The Biggest Missing Story in Politics

American Thinker ^ | August 25, 2008 | Bruce Walker

[george76]

The Battleground Poll, the most respected and thorough of all public opinion polls, released its latest results on August 20th.

Although many people read this poll for the data on voter preference in upcoming elections, for voter opinions about the two major political parties, for what things matter most to voters, I always zip past this data in the first fifteen pages of poll results and go straight to Question D3, which very quietly and totally ignored proclaims the biggest missing story in American politics and which is the only story, in the long run, that really matters.

Sixty percent of Americans considered themselves conservative.

[george76]

This is a huge political story - except that it is not “new” at all.

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/08/the-big-story-6.html

[the invisib1e hand]

that would explain the necessity for massive propaganda on the part of the left to gain influence.

[djsherin]

***3% of Americans did not know or refused to answer.***

I refuse to answer a poll I am voluntarily taking!

I’ve always thought the “Refuse to answer/don’t know column is a waste of time and feedback. In either case, why are you answering the poll?

[Morgan in Denver]

Thanks for the information. I am putting links below that may help anyone wanting to follow what is going on in Denver this week.
- - - - - - - - - - -

Denver News Outlets for the upcoming Democrat Convention.

All times listed are Mountain Time Zone

TELEVISION:

Channel 2 is an independent station that has been here for years.
http://cw2.trb.com/

Channel 4 is the CBS affiliate. Used to be NBC and has a respected crew.
http://cbs4denver.com/

Channel 7 is the ABC affiliate. Used to be CBS and ranks last among the main network news stations.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/index.html

Channel 9 is the NBC affiliate. Used to be ABC and is still the local Denver news leader.
http://www.9news.com/

Channel 31 is out FNC affiliate.
http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/

RADIO:

KOA Radio is our largest radio station at 50,000 watts. The Mike Rosen program, from 9:00 to 12:00 noon is a leading local conservative show host. Rosen is opposite Rush nationally but is so strong locally that KOA kept him in this slot. Rosen will probably provide the best conservative analysis in Denver. Rush is delayed here and on-air from noon to 3:00 PM on KOA. Other host include Gunny Bob and Jon Caldara. Jon Caldara is excellent and the president of our Independence Institute, which is known nationally, at http://www.i2i.org for 2d Amendment issues as well as right to work and other free market positions.
http://www.850koa.com/main.html

KNUS Radio hosts Sean Hannity from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, and considered the local conservative outlet. Hugh Hewitt is on from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Also hosts Bill Bennett, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Miller, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Mike Gallagher, Mark Levin and Michael Savage.
http://710knus.townhall.com/

KHOW Radio has a mix of shows. Peter Boyles from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM is good. He is more of a populist, along the lines of Bill O’Reilly. For example, he’s pro-choice and supports the homosexual agenda but he supports the death penalty and is hot after Democrat leaders. He supports the border agents and opposes the Mexican highway. The Caplis/Silverman show is good but this is a conservative versus liberal Democrat program. Bill O’Reilly is on this one from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and Glen Beck from noon to 3:00 PM
http://khow.com/main.html

NEWSPAPERS:

Rocky Mountain News – Now merged with the Denver Post but considered the more conservative of the two.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/

Denver Post – Now merged with the Rocky and considered the more liberal of the two
http://www.denverpost.com/

Westword Alternative Newspaper. This may have more information on Recreate 68 than the main newspapers.
http://westword.com/

Colorado Springs Gazette – Colorado Springs is an hour south of Denver and should have coverage.
http://www.gazette.com/

Ft. Collins is an hour north of Denver and should have coverage.
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

This is why the Left has had to infiltrate the colleges, MSM, etc. They have to constantly obfuscate what they are so as to fool 10-15% of the elecorate at each and every election.

[MtnClimber]

It is surprising that Republicans can win an election at all with all the biased reporting from the Dominant Left-Wing Media.

[Ancesthntr]

I’ve always thought the “Refuse to answer/don’t know column is a waste of time and feedback. In either case, why are you answering the poll?

That answer is NOT a waste of time: it self-identifies the f'ing morons. Usually, that number is larger than the margin of error. QED: all polls are nonsense, because concerted action by said f'ing morons can completely upset the results. In other words, the polls damn themselves with the answer.

[paudio]

Sixty percent of Americans considered themselves conservative.

This is the Battleground Polls, isn't it? So, IIRC, the figure only refers to those 'battleground' states.

[SunkenCiv]

go straight to Question D3, which very quietly and totally ignored proclaims the biggest missing story in American politics and which is the only story, in the long run, that really matters. Sixty percent of Americans considered themselves conservative.

Thanks geo.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Some things haven’t changed from the days when Nixon talked about the “silent majority”.

The noisy people out there are those at the extreme left of politics. They are making noise all out of proportion to their numbers about, pick one : racism, sexism, the war, the economy, the environment, ad nauseum.

Millions of us go to work every day and are not out there protesting about the latest left wing grievance, real or imagined. We’re living our lives and don’t have time for that. But we do have political opinions, and we vote. And our numbers are much greater than those of the lunatic fringe.

[Rudder]

What is Question D3 and what were the results to Question D3 in the August 20, 2008 Battleground Poll? It is this:

“When thinking about politics and government, do you consider yourself to be...

Very conservative

Somewhat conservative

MODERATE

Somewhat liberal

Very liberal

UNSURE/REFUSED”

In August 2008, Americans answered that question this way: (1) 20% of Americans considered themselves to be very conservative; (2) 40% of Americans considered themselves to be somewhat conservative; (3) 2% of Americans considered themselves to be moderate; (4) 27% of Americans considered themselves to be somewhat liberal; (5) 9% of Americans considered themselves to be very liberal; and (6) 3% of Americans did not know or refused to answer.

[AnalogReigns]

Why is this a big deal? A majority of African-American voters also consistently label themselves “conservative” yet they still vote 90% in Presidential elections for the Democrat. This election will likely be 95%.

[george76]

Thanks for the list.

[TrueConstitutionalPrinciples]

“Millions of us go to work every day and are not out there protesting about the latest left wing grievance, real or imagined. We’re living our lives and don’t have time for that. But we do have political opinions, and we vote. And our numbers are much greater than those of the lunatic fringe.”

And yet these lunatics have managed to take control of the K-12 schools and foist perverted social engineering and anti-american indoctrination in practically every neighborhood of our great nation! It is only by long hard work and patient persuasion that we are gradually able to undo the damage in our young adults.

[Onelifetogive]

I’ve always thought the “Refuse to answer/don’t know column is a waste of time and feedback. In either case, why are you answering the poll?

Many poll questions are stupid and/or impossible to correctly answer.

People may consider themselves socially conservative and economically liberal (Huckabites,) but not find an acceptable answer.

[detch]

Reagan's landslide vote — mentioned twice — was in 1984, not 1988.

Bush ran and won in 1988.

Ann Coulter said it well concerning New York Times headlines that kept talking about polls showing conservative views being “behind in the polls” while the elections kept validating conservatives winning, from Gore in 2000, pre-9/11, post-9/11, Kerry in 2004, etc.

Compared to liberals — Conservatives don't get called for polls, and when they do, they don't participate.

And Katie is going to get the opportunity to cry on election night again.

Unfortunately (NOT), we won't have Dan Rather to kick around any more.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

a landslide bigger than Ronald Reagan in 1988

Every time I read something at American Thinker, I lose a little more respect for it.

[Don W]

When none of the answers given by the pollster are even remotely close to what you think, tell me what other option there is other than “refused/don’t know”?