Their ubiquitous polls present prescribed questions and statements to fit their already defined answers. They need such narrow conformity to assert their self-perceived importance. You can be sure it is designed to best reflect their agenda.
What scenario doesn’t have a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand opinions? Yet they squeeze opinion down to the few same, lame, tired responses.
You shall know the data and the data shall keep us captive. The freedom of truth lies in the millions of complex and changing minds their polls can never capture.
The devil is in the nuances. "Strengthen America's position abroad" could mean anything, as could "focus on domestic issues." Our position abroad could refer to expanding aid or joining other countries to combat climate change. The GOP is focusing on domestic issues so as to suck the country dry for the actual and wannabe oligarchs. Or to impose a Christofascist regime.
Questions and interpretations are deliberately vague, rendering the vast majority of polls useless.
Another writer I follow just posted this as Americans are kept in the dark about the realities.
'Trump Silent on Kiev's Terrorism, Reveals Complicity and a Desire for War'
Since 2022, Ukrainian terror attacks have killed over 6,000 Russian civilians. Trump won't condemn Kiev's terrorism, making clear that his 'peace' plan is a fraud. As usual, double standards.
As Russian forces liberate the Kursk region, the grisly reality of Ukrainian occupation is very clear — possibly hundreds of elderly and infirm civilians executed in their homes by U.S. armed troops. The evidence is overwhelming, yet you won’t hear about it in U.S. or European media.
How has Trump reacted? Did he condemn the Ukrainian terrorists as he condemns terrorists in the Middle East? Not at all. Instead, Trump appealed to President Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian war criminals now surrounded by Russian forces! Washington’s infamous double standards persist under Trump. Even more, I’ll wager that among the trapped Ukrainians are plenty of guys from the U.S. and Europe.
Ukrainian attacks against Russian civilians in Donbass and other frontline regions occur daily, made possible thanks to U.S. military intel, recon drones, and Elon Musk’s Starlink. In addition, Kiev has also stepped-up long-range drone attacks, targeting residential buildings across Russia, even in Moscow and its suburbs.
This is a deliberate campaign of terrorism aimed at Russia’s civilian population, to try to break their resolve, and it’s financed and orchestrated by western governments. These are war crimes, and western media (not surprisingly) remain silent. Instead, they hurl the same accusations at Russia (as is often their tactic).
Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry released data for Ukrainian terrorist attacks since early 2022. Over 6,000 Russian civilians have been killed, and over 13,000 injured in Donbass, Zaporozhe, Kherson, Kursk and Belgorod regions. About two-thirds were victims of NATO/Ukrainian artillery and HIMARS rocket systems. The remaining one-third were attacked by drones.................................................................
As long as Biden and Harris are also similarly incarcerated plus Antony Blinken is deported to Israel and forbidden ever to return to USA or work in any state's government.
Also to be incarcerated are every living President, Vice President, Secretaries of Defense, State, and Treasury, Directors of the CIA and NSA, and Chairmen of the Federal Reserve since Jimmy Carter was President. .
You didn't dip far enuf back!! The wars waged (without being officially designated "wars") against the peoples of Korea and Viet Nam, etc., etc. for the "crime" of seeking independence from US domination should merit prosecution for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity of any officials from those years still alive. [Those first two instances I cited could have resulted in a total of 5 to 6 million victims. We'll never know the exact figures of course.] But this notion is yet another exercise in FANTASY, sadly.
I've been saying this about Trump since 2015--hey, that's a decade already!--with Musk's significance relatively a fresh topic. But of course we're dealing in FANTASY scenarios. Who's gonna order The Donald carted off to the "funny farm"? A Federal Judge?? As I'd predicted, Trump will ignore any court ruling that displeases him.
FROM FRANCE COMES A CALL FOR TRUMP’S AMERICA TO RETURN LADY LIBERTY. HERE’S WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN
PARIS (AP) — Hey, America: Give the Statue of Liberty back to France.
So says a French politician who is making headlines in his country for suggesting that the U.S. is no longer worthy of the monument that was a gift from France nearly 140 years ago.
As a member of the European Parliament and co-president of a small left-wing party in France, Raphaël Glucksmann cannot claim to speak for all of his compatriots.
But his assertion in a speech this weekend that some Americans “have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants” reflects the broad shockwaves that U.S. President Donald Trump’s seismic shifts in foreign and domestic policy are triggering in France and elsewhere in Europe.
“Give us back the Statue of Liberty,” Glucksmann said, speaking Sunday to supporters of his Public Place party, who applauded and whistled.
“It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her. So she will be happy here with us,” Glucksmann said.
The White House brushed back on the comments Monday, saying France instead should still be “grateful” for U.S. support during World War I and World War II. [Note: To say nothing of what we did to bankroll, arm, and equip its doomed effort to reclaim its Colonies in Indochina after World War II.]
Nice irony! I accompanied my final post on my personal website--since discontinued because the hosting company is for sh_t, grossly incompetent--with a graphic of "Lady Liberty" and my own caption suggesting Trump & Co would likely send her back to France for being "woke"!!
""Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
would definitely qualify as being "Woke" to the worst possible degree. Especially with all those "terrorists, rapists, murders, and so forth" just yearning to be free out there.
The old TV series "Max Headroom" had a plot device of the TV executives making decisions on which shows to cancel, on the basis of instant polls seconds after a show's premiere. The daily reporting in this country of some new poll - and the local news stations love having one daily - the more it's apparent how superficial and transactional we are as a society.
