Skip to comments.
Harry Reid, Gen. Petraeus, and cooking data
Ameican Thinker ^
| September 16,2007
| Denis Keohane
Posted on 09/16/2007 7:25:05 PM PDT by Kaslin
In an interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid claimed a million Iraqis have been killed since the beginning of the invasion. How did Reid arrive at that figure? He probably got it from this poll. I know of no non-poll study suggesting anything like such a high number.
A poll! Questions were asked of a ‘representative sample' of 1,461 adults in Iraq, and from that casualty figures are determined. The pollsters actually suggest that their results indicate as many as 1,220,580 deaths since the invasion.
Among their conclusions, which they say are within plus or minus 2.4% (based purely on sampling size, not on the reliability of hearsay), they claim 20% of those have died as a result of car bombs. That is 244,000 deaths from car bombs, in four and a half years.
That's 150 people killed every single day by car bombs for 4 ½ years. I watch the news, and I don't see anything like that reported. Google news turns up a car bomb that killed ten in Baghdad three days ago. Reports will be in any moment now on the other dozen or so car bombs that went off that very same day, and the day before, and the day after... won't they?
Just several days before General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker reported to the House and Senate, we heard Democrats go on and on about cooking data. Nancy Pelosi invoked the phrase "The plural of anecdote is not data." . Of course not! But her Senate counterpart seems to be saying poll results can yoeld casualty data.
Harry Reid was quoted by ABC News saying:
"Before the [Petreaus] report arrives in Congress, it will pass through the White House spin machine, where facts are often ignored or twisted, and intelligence is cherry-picked."
Now he seems to assert that poll results are useful as data on casualties! Not police, hospital, morgue or cemetery records! Poll results, based on what the authors of the poll deem a "representative sample."
Harry Reid deserves a new nickname: "Give ‘em hooey Harry"!
TOPICS: Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: 110th; innocentcivilians; iraq; patraeusreport; reid
1
posted on
09/16/2007 7:25:06 PM PDT
by
Kaslin
To: Kaslin
In the words of Count Lantos, “I’m not buying it.”
2
posted on
09/16/2007 7:32:46 PM PDT
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all.)
To: Kaslin
In an interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid claimed a million Iraqis have been killed since the beginning of the invasion. In the words of Barbara Boxer, "One must suspend disbelief."
Or was that Dianne Feinstein? No matter. They're all the same to me.
3
posted on
09/16/2007 7:35:41 PM PDT
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all.)
To: Kaslin
Harry Reid was quoted by ABC News saying: "Before the [Petreaus] report arrives in Congress, it will pass through the White House spin machine, where facts are often ignored or twisted, and intelligence is cherry-picked."
He knows this because that is how they did it in the Clinton administration and that is how they will do it in the Clinton administration.
4
posted on
09/16/2007 7:36:31 PM PDT
by
depressed in 06
(Bolshecrat, the amoral party of what if and whine.)
To: depressed in 06
The funny thing is Dingy Harry and Mama Boss Nancy were the ones who demanded this report in the first place!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
5
posted on
09/16/2007 7:43:14 PM PDT
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
To: Kaslin
6
posted on
09/16/2007 7:44:30 PM PDT
by
JoanVarga
To: Texas Eagle
Laura Ingraham’s sidekicks, Matt and Lee, were having a blast with that sound bite (no pun intended). When Lantos said, “I don’t buy it” it sounded as if he was saying, “I don’t bite”
They played it over and over, and she told them they were being stupid. I thought it was hilarious. He sounded just like Count Dracula, “I don’t biiite.”
7
posted on
09/16/2007 7:48:56 PM PDT
by
Shelayne
(NO running or relenting until the problem has been dealt with-decisively,systematically,permanently.)
To: Texas Eagle
If you torture data long enough, it will confess to whatever you wish.
8
posted on
09/16/2007 7:49:02 PM PDT
by
txhurl
To: goldstategop
It was unintentional that, in looking for RedState’s poster, I googled the names Eisenhower and Petraeus together. You don’t even wanna see what the moonbats have cooked up with that combination.
They think Petraeus wants to be the next Eisenhower.
9
posted on
09/16/2007 7:50:43 PM PDT
by
JoanVarga
To: Shelayne
Laura Ingrahams sidekicks, Matt and Lee, were having a blast with that sound bite (no pun intended). When Lantos said, I dont buy it it sounded as if he was saying, I dont biteBusted. I confess I stole it from Laura Ingraham.
10
posted on
09/16/2007 7:53:23 PM PDT
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all.)
To: Texas Eagle
“In the words of Barbara Boxer”
Hillary.
11
posted on
09/16/2007 8:05:28 PM PDT
by
toddlintown
(Five bullets and Lennon goes down. Yet not one hit Yoko. Discuss.)
To: toddlintown
12
posted on
09/16/2007 8:07:54 PM PDT
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all.)
To: Kaslin
To accept what Herry Reid says about anything would require, how did she say it, “a willing suspension of disbelief?”
They have such a way with words ;-)
13
posted on
09/16/2007 9:05:20 PM PDT
by
DakotaRed
(Liberals don't rattle sabers, they wave white flags)
To: Texas Eagle
Hillary basically accused Gen Petraeus of lying in the Senate hearings when she said.......to believe his report required a “ Willful suspension of disbelief”....
To: Kaslin
"Give em hooey Harry"!
I think "Give 'em hell Harry" works too...he gives sane conservatives a hell of a time with his ridiculous statements and press releases.
15
posted on
09/17/2007 12:57:34 PM PDT
by
G8 Diplomat
(If you can't say something intelligent, don't say anything at all. Congress goes silent...)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson