The Beat Goes On
Mood:  special
Topic: Politics
Well, it just won't stop. The exit polls are still a source of controversy. From CommonDreams.org:

"[Pollster John] Zogby was concerned about the difference between some of the exit polls (surveys of individuals who have just cast ballots) and the official vote counts. 'We're talking about the Free World here,' he pointedly noted."

Apparently we still think that polls are more accurate than the actual vote. I understand that exit polls are used in other countries to test whether an election might have fradulent results (compare the recent Ukrainian elections), but observe that there were also reports of widespread irregularies, something not yet thought by many in the US.

"His comments came shortly after Ukraine's Central Election Commission announced that Yanukovych, whose candidacy was backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, won the runoff with 49.46 percent of the vote, defeating pro-Western opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko, who was said to have received 46.61 percent. Exit polls on election day had put Yushchenko well ahead, and U.S. and European observers said there were widespread irregularities (emphasis mine)."

There were no widespread irregularities in the vote three weeks ago, some isolated problems, yes, but nothing widespread. Even though 80% of Americans believe the election was legitimate, though the anti-Bush forces are lobbying hard.

"John Zogby, meanwhile, was more concerned about the short end of another poll this week -- one that indicated that about four in five Americans thought President Bush had been legitimately elected three weeks ago. 'But, Keith, 20 percent don't think the president is legitimate. And worse yet, if you take the other half, those that didn't vote for him, about half of the other side doesn't think the president is legitimate. That just hasn't existed for a long, long time in our system. We need to restore, I think, some semblance of legitimacy and honor to the system.(emphasis again mine)' "

Bush will never be considered a legitimate president by those on the left. The only way this election (as well as the 2000 election) would be considered legitimate is if Kerry (or Gore) would have won. Of course these same people who think the exit polls are sooo accurate forget that most of the final polls before election day had Bush leading. They really need to make up their minds.

And it's always interesting that you hear nothing of any irregularities in any state but Florida and Ohio. I wonder why ....