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Zogby Claims Mobile-Only Voters Swing to Kerry

Zogby released a poll yesterday that showed the ill-counted mobile-phone-only voters heavily in favor of Kerry over Bush. It should be noted that all participants opted in to the survey through a site run by Democrats, making the results non-random and therefore highly suspect. Further, the results tracked very closely ("virtually identical") to other polls run of the same age group, which means that if the results are to be trusted, mobile-only users in this age group are not any different from other voters in this age group, and their exclusion from those other polls is insignificant.

111 comments

  1. I predict... by Otter · · Score: 1, Funny
    ...they'll have a low turnout rate anyway, since they're incapable of shutting the hell up long enough to vote.

    At least I hope so -- I don't want to be stuck in the booth deliberating about aldermen while some nitwit a foot away yammers about his sex life.

    1. Re:I predict... by stinerman · · Score: 1, Interesting

      A low turnout ... but higher than usual, which could make a difference in a close race.

      In my experiences on campus, it seems to be popular to vote for Kerry. You know, all the cool people are doing it.

      Furthermore, it is considered cool if you are voting for Kerry even though you hate him due to the fact that Bush is so incredibly bad. Its like the popular thing to do is pretend Bush is the anti-christ and then vote for Kerry based on that alone.

      Yes, my generation is a bunch of sheep.

    2. Re:I predict... by CodeWanker · · Score: 1

      Cell phone use is outlawed in Georgia Polling stations, for which I am very grateful. In line outside, on the other hand...

      --


      "Wow. Now THAT'S a lot of angry Indians." - Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer
    3. Re:I predict... by Hard_Code · · Score: 3, Insightful

      By that definition anything popular is wrong, so you have to do the _opposite_ just to make sure you don't inadvertently look like you are being trendy. Anti-trendy is the new trendy! Lots of people think murder is wrong. Such sheep! Why don't they think for themselves instead of "going with the herd"! It still seems anti-war and anti-president is sure UNtrendy from what I see. Face it, no matter who you vote for, there is going to be an idiot somewhere ALSO voting for that person. You have to vote on your own beliefs not how popular or unpopular the belief is.

      --

      It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?
    4. Re:I predict... by redtux1 · · Score: 1

      isn't he?

    5. Re:I predict... by robochan · · Score: 2

      ...they'll have a low turnout rate anyway, since they're incapable of shutting the hell up long enough to vote.

      I'd be happy if they'd shut the hell up long enough to drive :oP

      --
      ...Rob
      The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs; it's Don't Tread On Me.
    6. Re:I predict... by Stevyn · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      You are exactly correct. People our age who are voting for Bush seemed to be informed of the issues while people voting for Kerry seem to be following this liberal bandwagon. I know this because when I hear other people discuss politics, Kerry supporters can't base anything they say up with facts. Bush supporters actually know what they're talking about.

      This is not a criticism on Kerry, just the young trendy ignorant tools voting for Kerry without having formed an opinion. I wouldn't mind people voting for Kerry if they actually knew what is going on in this world and based their opinion on that. It's amazing how many people think "Bush is an evil warmonger!" is can win an argument.

      I can't wait when tomorrow' election is over because I am so sick of politics at this point.

    7. Re:I predict... by llefler · · Score: 1

      What are these lines I keep hearing about? I haven't had to wait in line since I moved to this county 7 years ago. Of course, we have no voting 'machines'. Here's your ballot and a marker, fill in the appropriate circle and run it through the scanner on your way out the door.... :-P Who knows, maybe it'll be standing room only tomorrow morning.

      --
      It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. -- Harry Truman
    8. Re:I predict... by CodeWanker · · Score: 1

      Wow. Where do you live? Here in suburban Atlanta, GA we waited in line almost two hours to vote for president back in 2000. Can't wait to see how it is tomorrow morning.

      --


      "Wow. Now THAT'S a lot of angry Indians." - Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer
    9. Re:I predict... by Shakrai · · Score: 1

      Wow. Where do you live? Here in suburban Atlanta, GA we waited in line almost two hours to vote for president back in 2000. Can't wait to see how it is tomorrow morning.

      Yeah I can't understand that. My Aunt in Florida said she had to wait in line for four hours. She also pointed out that it takes about ten minutes to vote in Florida because they tack so much stuff onto the ballot.

      In New York you are only allowed three minutes by law in the voting machine. We don't load our ballot down with initiatives and propositions. The longest I've ever waited in line to vote was 15 minutes.

      Is anyone here opposed to this ballot-box governing or is it really worth waiting hours in line to vote? Don't we have elected representatives instead of direct democracy for a reason?

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    10. Re:I predict... by stinerman · · Score: 1

      You have to vote on your own beliefs not how popular or unpopular the belief is.

      I agree 100%. I wasn't trying to insinuate that all people who vote for Kerry, Bush, etc. are sheep (even though I did say "my generation is a bunch of sheep").

      I was just commenting on the fact that, in my experiences, many of my peers seem to want to vote for Kerry because its the "in" thing to do.

      I also know of a few friends who are voting for their candidate of choice for good, sound reasons.

    11. Re:I predict... by stinerman · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, you were modded flamebait...

      I agree 100% ... and I'm a proud liberal. Personally, I do think Bush is an evil warmonger and the worst president in the history of the country, but I don't think Kerry is much better.

      I think this comes from our politics as of late. You are either "pro-Bush" or "anti-Bush". I don't know too many people who are "pro-Kerry".

    12. Re:I predict... by Stevyn · · Score: 1

      Thanks for seeing my viewpoint. I wasn't trying to make it a "pro-anyone" comment. I was simply trying to show that so many people are voting for a candidate they don't even know just because they are pressured to by their peers and university professor.

      The reason this should concern liberal who truly believe in their cause is because the next election could sway to the republican's side for no reason. Say for example John Kerry is elected president tomorrow and does a horrible job. Some crazy right wing candidate pops up and suddenly it's cool to vote for him. The liberals would then go nuts trying to figure out why suddenly everyone wants to vote for a guy who's "not John Kerry". Maybe then they'd understand our frustrations.

