Reply #39: We can make this into big news. [View All]

[Hamoth]

With a little science, as was done with the stats on the exit polls being random variation...we have another opportunity to address a fundamental piece of misinformation that has been floating about to dismiss all our discoveries.

I sent this to two journalists...one told me "no way", and the other is Kieth O. I don't know if he would pick up on this or not, so I'm asking all of you about it...

Here's a great idea for a report...

It occurred to me that our great academic institutions that have been so forthcoming regarding the exit poll's statistical probability might also help us with another statistical probability:

Could someone go through the vast archives on a site like say, votersunite.org, and let us know of all the election issues reported, how often machine errors favor Bush over Kerry? This would let us know if we are indeed seeing random machine problems and software glitches, or evidence of padding simply surfacing in extreme cases by being overzealous.

If an unbiased academic were to review the cases and plot them, and tell us the odds of random machine errors favoring Bush say, 80% of the time or something, then this could make some additional news material and be supplied as factual information for our cause. So far, we have been saying this based upon our own observations that machine errors favored Bush more often, but a scientific analysis of these by a nonpartisan group would make our observations into established fact, and therefore newsworthy.

We have the information, and counties will doubtless have official logs and accounts of observed machine problems, how hard would it be for an investigative journalist to get a complete record of all machine problems to date, and to then plot if they favored R's or Dems. The journalist could then take this to a mathematician of their choosing (or different ones for added cred) and ask for the probability that these are random machine errors! That would make an AWESOME report, and the data is right in front of us.

It would be best if we could do this report using the official reports from every state, and not have to rely on media reports. But if the former can not be obtained, then the latter may as well do.

What do you guys think? Anyone know someone who could do this?