What if the pollsters and the media are lying to you??

[kentuck]

What if the Republicans do not come out in the numbers they predict? What if the Democrats hold on to both the House and the Senate? How would you feel about the media if that happened?

It's almost as if they are telling Democrats, "Why waste your time? The Repubs are so enthused there is no chance for Democrats." Even though only 29% of the American people approve of the Republicans in Congress? As opposed to 48% for the President and 32% for the Democrats in Congress?

Those numbers do not dictate into a "wave" election. Is there something else that is happening that we are not told? Are the voting machines already in place?

[librechik]

1. Oh, pshaw--I'm told that never happens and it's pure speculation.

pay no attention to that Republican election official behind that voting curtain. Everything is complertely trouble free and legitimate. Just like 04.

[tularetom]

2. Whaddya mean "what if"?

Anymore, that's a given in my opinion.

I may not be smart enough to know what the truth is but I do know what it isn't.

[WhiteTara]

3. then I would know I was in AmeriKa

land of the undead and cowering masses. :sarcasm:

Yes, I think you are correct in your assessment of the polls and pundits. There may have been this incredible enthusiasm early in the year, but it does not necessarily translate in to votes on election day. Whereas, most dems always vote, even knowing their candidate won't necessarily win. The newbies are the ones we must keep corralled on election day. GOTV

[JanusAscending]

14. "Dems always vote"

I think you got that right! This 71 yr. old Dem. sent her absentee ballot in today! I truly believe that it all boils down to the LOCAL, hometown, grass roots level being the most powerful form of DEMocracy!!! I've never missed an election since my first ever vote was cast for JFK as President!! (this includes primary's and referendums too.):bounce: Screw the polls and the pundits! I do however think that some Dems are using the gloom and doom to encourage all of us get up off our asses and vote, like we were going to lose if we don't! They could be right too!! Take NOTHING for granted!

[WhiteTara]

22. I'm working the polls again this year

I like doing this.

[Cleita]

4. What if?

I always believe that they are until I find out that they aren't. It keeps me grounded and not falling into despair. I truly believe at a gut level that the Democrats are going to hang on and that the wacko wing of the Republican candidates won't last the election.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

13. I don't

People who decide elections are stupid and easily swayed. They fall for the meme that takes them less than four seconds to comprehend and run with it. And yes, that includes the folks we got on our side the last two cycles.

[joeybee12]

5. IF???? IF????

It's not IF...they ARE lying...the only question is to what extent?

[onehandle]

6. All of them? Including Keith, Rachel, and Nate Silver? Unlikely. nt

[Demeter]

8. Some are Lying, Some are Misinformed, Some are Optimists or Pessimists

and some are whistling past the graveyard.

The blurring of data-gathering and analysis with "Spin" and "managing the message" has rendered both useless.

Same deal with the accounting business. Or banking. or any other hotbed of fraud and misrepresentation. We are living in a time of FRAUD.

It even permeates DU.

[glitch]

16. Well said. nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

10. Actually, Keith and Rachel are doing the opposite

They seem completely oblivious to the tidal wave headed this way. I guess as long as Christine O'Donnell loses, they'll be happy.

[damntexdem]

7. I've wondered about that.

And I don't trust the polls that much, anyway. Even if they're accurate (and reported accurately in the media), they only represent what people say, not how they vote.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. Were they lying in '06 and '08?

Never seem to get an answer to that question......

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

12. Of course. See, here's how it works...

The polls are all fake, but mysteriously the predict elections with high accuracy year after year.

What happens is the people controlling the voting machines set the fake vote totals to be in line with the fake polling.

Obama actually won 92% of the vote in 2008.

(The irony in that conspiracy theory is that within the theory polls would remain highly predictive of outcomes so there's still no reason to discount polls.)

[TheWraith]

17. +100. Conspiracy theorism and tin foil hattery is never the answer.

The answer is to get the fuck out on the street and GET OUT THE VOTE!

[glitch]

18. Ridiculous exaggerations aren't evidence, one way or the other.

Neither is snark or logical fallacy.

Here's a question for you: if you were going to steal an election through rigged machine counts, would you leave the polls as is? Or would you rig them too? I mean, if you were a smart election thief and not a complete idiot. (And you wouldn't even have to be that smart, just as smart as a mediocre thug like Karl Rove.)

The problem with election machine tallies is they are not verifiable, for winner or loser.

[leftynyc]

20. One thing that cannot be ignored

is the fact that polling is done by land lines. Every day, more and more people give up those land lines so I really do feel that the young are being undercounted. I've seen no polling that uses cell phones or even address that problem.

[Mnemosyne]

11. I just assume they always are, either way. n/t

[Uben]

15. Numbers don't lie.....

...but the bastards who make them up do! I have found republicans only lie when they are alone or with somebody. The rest of the time they are truthful as hell.

[elocs]

19. What if I believe that the pollsters and the media are not part of a massive conspiracy?

Any person who votes or not votes based upon what they are told by the media is not very intelligent anyways.

Sometimes more voters in any given state or congressional district prefer Republicans to Democrats. Sometimes it's as simple as Democrats just lose. Why must Democratic losses be viewed as some kind of conspiracy to explain it all away?

[spanone]

21. what if? i guarantee they are...remember 2006? c'mon.

in 2006 the media was telling us there was no way to win the house and the senate was out of the question and WE WON BOTH....

[Subdivisions]

23. If the republican'ts regain controll of anything, then we as nation deserve

whatever we get as a result.

If Democrats can't GOTV, then we deserve whatever happens. Period.

[prolesunited]

24. Of course they are lying

Remember when McCain was going to win and Palin was a good substitute for Hillary?

[Blue_In_AK]

25. That's why I don't believe in polls.

They are voter suppression tools and should be banned during all elections.

Just my opinion, of course.

[Caliman73]

26. Same way I feel now.

The media has always been about bringing in readers/viewers. There have always been great journalists who have reported the news for the greater good, but the media thrives on conflict cause it sells. It would upset me but I would not be surprised or disappointed. I have unfortunately come to expect the media to be about business first and information second, or last.

I was watching Rachel when she was in Delaware, where that group of people were asking questions. The lady who talked about O'Donnell and not giving her as much access to the press. Rachel said something to the effect of "We have to" and asked if it would be irresponsible of media NOT to report on such stories. I see her point in a way. We want information on who is vying for leadership roles in the country, but I also see that the media only gives attention to the people saying or doing the dumbest shit. As a result, the issues are swept under the rug for the sensational.

[stray cat]

27. And you do believe your opinion?

[kentuck]

28. I'm attempting to ascertain how people feel about these polls...

..that show the Repubs swamping the Democrats, and why? It's no big deal if some people disagree. So long as they can justify 29% polls for the Republicans and a landslide victory? That seems to be a disconnect to me, just speaking for myself.