Interview With Pollster John Zogby Next US chief has to heal the meanness

Straits Times ^ | 10/18/04 | By Pranay Gupte

[johniegrad]

A pollster provides, ostensibly, a scientifically based service in trying to understand markets, populations, and other groups and how they may react to certain situations. How is his opinion about politics of any value whatsoever?

[meyer]

His big test will come on Nov 2. In Singapore last Friday, he flatly predicted that Mr Kerry would become the 44th President of the United States.

That depends entirely on how much "sauce" the democrats get away with.

[airborne]

Not likely! I have 2 sons!

[sinanju]

It is a fascinating thumbnail history lesson. But I am afraid Mr. Zogby wears his prejudices on his sleeve. He cannot possibly present himself as an impartial observer and I would not be inclined to trust any of his stuff meant for public consumption. If a candidate commissions a poll for HIS eyes only--I would imagine he would want it to be brutally accurate--however. I can't avoid the feeling that it's all downhill from here.

'Republicans and Democrats aren't talking to each other across the aisle,' he said. 'In Congress, they used to swim together, play tennis and racquetball, and they used to party together. Now they don't even know one another's names. The civility has gone.'

Sure, right, and once upon a time republicans knew their place and did'nt act "uppity." Democrats could afford to pretend to be gentlemen then. Now they're scared and angry and after a decade in the driver's seat, republicans (house FAR more than senate) are finally getting it through their heads that they hold the reins.

[cricket]

How does one 'heal' a Liberal? Can't be done.

[TitansAFC]

It is good that he has said it's all over and Kerry has won.

It will be one less Democrat pollster to deal with if Bush wins. He will have lost every ounce of his minimal credibility.

[michaelbfree]

What a bunch of hogwash - move to the "creative center" my foot. The problem here, is that for 30 years the liberals have been on an all out attack to re-define political vocabulary. What is now considered by them to be "creative center" 30 years ago would have been considered far left. What they now call far right 30 years ago would be consider "creative center".....in other words, for 30 years liberals have been moving the country ever more leftward - we are now undergoing a move back to the traditional middle, and they refer to it as far right. IMHO anyways. So rather than the conservatives moving anywhere, it is time for the liberals to make the move towards us - they are the ones that engage in nothing but devisive politics - so up yours Zogby!!!

[Prime Choice]

Interview With Pollster John Zogby Next US chief has to heal the meanness

So, in Zogby's eyes, if the rabid Leftists still hate Bush and America in 4 years, then Bush will have failed.

Wonderful circular "logic" there... *rolling eyes*

[cricket]

"Zogby should know that the polarization started the minute democrats LOST their 4 decade reign of the House in '94."

Right. . .and the Demrats can start right there; by giving up their claim that THEY balanced the budget. . . ;^)

[HateBill]

The author of this article, Pranay Gupte, had been my next-door neighbor for the past 20 years until he recently relocated to Singapore. He is a journalist of the "old school" and does not have to be told to be fair and balanced.

[Let's Roll]

Yeah, I sure do want to be lectured by a muslim about "meanness".

[onyx]

Exactly right!
The GOP CONGRESS balanced the budget!

[meyer]

How does one 'heal' a Liberal? Can't be done.

One thought involves a rope, a sturdy tree, and a horse.

[NHResident]

Sorry, the divisiveness started when the CLintons and their buddies started treating anyone that didn't drink their kool aid like dirt. The democrats, their union thug allies and organizations declared an all out war on Conservatives and people of faith accusing them of the most evil and outrageous beliefs and behaviour - their surrogates (moveon.org, mikey moore, jimmy carter,soros, etc.) have dramatically lowered the level of politcal discussion and discourse. They have acted like intellectual pschpaths and sociopaths.

[cricket]

"One thought involves a rope, a sturdy tree, and a horse."

Forgot about that; the old-time, Liberal healing. . .that does work!

[Sofa King]

"It has gone, in his view, because President Bush deliberately chose to ignore the 'creative centre' that traditionally energised American politics."

Yeah, it couldn't be that the left has subsituted 'Bush is Hitler" for any type of logical argument.

[mylife]

The author of this article, Pranay Gupte, had been my next-door neighbor for the past 20 years until he recently relocated to Singapore.

How very interesting. Who did he write for prior to the Straits Times?

[Ksnavely]

That is Mr Zogby's way of saying that President Bush has been 'the most divisive president in modern American history'.

Yes it is all the presidents fault, George Soros, Ted Kennedy, MoveOn.org, Hollywood, did nothing wrong. What a load of crap. The left has spewed a mountain of venom at Bush, every hateful thing that could ever be said about some one has been said to him. They have called him a liar, a butcher, Ted Kennedy drew a moral equivalence between the bush administration and saddam. Cries of he knew and bush is hitler have pervaded in the lefts rhetoric. And all the while bush has let it go and just continued to lead. Mr. Zogby allow me to be even more divisive, you are an idiot.

[BluH2o]

Heal the meanness? Dubya tried that ... it doesn't work with the 'Rats. Best example ... GWB's overtures to Kennedy early in his administration ... Kennedy subsequently returned the favor by stabbing Bush in the back at every opportunity. The Clintonistas set this tone during the Clinton era ... the only thing that will change it ... their defeat, in congress, in the senate and in the executive branch. Spare the 'Rats no quarter ...

[badpacifist]

Listen Bozo..it wasn't W who divided this country it people like you!