    13. Re:I predict... by Jordy · · Score: 1

      In San Francisco, I have never seen a line. We have polling places every two blocks it seems. We have a huge number of California propositions and city propositions to vote for as well.

      I vote against all propositions on principle. I'm not a fan of direct democracy. I don't have the time or resources to do a short and long-term impact analyses of these laws.

      --
      The world is neither black nor white nor good nor evil, only many shades of CowboyNeal.
    14. Re:I predict... by CodeWanker · · Score: 1

      Heh... Line was just under 2 hours for me this morning. My wife voted at 2:30 this afternoon, and it took her 20 minutes. The good news is that we didn't have a rush hour this morning because of the voting, so I got to work quickly. I heard about a lot of moveon.org in the news setting up at polling places and hectoring voters. We don't get that here, I think because we Georgians heavily armed and most moveon folks are gun control zombies.

      --


      "Wow. Now THAT'S a lot of angry Indians." - Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer
  2. So..... by dan_sdot · · Score: 1

    ...how is this different from a ridiculous poll online that asks "who won the debate that ended 5 minutes ago" or the nickelodeon online web polls asking 12 year olds who they would vote for?
    I know I saw this on the dnc.org website once, was probably on the rnc site also, that told people to go out to as many online polls as possible to vote for Kerry. These online presidential polls are less reliable to the results from these.

    1. Re:So..... by DAldredge · · Score: 1

      Easy. This poll makes Kerry look good so it is ok.

      Welcome to Slashdot 101.

    2. Re:So..... by MindStalker · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Just a side not from that.
      Nickolodeans poll which has been running for 5 elections and always was right picked Kerry.
      While Scholastic which has been running a kids vote since 1940, has only been wrong twice (1948, and 1960) picked Bush. So ones going down. Lets see!

    3. Re:So..... by citabjockey · · Score: 1

      All polls have limited value sensing the future. Look at the 2000 election where the poll in Hawaii was tied just before the vote (like it is now) and Gore won by 18 points.

      For some reason we have a insatiable thirst for "information" -- in the form of polls. It has been pointed out that the run of the mill poll is only calling land line subscribers. Zogby made an attempt to put in a correction factor for this.

      I think its probably closer to "real" information that asking 12 year olds their opinion so I would no classify it total trash. But on the other hand, I kinda think all polls are junk.

    4. Re:So..... by danratherfan · · Score: 1

      "has only been wrong twice (1948, and 1960)"

      Both democratic wins, mind you. ; )

  3. My poll. by E_elven · · Score: 1, Troll

    Does anyone here read Slashdot?

    --
    Marxist evolution is just N generations away!
    1. Re:My poll. by citabjockey · · Score: 1

      Not really correct, as Bush is going to win in a landslide all you republicans out there can skip this election!

  4. Parallels to previous elections by stinerman · · Score: 2, Informative

    This reminds me of when FDR won his first election. Traditional Democratic voters in the south did not have phones like the Republican base in the north (yes, it has switched over time).

    Therefore, the polls were biased for the Republican and was generally thought to be a close election. Of course, FDR won in a landslide.

    1. Re:Parallels to previous elections by antifoidulus · · Score: 3, Informative

      Um, the election you are thinking about wasn't won by FDR, it was won by the VP he picked for his 4th term, Harry S. Truman. That election is where the famous, "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline comes from. The press was so confident in the polls that they went ahead and predicted the election(you are right in that the polls were biased in favor of people who owned phones, which at that time leaned heavily Republican)

    2. Re:Parallels to previous elections by stinerman · · Score: 1

      Thank you.

      I was in a hurry to get to class, and I didn't really have the time or motivation to look it up. I knew it was either FDR or the Truman/Dewey.

  5. So... by wizbit · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The big question, as always with this age group, is still turnout. Zogby predicts the group accounts for 12% or more(!) of the electorate, so they could play a huge factor in determining the election. And Zogby adds (which you conveniently left off) that there are zero undecideds. Suspect or not, Zogby declares that to mean "this group is definitely going to vote."

    Don't be so quick to discount this poll.

    1. Re:So... by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 1

      Agreed, there's definitely something to this. I'm going to vote for Kerry, and I just got a new cellphone this weekend!

    2. Re:So... by BCW2 · · Score: 1

      Considering that the under 30 age group has the worst turnout record this is probably meaningless.

      The only time there was a strong turnout of 18 - 25 year olds was the first time the 18's were allowed to vote. Since then they don't show up or even register.

      --
      Professional Politicians are not the solution, they ARE the problem.
    3. Re:So... by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 1
      FOX "News" has there own polling showing Kerry ahead 2-5 points on three separate criteria. If these guys can't spin Democracy down, who can?

      The only tin-foil hat way to look at this is that by falsly promoting a victory for the forces of Democracy an Humanity, FOX will promote an unwarranted calm and apathy in the turnout of voters who support Democracy - leaving the field to dupes of the Crypto-Facists.

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    4. Re:So... by E_elven · · Score: 2, Funny

      Also on FOX: "Nokia, Motorola And SonyEricsson Using Microwave Devices To Turn Patriotic Americans Into Kerry-Voting Zombies. Our Online Poll: Can A Company Be Terrorist?"

      --
      Marxist evolution is just N generations away!
    5. Re:So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I know a 24 yearold whom I practically registered to vote myself. When he still didn't feel comfortable voting voting, and didn't want to read the voter guide I patiently explained each of the initiatives/measures/canadates and their positions. Perhaps interestingly he didn't vote for Kerry because gun control is a big issue for him, he thinks you should be able to drive around downtown with ma duce in the bed of your pickup if you want. So between that and his nearly being outsourced a couple of times, he decided to vote Libertarian. But before I never would have guessed he's such a fan of guns.

  6. In other news by MarkPNeyer · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It was confirmed that half of all americans earn less than the median income...



    Seriously, how is this news? Even rigorously scientific polls are highly suspect, so how does a nonscientific poll merit anything other than an nod?

    --

    My blog
    1. Re:In other news by FooAtWFU · · Score: 1

      Opt-in nonscientific polls can tell you a lot, but not about the election itself- they're good at telling you something about the people opting in. Recent polls indicate Slashdot in general leans very very far towards Kerry.

