[BelegStrongbow]

This stilted opinion is based upon what? Is there a logical train of thought you can cite that would bring out this far-from-obvious linkage between a vote for the military (which is what the 35%ers represent) and an internal loathing for the military?

That said, the poll itself presents a false choice, in that the botched joke was so poorly phrased it ended up being an insult. So it could be and likely is, both. The question of which you choose indicates which you value more: John Kerry's credibility or the morale of the military. For that, there appears to be no joint solution.

You could have pointed this out, rather than going on to insult the 35% who took the moment to stand up for the military even in the face of such a biased poll.

On the other train of thought, I'd like to say that the fix was in on that poll, but the law of large numbers suggests that the the percentages will move very little, once the total reaches something substantial (such as 35,000, for instance).

Still, it is odd it didn't move at all. At least varying to 54/36 or 56/34 is very possible, given the results are watched over 1/7th of the eventual total. Then again, that result is in line with the generic expectation for Democratic vote on Tuesday. What a coincidence, eh?

[Hazcat]

I do not understand your reply. I think the question is clear.

Did Kerry deliberately insult the military? 55%

Was Kerry making a joke that he screwed up (read this as Kerry did nothing wrong) 35%

And the the always 'clueless' I don't know 20%.

The 35% are standing up for Kerry the way I read it.

[Lumper20]

I do not reply to spin.

[raybbr]

I agree with you - it was a botched joke that was told to an audience of students. The intent of the joke still remains the same. He was pandering to students by intimating that if you don't study hard you could end up in Iraq as a political leader or a soldier.