[kabar]

What the problem is you confuse manufactured polling data with public opinion. You also seem unable to grasp the concept that we are a Constitutional Republic, NOT a Direct Democracy.

As someone who majored in political science at the undergraduate and graduate level, I believe I grasp that concept and know something about it.

What the polls claim people think about an issue is utterly irreverent [sic]to what should be done here. That the problem with the DC Old boy's club.

The polls are neither "irreverent" or irrelevant. Elected officials pay attention to public opinion polls because they have some relevance to them personally if they want to continue to stay in public office. No one is advocating that representatives should govern by polls, but it is a factor in what they decide to do.

Every issue is addressed in terms of how it will impact the next election. MAYBE one time the Old Boy's club should think about what state of the world is going to be in 5-10-15 years IF the DC Old Boys continue sitting on their thumbs when it comes to Iran.

Profiles in courage. Public opinion and reelection affect everything they deal with whether it is illegal immigration, entitlement reform, or foreign policy. Add to that the influence of lobbyists and money and you have the typical Congressman.

[MNJohnnie]

So whose poll do you listen too Mr Public Official? PEW? CBS? MSNBC? Wall Street Journal? Markist? Rasmussen? Washington Post? Fox News? CNN? Problem for you poll watchers. What the public "thinks" depends wholly on which poll you read.

Any public opinion poll is only as reliable as the intellectual honesty of the people conducting the poll. You have a political science background then you know JUST how much impact HOW a question is asked has on outcomes. Start with a false premise in your question, get a false response. IF you actually dig into most current public opinion polls and look at the sample weighting, questions asked, times polled etc, you see clearly how public opinion polling is now conducted to validate and propagandize not to sample opinions.

Basing public policy on opinion polls is the behavior of fools. That is one of the reasons WHY we are a Constitutional Republic NOT a Direct Democracy. How you feel as a citizen about this or that is, an always should be, irrelevant to political leaders. We elect them to represent us, not do our bidding.

Expecting politicians to decide what to do by taking a poll would be as stupid as expecting your Surgeon to decide how to operate by asking 20 uninformed layman how to cut you. One of the fundamental problems with Modern US Political is we no longer have any leaders, we have a bunch of poll watching whores. The ONLY thing a poll is good for is to sample how well you are getting your message out, it has never been, and should never be, the criteria for making political decisions. Here is something you poll watchers should consider. Bill Clinton did NOTHING unless the polls told him to. How much did he get done? Funny thing about old Bill. Left office with approval numbers in the 60s and a likability rating of 31%. Got nothing done, left the country in the mess but was popular. If that what you think we should be seeking in a political leader, you are a fool.

[MNJohnnie]

BTW, that something is does not make it right. That seem to be you whole problem in today's discussion. You want to cling to all the old comfortable certainties of a world that no longer exists. Your world died 09-11-01. The whole problem is too many Americans in politics these days are mindlessly clinging to that corpse rather then having the courage to deal with the world as it is.

[mtnwmn]

"Public opinion and reelection affect everything they deal with whether it is illegal immigration, entitlement reform, or foreign policy. Add to that the influence of lobbyists and money and you have the typical Congressman."

I agree; therefore, WE should be talking to them more, rather than less.

[AliVeritas]

check it out:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/