It's like an accident....oops!
This is what I think...starting out with these polls I keep seeing.
Today MSNBC came out with a story titled "Poll shows Dean Edging past Edwards in South Carolina". That shocked me, so I decided to look at this polls and look at Zogby overall. It has been said that Zogby polls are "not accurate", but I wondered why. I am documenting my findings right here. Thus far I have written to MSNCB, Joe Conason and NewHour and Associated Press. I will also be writing to media watchdogs. Zogby polls should no longer be used. Here's my case and my evidence, as was communicated to Newhour's Producers:
Dear News Hour Producers,
In reference to the Shield and Brooks segment, I am tired of Howard Dean being shoved in my face as the "Frontrunner". The poll that was cited from South Carolina is a Zogby poll. Do I need to remind you about Zogby's reputation and history? These Zogby polls are "push polls" meaning the questions ask lead to certain answers. I request that you do a story on that instead. I am very frustrated as I know that Howard Dean cannot beat President Bush. It all feels like a big set up and I don't appreciate your assistance to that process. Please read what I am enclosing. It's an analysis of the poll and the media propaganda that is going on in these United States. We will not allow Pundits and news organizations to pick our democratic presidential candidate. Please refrain from using the Zogby poll as a source of your information. It is not accurate and it is biased. Please see the case that I am making below:
http://www.cesame-nm.org/Standards/Zogby.pdf Please read for comments on Zogby's methodology and his reputation. Please note this passage from the 8 page report from Chris Mooney, the American Prospect, January 13, 2003.
"Zogby is unusual in the extent to which he has blended partisan and interest groups polling with credibility-enhancing contracts for media outlets such as Reuters, NBC News, MSNBC, and numerous newspapers and television stations. As Zogby himself acknowledges,
the repute he derives from media polling helps him sell his services to more self interested clients. The lucky group end up with the Zogby brand name attached to findings that advance their agendas.
"Media organizations should have people who absolutely aren't polling for interest groups", observed Robert Blendon, who directs Harvard University's Program of Public Opinion and Health and Social Policy. Blendon notes that most major polling conglomerates, such as ABC News/Washington Post poll, maintain firewalls between their work and outside interests." But there is more. Read at your leisure.
Also please see the wording of the poll (sample here is New Hampshire), but my understanding is that's how it's being done all over.
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=750 Please note that questions 2, 5 & 6 are Push Poll questions. Those questions asked will later elicit a desired answer when asking which of the candidates to you favor. Question 2 is biased against General Wes Clark. Questions 5 & 6 are biased pro Howard Dean, and biased against most of the other candidates
Zogby New Hampshire PollRegardless of how you intend to vote, in your view, how likely is it that George W. Bush will be re-elected?
Should the Democratic party nominate someone who is a lifelong Democrat, or would Democrats be wise to select someone who is a recent convert to their way of thinking? Overall, how would you rate the job performance of George W. Bush as President?
Regardless of how you may vote in next year's presidential election, would you say you like or dislike George W. Bush as a person?
Thinking about the upcoming election in November 2004, do you think it is important that the Democratic Party nominate a presidential candidate who opposed the war with Iraq on principle, or should the party select someone who voted to... In a race for president, would you be more likely to support a Democratic candidate who supported the war in Iraq, or would you be more likely to support George W. Bush? Furthermore, I have 3 samples of newspaper stories, over a given period of time, which basically say the same thing. That one particular candidate is not going to make it...he has faded, or fizzled......the same person that says the same thing is John Zogby. Now that should be a story!
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/41887.htm Here's an article talking about Clark's slowing momentum, titled
DEM DEAN'S ROCK SOLID IN GRANITE STATE Dated October 25, 2003....using Zogby poll as reference.
Democratic front-runner Howard Dean has zoomed into a "juggernaut" lead in the key presidential primary state of New Hampshire while retired Gen. Wesley Clark's support has sagged into single digits, a new poll shows. Dean is at 40 percent - more than double Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) who is second at 17, followed by Clark and Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) tied for third at 6 percent each in the Zogby International poll.
Several prior polls put Clark at 10 or 11 percent and clearly in third in New Hampshire, but this survey suggests "The General" has fizzled in the wake of Iraq flip-flops and the revelation that he praised President Bush and voted for Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. "Clark's fizzle is the key to these numbers. Clark was hurting Dean. Now Clark has just collapsed and the direct beneficiary is Dean," said pollster John Zogby. ]http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1091321,00.html Here's another attempt....1 month later! Smear piece Titled "Democrats' general on the retreat" - In another valiant attempt to squelch Clark's momentum - Dated November 23, 2003 - Story uses Zogby quotes on what's wrong with the Clark Campaign.
As President George W. Bush arrives home from his state visit to Britain,
he will have the satisfaction of seeing Clark's campaign in crisis. It is low on funds, has lost key staff and is fizzling out in key battleground states.
Meanwhile,
the campaign of Vermont governor Howard Dean has captured the public imagination, securing his place as the frontrunner in the still crowded field of nine Democrat candidates.
'There was tremendous potential in Clark as a candidate, but there have been major problems in the execution,' said John Zogby, head of polling organization Zogby International which conducted research for Clark supporters before the general's announcement that he was joining the race.
That caused dismay among many supporters.
'People know that if Clark wins the Democrat nomination, those quotes are just a Republican attack ad waiting to happen,' Zogby said. Now, here a quote from the MSNBC story just out today. Here's a quote , notice who's doing the talking.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/1001091.asp?0cv=CB20,"
Pollster John Zogby said Dean is strong in all regions and among all voter groups. The poll of 503 Democratic and independent voters was taken Dec. 1-3 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points."Now this is the news story that should be reported. Heed my word, this will become news.
THE INAVITABILITY OF DEAN'S NOMINATION IS A SHAM, FED BY THE MEDIA WHORES.