      --
      The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
    2. Re:In other news by ERJ · · Score: 1

      Or that Slashdot Kerry voters are more likely to comment. Or that the poll is worded to make Kerry look better (i.e. Are you for Kerry or against Bush).

      I think we will all have to wait till the election is over before we know what the results are. Polls are simply educated guesses.

  7. mobile or not.. by rep_mouth · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    America will elect Bush period. You nerds and geeks here may wish otherwise, but it's not gonna happen.
    bottom line is: we will outsource your job and you to the third world soon, that is where you belong.

    --

    -- i am being constantly offended by liberal moderators here as a notorious republican flamer --
  8. Do they consider by CodeWanker · · Score: 1

    Well, only those mobile-only users dumb enough to let their phone numbers get listed.

    --


    "Wow. Now THAT'S a lot of angry Indians." - Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer
  9. Wow by cato+kaze · · Score: 1

    Are people actually trusting this? People registered on a site run by one party to a survey. I WONDER which party is more likely to register there? Seriously, if a republican site were to do this, everyone would be screaming like crazy. Adding to that, turnout is usually very low in this group of voters, so I really don't see the importance.

    --
    Those who study history are doomed to watch others repeat it.
    1. Re:Wow by squiggleslash · · Score: 1
      Despite Pudge's write-up, it's actually the non-partisan Rock the Vote allied with Motorola that runs this particular site.

      There are probably more Democrats than Republicans involved with that site, but only because, as a rule, Democrats seem to be more interested in encouraging people to learn about their choices and vote, Republicans - again, I'm generalizing - count among them more people who'd rather the great unwashed stay indoors.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    2. Re:Wow by dogbowl · · Score: 1

      sorry, thats not generalizing -- thats blatently exposing your prejudices.

      --

      These pretzels are making me thirsty.
    3. Re:Wow by squiggleslash · · Score: 1
      No, it's generalizing. My experience is that if someone is arguing that such-and-such-a-group shouldn't vote, it's usually a Republican. Usually the argument goes that people shouldn't be encouraged to vote when they don't plan to because it means they're stupid or ignorant.

      Likewise the groups most famous for trying to encourage voting tend to be considered liberal, for example 'Hollywood', etc.

      That's my experience. If I'm wrong, and right-wing types start encouraging popular participation in democracy, then I'll notice and change my views accordingly.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    4. Re:Wow by minus_273 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      "There are probably more Democrats than Republicans involved with that site, but only because, as a rule, Democrats seem to be more interested in encouraging people to learn about their choices and vote, Republicans - again, I'm generalizing - count among them more people who'd rather the great unwashed stay indoors"

      you mean how democrats supported slavery? I think your generalization of the parties is rather biased.

      --
      The war with islam is a war on the beast
      The war on terror is a war for peace
    5. Re:Wow by pudge · · Score: 1

      Rock the Vote is nonpartisan like Fox News is. Please.

    6. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "you mean how democrats supported slavery? I think your generalization of the parties is rather biased."

      And do you know how many Republicans supported segregation? It's a non-issue, this is all in the past.

    7. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Zogby is a little more sophisticated in his reasoning than what is presented. He is simply pointing out that there is a huge portion of this years electorate that is essentially unmeasured and unmeasurable by design. That demographically, they'd favor democrats. And that for all the talk of undecideds, they don't really exist, they just resist commiting to an answer for a pollster, and have ALWAYS broken in favor of the challenger, AGAINST the incumbant. In a race where it's known to be very close otherwise, these factors hint strongly and convincingly for a Republican loss in a race for the Whitehouse.

    8. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you were a segregationist in the South in the 1950's and 60's, chances are you were a Democrat.

      For instance, Gov. George Wallace of Georgia, blocked entrance of black students to public schools in 1963, prompting President Kennedy to call out the National Guard, to protect the students.

    9. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, Gov Wallace of Alabama.

  10. Overlap? by Keebler71 · · Score: 1

    The bigger question (and I don't know the answer) is how does the wireless-only demographic compare with similar demographic that is polled ... namely the young voter. Assuming that most of these (wireless) voters are younger... how do they compare with the non-wireless younger voters (who were reached in the polls)? My hunch is that there is significant overlap between them; thus wireless attitudes are implicitly contained within the poll results and there will not be a signficant difference come tomorrow... but that is just my hunch.

    --
    "It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance." - Thomas Sowell
    1. Re:Overlap? by barawn · · Score: 1

      My hunch is that there is significant overlap between them; thus wireless attitudes are implicitly contained within the poll results and there will not be a signficant difference come tomorrow...

      That's assuming you poll 18-24 year olds with phone polling. In general, you don't. You significantly underrepresent the 18-24 bracket, which means you need to post-weight the result correctly so you represent the electorate right. What would be ideal is if they could find a way to poll the situation more equally, so that there'd be less of a systematic error introduced in your poll.

      This shows (with high statistics!) that there most likely is a clear preference (about 10 points!) in that age bracket, which means if you don't get the correction right, you'll introduce a systematic bias in all your other polls. Considering you basically can't get the correction right (you'd need to know precisely what the voter turnout will be), you'd much prefer to make sure your sample is less skewed, so the effect of the (known) bias is lessened.

      So, it basically comes down to: if young voters turn out like they used to, it'll look exactly like the polls say. However, if young voters turn out higher than they have previously, then the polls are all biased low, and Kerry will win many states by larger margins than expected.

      This is what a statistical vs. a systematic error gets you. Most people are convinced that the election will be dead on close because the polls have constantly said "they're close", "they're close", "they're close". Sure they only have a 4% margin of error, but many polls should resolve it, right? Nope - systematics do not clear up with more polls (they just become more obvious).

      So the main thing that this tells you is that people should expect that the polls really may not be accurate, and you may see non-"battleground states" decide this election as well.

