When you have achieved Valhalla in the polling "science" -- being able
to skew the results any way you wish, the control of the media is
complete. This is because the media live by the polls. Some
don't understand the connection, but it is a simple case of
...well...physics. Time travel. The media wants to be right
all the time, and time travel is the only way. Unfortunately, the
physics don't allow that. So, when you twist things at your
whimsy, you simply invent. You try to travel into the future and
look at things the way you WANT them to be, not as they ARE. You
build a poll that interviews a biased group or design your questions
such that you hint at the answers you want. In the end, you get
what you want, the message or statement you want.
Never mind that all polls suffer from one basic flaw -- a flaw that
cannot be adjusted for without over-the-top intrusion. People
don't tell their true feelings all that often, and certainly not to a
pollster. Some play a game with the pollster, some just want to
"get away". Others are just sociapaths playing a more nefarious
game. Even a handful of these can skew a poll dramatically. And
of course there are respondents who have their own agenda. For
instance, they are mad at their local representative in government for
some slight, or perhaps a real issue that uncorks their ability to
really respond in a truthful manner. And then there is a huge
factor in thinking time. Pollsters don't allow you to think about
a question very long, wanting that "first thing" that comes to
mind. Well, fortunately, when people vote, or make major
household decisions, they take a little time to mull it over. Oh
sure, there are some who go to the voting booth without having read
anything about the issues...but I'm talking about that breed that
everyone seems to have forgotten about, the "silent majority".
My point here is that when you want to move public opinion, and shading
the truth does not concern you all that much, then you shape your
polls, which shapes the media and then that shapes the polls, and so
on. And when the shaper IS the media, watch out.
The Democratic Party wants to put their candidates in Congress and the
White House so bad, that they have embraced a number of
techniques. The shape polls and the media, and worse, they invent
mandates. And with a horribly left leaning media, it isn't hard to
suborn them to your program, it becomes trivially easy. Here's
how it works.
First, you create an issue. That isn't hard, that is the bread
and butter of politics. Once you have an issue, you shape a poll
to create the data you need to invent your mandate. Then you
campaign on that issue and lo-and-behold, you have your mandate
expressed by the media. Soon, the voters go out and you get a
small percentage of the voters in exit polls stating your mandate is
the issue most important to you. Then you use this "new mandate"
to create legislation and begin a new push to replace all that oppose
you.
For example, let's take the War in Iraq. You see polling numbers
that vary widely around 75% down to 54% of those polled who say they
want the U.S. out of Iraq. Not because it is the right
thing to do, or because it will not have effect on the U.S., but
perhaps simply because those polled are tired of watching Iraq News on
their television. If asked WHY they want the U.S. to leave, most
of those polled have a difficult time articulating the rationale.
And of those who CAN articulate the rationale, many simply parrot the
message from the mandate quest. The majority, however, put
conditions on withdrawal, and certainly are not is such a hurry as the
Democrats. The vast Majority are willing to try a few more ideas
in Iraq before quitting. And yes, many are supportative of the
idea of putting a lot of the onus on the Iraqis themselves.
Here are examples of what the Democrats decided they have as mandates.
It is pretty amazing.
Unconditional withdrawal from Iraq, regardless of the effect on
Iraq, the region, or the security of the U.S.
Investigation of Bush Administration "abuses" of power
Repeal of portions or all of the Patriot Act
Repeal of portions or all of the Military Commissions Act
Become signatories to the Kyoto Framework and stop global warming
The list actually goes on, and I believe over time you will see new
mandates generated as they are needed. The Mandate Falsehood is
promulgated by Harry Reid, Charles Shumer, Carl Levin and of course,
Nancy Pelosi, that paragon of leadership in the Legislative Branch.
The point of inventing mandates is to give yourself the ability to set
the agenda for Congressional business. Take a look at the list
above. Do any of these things support the War on Terror? Do
any of the so called mandates truly reflect the needs of the United
States at a time of war? Indeed, do any of the items in the list
have more to do with pacifism then conducting a war against the people
who have vowed to subjugate us under extremist Islamic law?
It is time for our Congress, and the Democrats to stop inventing
mandates that clearly do not exist in the mind of the American people.
And to end this trivialization of the business that the Legislative
branch MUST conduct. To stop the politicization of the business
of Congress and get back to doing their job!
It is time for Congress to quit using their fantasy mandates to suborn
the power of Congress, stop attacking the institution and the person of
the President of the United States, and get back to work.
Yes, that's it exactly. Congress, get back to work! Stop
playing 100% politics and get back to at least 50% of your time doing
the business of a legislature. Congress is the legislative
branch, not the Executive branch.. Congress is not supposed to be
spending 100% of their time pursing political strategy and
tactics. Congress is not the witch hunters of the eighteenth
century.
No one gave the Democratic Majority (which is such a small majority it
is hard to find when major issues are voted on) the mandate to go
rooting about government offices looking for nefarious Republican
abuses of the system. There is such a thing as probable
cause. The Democrats have only their liberal left feelings to
operate on, certainly no probable cause. In years past, this was
called a witch hunt. Find someone who you don't like and invent
charges and eventually you get to watch them burning at the stake
because the talk to themselves.
So Congress, get back to work and stop the witch hunt. You are
doing no one any good, and certainly not any good for your candidates
for 2008. And most importantly, you are doing a great disservice to
this country. The rest of the government, that is, outside the
Legislative Branch is doing their jobs. Why don't you do yours?
