The FINE PRINT on Bush's "Improved" poll numbers...a 5.2% MOE.

[Atman]

Yes folks, they're using this new poll as PROOF that America is slowly coming around. I've heard it at least a dozen times today (probably more). But this was the first time I actually looked up and saw the accompanying image on the television screen: There is a 5% increase in people approving of the way Bush is handling the war, except in tiny print at the bottom of the screen, it say the Margin Of Error in this poll is 5.2% So, for all intents and purposes, nothing has changed at all!

But, damn...the Kool Aid Drinkers got their thirst quenched, and we're going to hear all about tonight, and not one of the so-called "journalists" will point this fact out. Oh, and btw...since when do polls have such a huge MOE? Isn't the MOE on these things usually about 3%? Could be sloppy polling. Nah...

.

[underpants]

1. That throws that poll out then

5% is way to big to be considered a reliable poll.

[Mountainman]

2. In statistics the large MOE is because of the small sample size which

doesn't represent the population as a whole as much as a larger sample size would. The smaller the sample size the larger the chance for error.

[bigtree]

3. basically no significant change

good reminder

[BOSSHOG]

4. I heard a yahoo on radio several months ago talking about bush's

approval rating. Think it was about 35. Yahoo said the margin of error was 3.4% so bush's approval could actually be as high as 42%. (Doubling the margin of error.) Conservative math.

[bdamomma]

5. oh this is nothing but BS, the media again is whoring itself

for *'ie.

[BOSSHOG]

6. If his approval is going up then so are the number of stupid people in the country

[againes654]

7. Well that doesn't suprise me

Since funds from NCLB are being funnled back into the bush family.

[Buzz Clik]

8. Bush's poll numbers? Does anyone really care?

He is now months away from sailing on to permanent retirement. He has never given any regard to his numbers when playing the role of The Decider.

So, who cares?

[BOSSHOG]

You are right, but

I'd like his approval rating at about 5% on election day next year. If only he had a conscience that would bother him.

[Atman]

10. The trouble is, it's his "APPROVAL ON HANDLING THE WAR" numbers

that they're trumpeting. As if suddenly 'Murkah is comin' 'round to the Great Decider's stategery. It's TOTAL bullshit!

.

[BOSSHOG]

11. Most likely a warm and fuzzy and "patriotic" bump right after 9-11

[Buzz Clik]

13. When I used to think about his poll numbers, ...

... my thought was not those who oppposed him. The big question is, "How could anyone continue to support him under these circumstances?"

So, yes -- single digit poll numbers would be outstanding, but anyone who supported him six months ago will still be supporting him 16 months from now.

[pnwmom]

9. Thanks for pointing that out.

9 times out of 10, the media just spews the stats without explaining their significance -- or lack thereof.

[KoKo]

12. Given the 24/7 Propaganda Hype....It looks like so far the PR Rollout is a failure..

Bet they were thinking they might get him back to that old magic 48 or 49% that they could spin as "most Americans agree....blah, blah, blah."