    2. Re:Overlap? by abb3w · · Score: 1
      --
      //Information does not want to be free; it wants to breed.
  11. only 99% useless by miyako · · Score: 1

    It seems that this poll wouldn't have to be COMPLETELY useless. If you compared the number of people who signed up for this poll to the total number of people who exclusively own cell phones, then you can get an idea of how many people are decided and feel strongly enough to sign up for such a poll. Of course I'm quite sure that this wasn't a consideration during the poll, and was more of a way to say "look, look at all these people who prefer $candidate, you should prefer $candidate as well!".

    --
    Famous Last Words: "hmm...wikipedia says it's edible"
  12. Run by democrats? by squiggleslash · · Score: 4, Interesting
    It should be noted that all participants opted-in to the survey through a site run by Democrats, making the results non-random and therefore highly suspect
    I thought "Rock the Vote" was originally an MTV (Viacom), campaign, whose CEO has come out in favour of Bush? On their front page, I can see a petition aimed at both the DNC and RNC about the draft,

    Or is it Motorola that counts as "The Democrats" for this particular campaign?

    Or is this just a "Republicans would never encourage people to vote, therefore it's those lousy Democrats that are behind it" thing?

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    1. Re:Run by democrats? by pudge · · Score: 1

      The CEO notwithstanding, Rock the Vote leans left on every single issue (just look at their issues pages), and their executive director is a former Democratic party operative. They've ALWAYS been a pro-Democrat group.

      And as to the draft, how do you figure that is nonpartisan? They are trying to make people think the draft is a possibility, which is entirely false, and the ad is clearly aimed at hurting Bush.

    2. Re:Run by democrats? by squiggleslash · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Rock the Vote leans left on every single issue (just look at their issues pages)
      Try as I might, I can't find one. The nearest thing I see to one is the Petition against the Draft on the front page. Given the site is aimed at encouraging the participation of the young in elections, it strikes me that the draft is a pretty good way of getting their attention.
      and their executive director is a former Democratic party operative
      Is he still a Democratic party operative? Would you prefer someone not involved in politics to be the leader of an organization aimed at encouraging people to vote (notwithstanding any disagreements you might have with the message of the campaign?
      And as to the draft, how do you figure that is nonpartisan? They are trying to make people think the draft is a possibility, which is entirely false, and the ad is clearly aimed at hurting Bush.
      It's non-partisan because they're not aiming at any particular party, and there's no particular party associated with the draft? I mean, the only connection I can think of between Bush and the Draft is that Bush is the leader of the current administration, and therefore the one that took us to war. I'm 100% certain that had rumours of a draft appeared while Clinton was in office and a bloody war was raging, the same group would be highlighting it.

      Any campaign to encourage people to get up and vote is going to use issues in the news. Usually having power, and thus the ability to frame and decide the issues, is one of the benefits of being an incumbent. In this case, it isn't.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    3. Re:Run by democrats? by pudge · · Score: 1

      Try as I might, I can't find one

      I looked recently, and found them to be in favor of federal handouts for education, for free health care, anti-war, pro-choice, anti-ANWR. Just go down the list, they support every Democratic position on every major issue.

      Given the site is aimed at encouraging the participation of the young in elections, it strikes me that the draft is a pretty good way of getting their attention.

      Yes, a good dishonest way, that the Democrats are using to make people vote for Kerry.

      Is he still a Democratic party operative?

      She is, yes. That's what Rock the Vote is.

      It's non-partisan because they're not aiming at any particular party

      That's a facade. Please.

      there's no particular party associated with the draft?

      Funny how the Democrats, including Kerry, keep bringing up the draft as a great possibility under Bush, and yet the Republicans say there is no chance of it. And you think this is not partisan? Please.

    4. Re:Run by democrats? by galaxyboy · · Score: 1
      Or is this just a "Republicans would never encourage people to vote, therefore it's those lousy Democrats that are behind it" thing?

      I don't think any serious republican wants to discourage people to vote.

      That being said, I don't think anyone SHOULD vote if they are not informed. And if their sole source of information is MTV or Fox News or CNN or CBS or NBC or ABC or any newspaper or /., then I think they ought to stay home on election day. Voters should be informed on the issues and the candidates. Campaigns that only encourage voting should instead be encouraging research and involvement in civil affairs. Voting is a natural consequence.

    5. Re:Run by democrats? by squiggleslash · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I looked recently, and found them to be in favor of federal handouts for education, for free health care, anti-war, pro-choice, anti-ANWR. Just go down the list, they support every Democratic position on every major issue.
      We're obviously looking at two completely different websites then. As I said, the draft seems to be the only "issue" mentioned on the (admittedly appallingly designed and expensive to navigate on a slow PC with poor bandwidth) website I was looking at. Perhaps I'll take a better look at it when I get home.
      Yes, a good dishonest way, that the Democrats are using to make people vote for Kerry.
      That's right, because Kerry's against the draft whereas Bush is... hold on?
      She is, yes. That's what Rock the Vote is.
      Great. So it's now a self defining argument. Rock the Vote is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it. And the person who runs it is a Democratic Party Operative because she runs Rock the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which we've established is a Democratic Front because a Democratic Party Operative runs it, proof of which is that she runs Rocks the Vote which...

      It's a facade! Their appearance of neutrality only extends to what they say and do! They're obviously biased because they're campaigning about one thing that both parties have identical policies on!

      I give up. I guess this "logic" explains why Republicans think the press is left wing.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    6. Re:Run by democrats? by pudge · · Score: 1

      That's right, because Kerry's against the draft whereas Bush is... hold on?

      I know they are both against it. But Kerry actually says a draft is likely under Bush.

      Great. So it's now a self defining argument.

      No. You asked a question, I answered it.

      The primary reasons I gave for why RTV is a Democratic party operation is its politics, its anti-Bush activities, and the history of the person who runs it. Because it is a Democratic party operation, I therefore still define her as a Democratic operative. You're misreading my argument: it does not do what you say.

    7. Re:Run by democrats? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1
      I know they are both against it. But Kerry actually says a draft is likely under Bush.
      And?
      No. You asked a question, I answered it.
      No, you didn't, that was point scoring.
      The primary reasons I gave for why RTV is a Democratic party operation is its politics, its anti-Bush activities, and the history of the person who runs it. Because it is a Democratic party operation, I therefore still define her as a Democratic operative. You're misreading my argument: it does not do what you say.
      I asked if the (wo)man was still a Democratic operative in the context of whether her previous experience really showed that she was partisan in her current role. You responded by using your circular argument.

