[Mulderator]

I'm sure everyone heard the exit poll results early yesterday and it even had a few of the resident liberals gloating about their impending victory. I had already been warned ahead of time not to listen to polls as was the grassroots Republican machine that was getting out the vote (and they did a tremendous job).

Anyway, we learn today that these supposed "independent pollsters" hired by the major news media are not independent at all. They actually based there polls on 60% women voters and primarily in cities! Well, of course that is going to heavily favor Democrats and that was the whole point--discourage Republican voters early in the election, but it is damned hard to discourage Republicans!

I was primarily watching Fox because I know that's the only place I'd get an independent and accurate picture of the election, but I kept flipping over to NBC/ABC/CBS just to see what they were saying and I was absolutly disgusted. Here is Jennings at like 2:00 in the morning talking like Ohio was still in the running and they had refused to call it for Bush (even though Fox had done it at least 2 hours before). CBS with Blather was even worse--they had some hack reporter completely distorting what the Secretary of State was saying in Ohio as to the result and that there was still all these ballots that had to be counted and not to jump the gone and that Kerry could still conceivably win Ohio. Blather was of course blathering on about Ohio and what Kerry could do--the look on his face was of utter disgust--he refused to acknowledge the loss just like he refused to admit the fraudulent papers he used in his story.

The ridiculousness of this is that these "calls" aren't guesses--they are based on statistical models and are very accurate. Anyone who has even a rudimentary knowledge of statistics knows that when 97% of the vote is in and Bush has a 140,000 vote lead, there is no friggin way in hell statistically that lead can change. That's why Kerry conceded this morning, but he had to know it last night. I'm not blaming him--I think they had a right to wait, but not CBS/ABC. They're statisticians are working with the same stuff Fox and MSNBC is working with and they called Ohio hours earlier. They had a duty to at least reveal that statistically, the odds of Kerry taking Ohio had to be like 3000 to 1 or something along those lines.

I am absolutely certain that if the major media in the US had a shred of character and were truly independent, Bush would have won this election 55% to 45%. He won despite all the manipulated polls.

Frankly, I think it was outright fraud that drove the exit polls and I think that should be investigated.

[AKA Arizona]

Absolutely and lets not forget CNN they where the worst.....

[WarC]

Yes! CNN didn't give Bush Ohio until just this last hour or so. (it's 2:23pm here as I type this)

cnn.com had an excellent map though, I watched it in conjunction with the various stations all yesterday and most of today (its actually still open in another window)

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by Mulder

I was primarily watching Fox because I know that's the only place I'd get an independent and accurate picture of the election

Is anybody else frightened by the fact that's true?

Don't get me wrong, I watch Fox alot, love alot of their programming...but it's scary when Fox is the most reputable news source!

[Sunmune]

cnn.com had an excellent map though, I watched it in conjunction with the various stations all yesterday and most of today (its actually still open in another window)

Since I don't have t.v. I was on the internet with Fox.com. As much as I love Fox, they were way too slow on their website. I loved CNN.s map also. Updated every minute or two and I didn't have to listen to the drivel

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by Gibble

Is anybody else frightened by the fact that's true?

Don't get me wrong, I watch Fox alot, love alot of their programming...but it's scary when Fox is the most reputable news source!

It is disgusting is what it is. News is supposed to be balanced and fair and all we get from the major networks is liberal drivel. Hell, its even worse in Canada and Europe--I would be infuriated with the distortions if I lived there! I don't know how people stand to live in a place where only one political veiwpoint (socialism) is presented as though that's the only viewpoint that has any validity!

[Ciberblade]

"next week on FOX watch lions eat Christians"

Keep in mind...that even though many did not call oHIo for Bush till the last minute...Fox did not call Florida for Bush until hours after the other news channels had.

[deh]

I thought it was wild how for example 1% of the precinct was in and NJ was 50% Bush, 50% Kerry but Fox (i believe it was Fox but they all project winners) put the "check mark" next to Kerry to indicate he won New Jersey.
I'm thinking it's 50/50 how the heck can they already say Kerry won esp. when they said they were going to be more careful with thier projections. Lo and behold though Kerry did indeed win.
I understand that NJ typically votes Dem but isn't it kind of gutsy giving Kerry the nod with 1% in and it tied at 50%?

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by Mulder

It is disgusting is what it is. News is supposed to be balanced and fair and all we get from the major networks is liberal drivel. Hell, its even worse in Canada and Europe--I would be infuriated with the distortions if I lived there! I don't know how people stand to live in a place where only one political veiwpoint (socialism) is presented as though that's the only viewpoint that has any validity!

That's why I don't watch the news, or read the paper...and the few times I do...you'll hear me saying things like "But that number means nothing in this context, tell me n so it has some meaning" over and over and over

[tomlunt]

I think what was going on as far as "calling the election" was that none of the networks wanted to post that either candidate had over 270 electoral votes until after Sen. Kerry conceded the election.

Fox news had Pres. Bush with 269 electoral votes, but didn't call Nevada until after Sen. Kerry called Pres. Bush. Same with MSNBC. Yet all they could talke about was Ohio.

CBS, etc. called Nevada for Pres. Bush, but waited on Ohio. Same result.

TL

[oldie]

Originally Posted by Mulder

It is disgusting is what it is. News is supposed to be balanced and fair and all we get from the major networks is liberal drivel. Hell, its even worse in Canada and Europe--I would be infuriated with the distortions if I lived there! I don't know how people stand to live in a place where only one political veiwpoint (socialism) is presented as though that's the only viewpoint that has any validity!

BBC - don't think so old chap

[Raeli]

Originally Posted by AKA Arizona

Absolutely and lets not forget CNN they where the worst.....

You know what's funny (and great), I did forget about CNN! I didn;t even think of them until reading your post! I would occasionally leave Fox last night to check on the broadcast networks, but I never even thought of checking CNN! I love it!

[Raeli]

Originally Posted by ciberblade

"next week on FOX watch lions eat Christians"

What time is this on? I want to set my VCR!

[Raeli]

Originally Posted by deh

I thought it was wild how for example 1% of the precinct was in and NJ was 50% Bush, 50% Kerry but Fox (i believe it was Fox but they all project winners) put the "check mark" next to Kerry to indicate he won New Jersey.
I'm thinking it's 50/50 how the heck can they already say Kerry won esp. when they said they were going to be more careful with thier projections. Lo and behold though Kerry did indeed win.
I understand that NJ typically votes Dem but isn't it kind of gutsy giving Kerry the nod with 1% in and it tied at 50%?

I think that at that point they were still counting on the exit polls to be more accurate than they turned out to be. Don't forget the NJ was among the first to close the polls, and the difference between expected and actual had not been writ large just yet.

[Chris A]

I was watching Dan Rather.. I kept expecting him to explode.. I was watching him work real hard at spinning things to show Kerry as leading..


I predict that there are quite a few out there that will soon be saying that the vote was rigged because the Exit polls showed Kerry winning yet the votes came out Bush...