there should be an "election 2008" category?

:)With an "ignore" feature :)]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q19« 2manyusernames : When I posted that it was deleted because there are a couple of people who don't want to see obama postsAh. Gocha.

I *hate* it when people make me read articles that I don't want to read. I waste countless hours a week reading things that don't interest me... oh wait...]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q18
Did they call everyone in a known republican state/district to get these results?

Polls and surveys...all a bunch of BS!]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q17« 2manyusernames : When I posted that it was deleted because there are a couple of people who don't want to see obama postsMaybe there should be an "election 2008" category?

:)]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q16« Boomshank : Don't kid yourself. People from outside of the US are interested in the election (granted, not everyone).

The US elections play out like a grand soap opera. Way more interesting than most countries elections.

Plus everyone really is effected by the outcome.When I posted that it was deleted because there are a couple of people who don't want to see obama posts]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q15« Killerbean : Well ... I'm still confused as to how exactly anyone would think McCain has any chance of winning.Well Rasmussen's report shows that if an election were held tomorrow that McCain would pull it off.

Never underestimate the ignorance of the general public.

Plus, Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the other ones that have been tried.

What I don't understand about democracy is that if there were a referendum on everything the government does, next week we'd have no taxes and triple the spending on health care and education. Yet, this same group of people is in charge of putting the the decision maker in office. I don't know sometimes. I think there should be some sort of test before you get your ballot.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q14« Killerbean : Well ... I'm still confused as to how exactly anyone would think McCain has any chance of winning.ex-pow with an anger problem and has close ties with Bush.. umm he might be able to pull it off, i'm not gonna underestimate him.. I mean it'd be a mistake to elect him but its still possible.. old people can relate to him.. and republicans are loyal, they only had one real candidate for most of the race..]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q13« smarty1052 : I would love to see the enemy crushed.. but if it hasnt happened yet in the 5 years?(i think) that we've been over there with free reign then i dont see it being done ever at least hold off for a bit and get an honest view of who our real enemies are.. a war on terror is a broad topic.

That right there is the real problem. There *is* no real enemy. We're at war with a concept, an ideology, a symptom, which is understandably a bit tough to defeat.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q12« Boomshank : I dunno. I'm a huge Obama hopeful, but I think if you pull out of Iraq with anything less than a victory that has the "enemy" crushed, you've just chalked up a defeat.

I'm not saying that it's the wrong thing to do, or even that it's an actual defeat, I just think that with the absence of a clear victory the popular opinion would be failure a-la Vietnam.

I really think the US needs a vision like Obamas as far as attitude though. Even if he can't pull it all off, it's needed.I would love to see the enemy crushed.. but if it hasnt happened yet in the 5 years?(i think) that we've been over there with free reign then i dont see it being done ever at least hold off for a bit and get an honest view of who our real enemies are.. a war on terror is a broad topic.

Most of the people i've seen interviewed have said that the only reason there is still so much violence over there is b/c of the opposition to the american presence in their country.. so i say give them a shot, or at least show everyone what will happen if we do pull out and it doesnt work. Let their people ask for our help.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q11http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q10« smarty1052 : I was sooo gonna ask the same thing.. had it all copied and ready to paste..

I think that if Obama is elected that would greatly increase our chance of being able to call anything overseas a victory. Withdraw our troops.. stop the cvilians being killed in the cross-fire and resentment of the U.S. and give us a new global image, one thats not hated and thought of as the aggressive opressor or hypocrite..I dunno. I'm a huge Obama hopeful, but I think if you pull out of Iraq with anything less than a victory that has the "enemy" crushed, you've just chalked up a defeat.

I'm not saying that it's the wrong thing to do, or even that it's an actual defeat, I just think that with the absence of a clear victory the popular opinion would be failure a-la Vietnam.

I really think the US needs a vision like Obamas as far as attitude though. Even if he can't pull it all off, it's needed.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q9« Boomshank : I'm still confused as to how exactly anyone would know that they've won. Do we have a set of goal posts we're shooting for here?I was sooo gonna ask the same thing.. had it all copied and ready to paste..

I think that if Obama is elected that would greatly increase our chance of being able to call anything overseas a victory. Withdraw our troops.. stop the cvilians being killed in the cross-fire and resentment of the U.S. and give us a new global image, one thats not hated and thought of as the aggressive opressor or hypocrite..]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q8« chinook : I've been under the impression that victory = cheap or free oil.Oooooh, you cynic.


:)]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q7« Boomshank : I'm still confused as to how exactly anyone would know that they've won. Do we have a set of goal posts we're shooting for here?I've been under the impression that victory = cheap or free oil.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q6« shep182 : Of course not... just the ever etherial "victory".... I suppose we are waiting for bikini car-washes in falujah and daisy duke burkas to show democracy has taken hold... :PHaha. Can we get that forwarded as the "Official Recognition of Victory™"?

C'mon, it's an election year! If we can't get them to make promises now, when can we?]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q5« Boomshank : I'm still confused as to how exactly anyone would know that they've won. Do we have a set of goal posts we're shooting for here?Of course not... just the ever etherial "victory".... I suppose we are waiting for bikini car-washes in falujah and daisy duke burkas to show democracy has taken hold... :P]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q4Expectations are that a McCain Presidency would more likely lead to victory in IraqI'm still confused as to how exactly anyone would know that they've won. Do we have a set of goal posts we're shooting for here?]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q3« 2manyusernames : You know those of you from countries other than the US may be tired of Obama stories but ...


This is an American website. It is based in the US and a large number (majority?) of the members are Americans.

This means that posts about a presidential candidate are perfect viable and reasonable posts for plime.Don't kid yourself. People from outside of the US are interested in the election (granted, not everyone).

The US elections play out like a grand soap opera. Way more interesting than most countries elections.

Plus everyone really is effected by the outcome.]]>http://www.plime.com/politics/l/63742/1/rss0_91.rss#q2

This is an American website. It is based in the US and a large number (majority?) of the members are Americans.

This means that posts about a presidential candidate are perfect viable and reasonable posts for plime.]]>