      Whether you think your argument is circular or not (and goodness help you if you don't see it), clearly:

      • The group appears to have very few policies other than encouraging young people to vote. The only issue it seems to take a stand on, or be appearing to take a stand on, is the draft. This, despite your claims otherwise, is not a partisan issue: BOTH PARTIES HAVE THE SAME POLICY. What Kerry says is irrelevent, Bush can just as legitimately make the same claims about Kerry. Likewise, the issue is clearly one that youth will be interested in, and one that will mobilise them to take an interest.
      • There are no visible "anti-Bush" activities I can see on the website and I must have missed where you mentioned them
      • Clearly the experienced polito RTV drafted to run their campaign is not involved in any other political campaigns, or at least, none that are party affiliated, otherwise you would surely have mentioned them. I suspect we wouldn't be having this discussion if the coin had fallen the other way and an ex-Republican operative had been drafted for the same role, even with Rock the Vote doing exactly what it's doing now.
      I'm amazed and pissed at myself I'm even bothering to respond to this, and I'm going to let you have the last word.
      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    8. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "I don't think any serious republican wants to discourage people to vote."

      There are a lot of Republicans in Ohio specifically trying to discourage people from voting:

      Source CNN
    9. Re:Run by democrats? by pudge · · Score: 1

      And?

      Clearly, the Democrats have been the only ones using the draft as an issue to this point. We know that RTV is run by a (at least former) Democratic operative. We kow that RTV takes the Democratic position on most issues. And you think they are being nonpartisan about the draft ... that just lacks credibility.

      You responded by using your circular argument.

      You're using a circular argument in (falsely) claiming I was using a circular argument.

      The group appears to have very few policies other than encouraging young people to vote.

      Appearances to the uneducated are different from appearances to the educated. I listed several of their stated positions on several issues.

      There are no visible "anti-Bush" activities I can see on the website and I must have missed where you mentioned them

      Encouraging people to vote according to RTV's positions, which are the Democratic positions.

    10. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you happen to see Bush's speech where he adamantly declaired that if re-elected we definately would reinstate the draft, and paused for effect in front of a silent crowd, until one of them reminded him that his position he "WOULDN'T" reinstate it?

      One: Funny. Two: A little sad. Three: Could be a freudian slip.

      He's lucky the Democrats didn't rush that into a commercial and saturate the urban and affluent areas of southern states with it as an October surprise.

    11. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's a lot of people in Ohio trying to vote illegally.

      Election law is something that has evolved over 200 years protect voters rights. To both protect people's right to vote, and also to protect valid votes from fraud.

      The sweeping changes that were made in the last four years exponentially makes fraud easier. I live in a state (Wisconsin), where you can register at the poll, and by law are not required to show any form of identification. That is just asking for trouble.

      Every fraudulent vote cast, invalidates a legitimate vote.

    12. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Rock the Vote leans left on every single issue (just look at their issues pages)"

      Try as I might, I can't find one. The nearest thing I see to one is the Petition against the Draft on the front page. Given the site is aimed at encouraging the participation of the young in elections, it strikes me that the draft is a pretty good way of getting their attention.


      Yea, that's how they tried to spin it, too. But once you consider that about half of the USA's young adults think Bush favors the draft, it becomes obvious that MTV is bringing up this so-called "issue" to scare the younger voters into voting against Bush.

    13. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Liar.

      Yes, it was on national TV and it was clearly a slip which was corrected by him instantly with no prompting. Why do you feel the need to *LIE* and make this stuff up? No one saw what you 'saw' because it didn't happen but now a bunch of morons will repeat that they "heard" it happened. Thanks for helping democracy along.

      Make up your mind. Is he a stupid monkey or the most brilliant and clever politician ever?

    14. Re:Run by democrats? by laird · · Score: 1

      When I look at their site, it looks almost painfully balanced. Look at their 'find your candidate' page. For each topic, they have one site at each extreme.
      -----
      Want to know more about the issues before you try Find Your Candidate? Check out these informational links on hot campaign issues first:

      The U.S. in Iraq
      Cost of War
      U.S. Department of Defense

      Same-Sex Marriage
      American Family Association
      GLAD

      Tax Cuts
      Citizens for Tax Justice
      The Heritage Foundation

      The Environment
      Environmental Protection Agency
      Earth Justice

      Reproductive Choice
      Abortionfacts.com
      National Abortion Federation

      The Economy
      Economic Policy Institute
      CATO Institute

      First Amendment
      First Amendment Center
      School Prayer

      Social Security
      Social Security Reform Center
      Urban Institute
      ----
      I guess just the fact that they're trying to get kids to vote makes them Democrats. Real Republicans would be suing... :-)

    15. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you have the volume turned up and listen closely, you can hear someone offer up the correction.

    16. Re:Run by democrats? by galaxyboy · · Score: 1
      There are a lot of Republicans in Ohio specifically trying to discourage people from voting:

      I am sorry. I guess I should rephrase my statement.

      There are not any serious republicans trying to discourage ELIGIBLE people from voting. Keeping felons, illegal aliens, non-citizens, dead people, double voters, Mary Poppins, and the Easter Bunny from voting is a civic responsibility. Do you want your vote cancelled by somebody who by law is not allowed to vote?

    17. Re:Run by democrats? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1
      If half of the USA's young adults think Bush favours the draft, wouldn't you say this means that it's an issue for young adults?

      Quite honestly, you appear to believe that a get-out-the-vote campaign can only be impartial by highlighting issues those it wants to vote do not care about.

      This is yet another example of Republicans seeing bias in everything. Hey, if young adults think Bush is in favour of the draft, perhaps it's time Bush made it clearer that he isn't?

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    18. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is yet another example of Republicans seeing bias in everything. Hey, if young adults think Bush is in favour of the draft, perhaps it's time Bush made it clearer that he isn't?

