Kos alleges poll data ‘likely bunk’, threatens lawsuit

Polls often yield predictable results. In a recent poll taken in the Day household, we learned 100 percent of dogs like doggie biscuits. Sample size was 2, but it was diverse, including a hound and a Schnauzer.A rather remarkable admission from the most influential blogger in Democrat-allied politics has come forth.  Markos Moulitsas at Daily Kos wrote, “I have just published a report by three statistics wizards showing, quite convincingly, that the weekly Research 2000 State of the Nation poll we ran the past year and a half was likely bunk.” 

Moulitsas also known as ‘Kos,’ claims Daily Kos was ‘defrauded’ by the polling company, and he renounced any post based exclusively on the company’s polling. I’m thinking he might want to add a widget that shows on every page because Kos is essentially a blog mill.

Note this isn’t some low profile, shadowy polling concern. Moulitsas pointed out, “Research 2000 had a good reputation in political circles. Among its clients the last two years have been KCCI-TV in Iowa, WCAX-TV in Vermont, WISC-TV in Wisconsin, WKYT-TV in Kentucky, Lee Enterprises, the Concord Monitor, The Florida Times-Union, WSBT-TV/WISH-TV/WANE-TV in Indiana, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Bergen Record, and the Reno Gazette-Journal.”

Aside from Research 2000, polls certainly influenced the 2008 elections. Media appeared obsessed with these snippets of political responses, and amid the well-crafted drama and hyperbole created by Democrat strategists, President Barack Obama as junior senator took on an aura of secular godship. 

For that reason I dubbed the 2008 Presidential the ‘ObamaDrama.’

When a Washington Post/ABC News poll reflected a 10-pt. lead for Obama in October, 2008 (taken after the second presidential debate), I asked questions about the sampling. I wrote, “Among likely voters, 39 percent leaned Democrat, 30 percent leaned Republican, 27 leaned Independent and 3 percent leaned ‘other.’” The poll did include oversamples and I asked questions about that as well. National media, leaning left towards big government, asked no questions but waved the results in headers across the land. Details were, as usual, buried at the end of stories sometimes truncated by lesser-known dailies that ran the results.

I did the same thing regarding results announced by The Associated Press. A header said Clinton led McCain by 9 points. The poll, however, rested on oversampling of Democrats.

Then there was an ABC/WaPo poll on energy policy. Pollsters claimed Americans supported Obama on his policy. Yeah. You’ll just have to read the breakdown I did on that little data nugget. Apparently Americans are just beginning to figure out what the president meant when he said electricity bills would “necessarily skyrocket.”

[Aside #1—thanks, Mr. President, for the 10 percent increase we in North Florida will soon get stuck for, all because of your energy policy. Aside #2—thanks as well for the increase we’ll see in our health insurance premiums. We’ll stop there because I could fill a page with ‘asides’ for this administration that seems to have a particular dislike for Main Street.]

How influential were polls in the outcome of the 2008 elections? I’d say they were remarkably influential and if Kos is correct in his assessment, this is a matter for the Justice Dept. (or what’s left of it now that Eric Holder is in charge). I don’t think US law smiles fondly on affecting the outcome of an election if it is done by dishonest means. Alternatively, the pollsters Kos is upset with could just be stupid. I have no idea; this is all conjecture based on Kos’ claims which I cannot substantiate. Innocent until proven guilty and all that, as long as you are leftwing, that is.

I do know this. Don’t pay so much attention to polls. Pay attention to what a candidate or public official actually did and voted for. But you must look for yourself. Many influential media brands are run and written by leftwing ideologues. This may be due to the influence of leftwing youth educated with a collectivist mentality and an inability to think for themselves despite a record number of them holding college degrees. So much for the value of an advanced education from certain Ivy League universities, yes?

Our laws are written by lobbyists, unions and advocacy groups and our Congress admits publicly to passing bills members do not read. We are reassured all is well, however, because we have polls and lots of 'change' to celebrate. I can attest my country has changed so much since Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) took over that I often believe I no longer live in the USA but in the USW (United States of the World).

Kos applied the favorite label of leftwingers—he is a ‘victim.’ And he noted, “As for Research 2000, the lawyers will soon take over, as Daily Kos will be filing suit within the next day or two.”--by Kay B. Day