      Both candidates have clearly stated that they do not favor a draft. It was even brought up in the presidential debates (more than once!), for crying out loud. How clear does Bush have to make it before younger voters understand? They are simply not informed, and MTV is taking advantage of it. I've even heard anecdotes about younger voters voting against Bush because of the draft, and it makes me ill. It's bias, plain and simple, and anyone with an objective perspective can see it for what it is.

    19. Re:Run by democrats? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1
      MTV is part of Viacom, whose CEO is an avowed Republican and Bush supporter. I hardly think MTV is part of some conspiracy to link Bush to the draft now are they?

      The only "bias" is the one you see in your own mind. It's not RTV's fault that some young adults believe that Bush is in favour of the draft. It's also not RTV's fault that a major issue for young adults is the threat of one. If RTV were to ignore the draft issue because of the reasons you give, then they most certainly would be being biased - they would be avoiding highlighting a central issue important to most of their target base simply because it offends one party that they're highlighting it.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    20. Re:Run by democrats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MTV is part of Viacom, whose CEO is an avowed Republican and Bush supporter. I hardly think MTV is part of some conspiracy to link Bush to the draft now are they?

      Why do you keep bringing up the CEO? That's irrelevant. Do you expect me to believe that the CEO of Viacom would ever instruct MTV to avoid showing ads that are subtly biased against the candidate he favors? I thought pudge handled this point rather well.

      The only "bias" is the one you see in your own mind. It's not RTV's fault that some young adults believe that Bush is in favour of the draft. It's also not RTV's fault that a major issue for young adults is the threat of one. If RTV were to ignore the draft issue because of the reasons you give, then they most certainly would be being biased - they would be avoiding highlighting a central issue important to most of their target base simply because it offends one party that they're highlighting it.

      My whole point is that it's not an issue. It's a fabricated issue to which both candidates had decisively responded. There is no "threat" of a draft, just like there's no "threat" of voters' rights being repealed.

      How can you claim that the following script (taken from one of their online ads) does not make it seem like the current administration wants to draft people into the military?

      (Party atmosphere with people dancing)
      Guy: I just got this sweet job doing promotions, and, hopefully, in six months, I'll get to know enough people to start my own thing.

      Girl: That's if you don't get drafted first.

      Guy: Drafted?

      Girl: Drafted. For the war?

      Guy: Will they do that?

      (Everyone falls silent and turns to look at the camera. The text "It's up to you." is shown on the screen.)

      Woman's voice: The draft. One of the many issues that could be decided this election.

  13. Huh, syntax error by schmaltz · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...the results tracked very closely ("virtually identical") to other polls run of the same age group, which means that if the results are to be trusted, mobile-only users in this age group are not any different from other voters in this age group, and their exclusion from those other polls is insignificant.

    That assertion has no legs. Saying that because set A responds in a way that is similar to set B's response, they are essentially the same and A can be excluded if B is? That's just wrong. For one, the questions used to obtain the responses of the two groups, coming from different polling orgs, will very likely not be the same, which obliterates the base of your assertion.

    And, man, "if the results are to be trusted" - that *pegged* the needle on my Strauss-o-meter.

    --
    Big Daddy, Johnny, Burp, Aunt Zelda, Scott, Slurp, Big Momma ... where's Siggy?
  14. Ok, so we have by revscat · · Score: 4, Interesting
    1. Boston Red Sox win the World Series
    2. Washington Redskins lose
    3. Cell-only people are swinging to Kerry
    4. Voter registration is way, way up
    5. The Economist endorses Kerry, as do most American newspapers (including many which endorsed Bush in 2000)
    6. More Republicans are endorsing Kerry (Eisenhower, son of the President; Milliken, guv of MI, Cook, Sen-KY, etc.) than Bush (Miller, Sen-GA)
    7. GOP vote blocking efforts are being shut down by those damn "activist judges"
    8. John Stewart's book is #1 on the bestseller lists

    Yup, things are looking good for the good guys.

    1. Re:Ok, so we have by rep_mouth · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      9. Bush wins the election

      Yup, things will get scary for you poor guys soon.
      bottom line is: we will go right after you left wing anti-american geeks

      --

      -- i am being constantly offended by liberal moderators here as a notorious republican flamer --
    2. Re:Ok, so we have by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 1

      Yup, things will get scary for you poor guys soon.
      bottom line is: we will go right after you left wing anti-american geeks


      You can't be for real. Are you really a Republican, or are you just pretending to be one? Because this is only the second post you've ever made.

      Plenty of people are dressing up pretending to be the opposition so it wouldn't be surprising.

    3. Re:Ok, so we have by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good guys? The Democrats are the party of moral-relativists, lacking any sense of right or wrong. How can then be called "the good guys"? They can't even take a stand against partial-birth abortion, a most hideous murderous act. So, you might say it's looking good for the abortionistas, or you could say "The Empire Strikes Back", but you could definitely not say in any fairness that things look good for the good guys when referring to the abortion party.

    4. Re:Ok, so we have by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      Idiot. You know full well that the reason the partial-birth abortion law was struck down was because it did not contain provisions that would protect the mother in the event that her health was at risk.

      Keep parroting this nonsense, and keep wondering why Democrats treat you like the ranting and raving uninformed boob that you are.

    5. Re:Ok, so we have by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your reply exemplifies the typical elitist snob, name-calling liberal response. You contribute to the very image by your post. Thank you for being so transparent!

    6. Re:Ok, so we have by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And it's also correct. Calling a liar a liar, isn't name-calling, or liberal. It's fact stating.

    7. Re:Ok, so we have by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the American Medical Association says there is never an instance where a late term abortion is neccessary to pretect the life of the mother.

      Look, I am a Libertarianish and pro-abortion. But abortion is something that should be taken care of early, not something to be done a week before the due date.

      If a situation ever arose where the life of the mother was at stake no doctor would choose to let the mother die, even if the procedure was illegal. It would violate the Hippocratic Oath.

  15. Text messages by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is this why I keep getting text messages warning me that if I went over my minutes I'll get arrested at the polls on November 4?

    1. Re:Text messages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cause if you try to vote on the 4th you are probably trying to commit fraud?

    2. Re:Text messages by lothar97 · · Score: 1
      Cause if you try to vote on the 4th you are probably trying to commit fraud?

      I guess you haven't heard of early voting? There are several states that have been voting for a few weeks (including Floriday). The Registrar of Voters here in San Diego has been letting people vote at their main office since Saturday (I went by today, and it was a ZOO of traffic). Then there are absentee ballots (my wife mailed her's today), which have to usually be postmarked on or before election day.

      --

    3. Re:Text messages by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 2, Funny
      Cause if you try to vote on the 4th you are probably trying to commit fraud?

      Actually it was a sly reference to a leaflet that someone has been distributing in Democratic areas of Alabama:
      Attention:
      Jefferson
      County!!!

      See You At The Poles
      November 4, 2004.

      To Find your local polling
      place, call Jefferson
      County Voter's
      Registration
      Commission.


      Of course, the election is on Nov. 2. It's just like Soviet Russia- if you try to vote on Nov. 4, the fraud has been committed on you!

    4. Re:Text messages by jpmkm · · Score: 1

      I guess you haven't heard of late voting.

    5. Re:Text messages by lothar97 · · Score: 1

      Crap, how'd I misread the calendar so bad? I've got to stop looking at paper ones on the wall, and using only online calendars...

      --

    6. Re:Text messages by mrscorpio · · Score: 1

      Everybody knows voting day is November 3: http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4043& n=1

  16. Great work /. editors by aztektum · · Score: 2, Interesting
    --
    :: aztek ::
    No sig for you!!
  17. More reliable sources! by Shazow · · Score: 1

    You forgot the straws! The straws and the cups, oh my!! There's no stopping Kerry now!

    !

  18. If I were a Dem... by Shihar · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't post such results. Proving that the an overwheliming majority of people dumb enough to give out their cell phone numbers are Dems really is not a horribly encouarging sign. Of course, you have to wonder about the Republicans that willingly gave up their cell phone numbers to a Democrat orginization. Isn't that a sign of greater stupidity?

    So... maybe we can take the lesson from this that people are people, and people are stupid.

  19. 3rd party candidates in poll? by Brown+Eggs · · Score: 1

    While the poll (if the results are to be believed) indicates a high preference in this popoulation for Kerry, how do we know that this is who the cell-phone crowd will vote for? I think this popoulation, which is clearly more tech-savvy than the average american, might also be more informed about the issues. And if that is the case, you may see a LARGE chunk of this population voting Libertarian or Green. I think it is unfortunate that these polls have biased themselves by saying "Who would you vote for - Bush, Kerry, or Nader". It is like saying "Do you want to get shot in the right knee, the left knee, or the head". How about I take that hidden 4th option and choose not to get shot at all?

    1. Re:3rd party candidates in poll? by citabjockey · · Score: 1

      Savvy voters are not going to toss a vote down the toilet on Nader this time around. Simple as that.

    2. Re:3rd party candidates in poll? by Brown+Eggs · · Score: 1

      I certainly don't think votes for a 3rd party candidate are flushed down the toilet, and you are forgetting Badnarik and Cobb as well. I expect Badnarik will get a few percentage points from those resourceful enough to actually look at the party platforms and vote their conscience (and not buy in to propaganda from the two major parties).

    3. Re:3rd party candidates in poll? by citabjockey · · Score: 1

      There was a time when a vote for the 3rd party also rans made sense. Not this time. I voted for Nader in years past and would welcome the opportunity to do so again. This year, however, the stakes are too high.

  20. Gee I wonder by ShatteredDream · · Score: 1

    Could someone explain to me why the majority of visitors to a Democrat-affiliated site think that Kerry is better than Bush?

    1. Re:Gee I wonder by squiggleslash · · Score: 1
      It's not a Democrat-affiliated website. It's a joint venture between Rock the Vote, which is non-partisan, and Motorola, a popular manufacturer of mobile phones.

      Pudge has responded to a comment I've made questioning his assertion claiming that they have positions on various major issues that take the Democratic line, and claiming that the person who runs RTV is a former Democratic Party operative, but so far the evidence for the former is extremely weak (the only policy we could find that on the website was to do with the Draft, a policy both parties have identical positions on), and you'd expect a political participation campaign to draft an experienced pol to run them, it's inevitable he or she would have had a role in at least one of the major parties.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    2. Re:Gee I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RTV not a leftist org?

      My jaw is on the floor at that concept.

      Perhaps we're not visiting the same MTV sponsored RTV site.

      Would you also agree that Barbara Streisand's personal political blog is also non-partisan since after all she doesn't give any money to either party? She must be neutral then, right?

      Whatever.... Crazy kool aid drinkers are everywhere and there's just no talking to some people about the obvious.

    3. Re:Gee I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Just because right wingers are usually opposed to popular participation in democracy doesn't mean that RTV is "leftist".

      Perhaps if you Nazis stopped assuming all Republicans are like you (as opposed to most), you might see that.

  21. Good Guys Don't Support Partial-Birth Abortion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Democrats overwhelmingly support the hideous practice.
    => Democrats not \in {Good Guys}

    1. Re:Good Guys Don't Support Partial-Birth Abortion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's see. Risk life of mother in a case where the life of the child to be is basicaly done anyway for a feel-good pretense, or actively and aggressively act to save the life of the mother while recognizing not all things were ment to live.

      Hey, I've got an idea, ass-clown. Why don't we leave other people's medical decisions to them and their doctors. That way when your little wastes of space get lukemia you can deny them treatment so they waste away in tremendous pain so you don't have to grapple with any of the tough questions so you can preserve the comfort of your dogma. It's a win-win scenerio.

    2. Re:Good Guys Don't Support Partial-Birth Abortion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More than 90% of all abortions have NOTHING to do with the safety of the mother. Most abortions are the result of people not making responsible decisions about sex. The REAL issue is that liberals want a convenient excuse to not have to take responsibility for their irresponsible actions. It is not about medical decisions or choice at all. The choice to have sex or not is always their own to make. So spare me the bullshit, made-up, statistical outlier of an excuse known as the "safety of the mother." That is one of the biggest LIES put forward by the Democrats to support their death-affirming, irresponsibility-affirming, platform supporting abortion.

    3. Re:Good Guys Don't Support Partial-Birth Abortion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what do the demographics of all abortions have to do with the how partial birth abortions? Nothing. They never have. And your feeble attempt to insinuate otherwise reveals your argument for what it really is nothing more than false means to an immoral end.

      Conservatives like you really aren't even against abortions. Just abortions for poor people. There's a reason why the right has never floated an idea for a law, similar to the newest child sex law, prohibiting an American from obtaining an abortion anywhere in the world. If it is their daughter, they want the option on the table.

      "Saftey of the mother" was always the guiding factor when it came to partial birth abortions. But that just wasn't good enough. If a few people have to die so the ideas of what social norms should be based on the religion of a vocal minority can be legislated, well, that's just God's ignorant will I guess.

      While it's highly irresponsible, it's no one's business if women choose to used abortion as a painful expensive form of effective birth control. The fact that occasionally, even very rarely, it's a viable medical option is reason enough for it to remain legal. This is a country where it's legal to kill people, for among other reasons, it was very difficult to avoid making the mistake in doing so.

  22. Why would any one give out their cell number by mpost4 · · Score: 1

    To any poller. when I am at home (rarely) and I get a call on the land line (only have it since Verizon does not have naked DSL, I wish they would offer naked DSL) and get a call from a political person (I don't get any calls normally so any call it political in nature now) I first let the answering machine get it then I pick up the phone and put the mouth peace up to the speaker of the answering machine. I don't care who it is that is calling if you are calling for political stuff, you will get the feed back. Mod me a troll, but I hate the telemarketers, I hate them I don't care what you are selling. (and as a side not, I have not gotten a chance to hit the liberals yet with this, I have only gotten 1 call from a liberal, all the rest have been the republicans, and I am a conservative, and I just do it I don't care who you are, don't telemarket me.)

  23. There are no good guys. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Democrats are the party of moral-relativists

    Both parties are moral relativists, and both sanction plenty of death. Abortions have gone up under Bush. He enthusiasticly supports the death penalty. We've killed anywhere from 15,000 to 100,000 Iraqi civillians, depending on whose information you believe. Either party will continue that.
    The next four years won't just be good for abortionists, but also for weapons manufactures and oil companies. They will be bad for our soldiers, unborn babies, the poor, the wrongly convicted, and millions of people all over the world who are at the mercy of our murderous foreign policy.

    Life starts at conception, and continues until natural death. Murder is wrong whether it is performed by a surgeon, an electric chair or a bomb. All could easily be avoided if this country would wake up and stop supporting the killing machine that is the US government.

  24. Re:Gee I wonder - "DO U REALLY NEED TO ASK" dept by citabjockey · · Score: 1
    Wake up and smell the napalm my friend. Here is a very short list of Bush's accomplishments:
    • Starting a war under false/erroneous pretense
    • Ignoring military recomendation to have 400,000 boots on the ground to occupy
    • Miscalculating (boy it this an understatement) how the occupied Iraqies will react to our invastion
    • Ignoring calls to have a terrorism on the front burner when he came to office
    • Making bellicose threats against Osama and not being able to deliver
    • no bid contracts
    • Karl Rove
    • Not being able to complete a coherent thought without a teleprompter
    • Ignoring global warming
    • Not fulfilling his commitment to the National Guard
    • Failing at every business deal he was ever involved with (except Rangers baseball team which was given to him on a silver platter).
    • Starting a war without planning on paying for it. Our kids will be on the hook for this debacle for decades
    • In general has been a clueless, previledged jerk.
    On the otherhand we have Kerry:
    • Could have dodged the draft like someone we know but chose to go to Vietnam anyway
    • Fought to end a war that was useless to our interests -- despite having his honesty and patriotism attacked
    • Can see more than a black and white version of the world.
    • Hates the idea of war but voted to give Dubya the club he needed to get inspections started up in Iraq because Saddam was in violation of UN resolutions.
    • Is smarter than most folks
    • Gives us a fighting chance to get the rest of the world on our side. Bush has no chance to do this now
  25. Not suspect, worthless by DongleFondle · · Score: 1

    "It should be noted that all participants opted in to the survey through a site run by Democrats, making the results non-random and therefore highly suspect.

    The definition of a poll involves the random sampling of a population. To me, this poll is in violation of the most fundamental rule of polling, randomness, and therefore isn't suspect but pretty much worthless.

    Having said that, I probably don't need a poll to tell me this. Would anyone agree with the basic assumption that cell-phone only users are widely college-student age people (like me) that have, on average, a more liberal voting lean?

  26. Interesting Pudge Journal by cyranoVR · · Score: 0

    PUDGE JE: Please Do Not Vote

    Remember, this is one slashdot editor that supports Democracy!

  27. Re:Gee I wonder - "DO U REALLY NEED TO ASK" dept by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You forgot one that belongs in a third category:

    Both men can manage to answer or dodge a simple rhetorical question without resorting to posting a cut'n'paste list of partisan garbage you got off some website.

    Nice try, though. I'm sure you have convinced exactly zero people of anything.

  28. Enough with the kool aid.... RTV is a (D)em org. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sheesh.

    Telling the Big Lie over and over isn't going to work at /.

  29. Um, did you read the full reports about that poll? by abb3w · · Score: 1
    Considering that the under 30 age group has the worst turnout record this is probably meaningless.

    Possibly. However, the Zogby poll also indicated 97.2% of the cell phone users polled planned to vote (2.3% planned not to, .5% uncertain). The claimed error margin for the poll is 1.2%.

    If accurate, either text messaging cell phone users are much more politically active than the average GenX slacker, or Bush has successfully and massively mobilized the youth vote for the first time since 1972. Of course, he's mobilized it mostly against himself, but it still may prove his most lasting contribution to American politics... except his administration's share of the federal debt deficit. =)

    --
    //Information does not want to be free; it wants to breed.
  30. Ha ha by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Owned.