As you note, reduction of complex issues to simple poll questions offers few chances for reflection or to inform so-called decision makers with what the electorate is actually thinking. Given John Oliver's report last night on sports books, maybe we should just go all the way and have sports books on current events. At least people would have a chance to get a payoff from the bad decision making of our 'leaders' (said only partially tongue in cheek).
I support the ethnic Russian speaking Ukrainians that have been being persecuted since Maiden. I do nor support fascist Nazi western Slavic Ukrainians and their hatred of their brothers and sisters in eastern Ukraine.
I do not support Trump, his party, his cult followers nor to I support the neoliberal forever war mongering Drmocrats.
I read your articles daily. It's a fresh breath of SANITY and TRUTH. Thank you for pointing out some of the information we need to know. Also I respect the fact that you regularly reply to your reader comments. It shows us that you are paying attention to what citizens are saying. Something we haven't gotten from "our reps and senators" in Washington for a long time and I believe some of the the voters are starting to pay attention too!
War is a religion in America now. To question the value of war is to be in league with the Devil. Time for all Americans to wear camo or dress like a warrior 24/7. Pull up a photo of Zelensky for the new dress code and get shopping!
Speaking of religion, FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation) informs me that town officials in Quincy, MA of all places want to use $850,000 of public funds to erect ten-foot-tall bronze statues of a pair of Catholic saints!!! Yes, Quincy, Massachusetts! Is there no little island of sanity remaining in Trumpmerica??
"Trump Ignores Judge on Deportation of Venezuelan 'terrorists' to El Salvador" reads the headlines.
As i have said before and will continue to say until proven wrong or silenced:
This Nation is as close to a fully operational autocratic, plutocratic, oligarchic, patriarchal, totalitarian Dictatorship as it has ever been in its 248+ year history.
At this point, the Question every American should be asking themselves and each other is: "What ~ if anything ~ can be done to prevent that Dictatorship from happening? Or is it already too late for that?"
If that's the case, then the question everybody needs to be asking is: "How will i, my Family, Loved Ones, Friends and Neighbors, Colleagues, Cohorts, and Compeers fare when that Dictatorship happens?"
The reason I never respond to surveys is that they are either trying to prove their point or they are covers for fund raising (which comes at the end of the survey).
It's not hard to design a survey to give you the answer you want; but it is hard to find an honest surveyor who doesn't already have have his answer in his pocket .
Does anybody anywhere in America's Ruling Political Caste ~ or in any position of authority or power in this Government ~ actually, really CARE what any opinion poll says?
Especially if it proclaims and poll-proves something that they disagree with?
Use of the words "Americans" and "think" in same sentence is a bit oxymoronic, methinks. I see that dear old Chuck Schumer has a book out he wants to promote, but he fears a pie in the face (or worse) if he shows his face in public. Good!! Who the hell would want to read his drivel?? Also, speaking of opinion polls, it's being said that public view of Dem. establishment is at an all-time (or at least in recent decades) LOW. And ever so deservedly so! Unfortunately for us, and the world at large, a third-party candidate for the top office in the land still doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of being elected. How bad do things have to get for that to change?? I SHUDDER TO THINK!! (speaking of thinking!)
Skewed poll question choice, framing and language (to steer the polled towards confirming a customer's desired results). Who wants to pay for a poll just to find out they can't get what they want?!
Crap like is why I quit responding to most "mainstream" polls. Also why results of many (more?) honest/independently conducted polls are never going to be published in MSM.
Their ubiquitous polls present prescribed questions and statements to fit their already defined answers. They need such narrow conformity to assert their self-perceived importance. You can be sure it is designed to best reflect their agenda.
What scenario doesn’t have a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand opinions? Yet they squeeze opinion down to the few same, lame, tired responses.
You shall know the data and the data shall keep us captive. The freedom of truth lies in the millions of complex and changing minds their polls can never capture.
The devil is in the nuances. "Strengthen America's position abroad" could mean anything, as could "focus on domestic issues." Our position abroad could refer to expanding aid or joining other countries to combat climate change. The GOP is focusing on domestic issues so as to suck the country dry for the actual and wannabe oligarchs. Or to impose a Christofascist regime.
Questions and interpretations are deliberately vague, rendering the vast majority of polls useless.
Yes, that's true, Denise. It is deliberately vague.
Another writer I follow just posted this as Americans are kept in the dark about the realities.
'Trump Silent on Kiev's Terrorism, Reveals Complicity and a Desire for War'
Since 2022, Ukrainian terror attacks have killed over 6,000 Russian civilians. Trump won't condemn Kiev's terrorism, making clear that his 'peace' plan is a fraud. As usual, double standards.
As Russian forces liberate the Kursk region, the grisly reality of Ukrainian occupation is very clear — possibly hundreds of elderly and infirm civilians executed in their homes by U.S. armed troops. The evidence is overwhelming, yet you won’t hear about it in U.S. or European media.
How has Trump reacted? Did he condemn the Ukrainian terrorists as he condemns terrorists in the Middle East? Not at all. Instead, Trump appealed to President Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian war criminals now surrounded by Russian forces! Washington’s infamous double standards persist under Trump. Even more, I’ll wager that among the trapped Ukrainians are plenty of guys from the U.S. and Europe.
Ukrainian attacks against Russian civilians in Donbass and other frontline regions occur daily, made possible thanks to U.S. military intel, recon drones, and Elon Musk’s Starlink. In addition, Kiev has also stepped-up long-range drone attacks, targeting residential buildings across Russia, even in Moscow and its suburbs.
This is a deliberate campaign of terrorism aimed at Russia’s civilian population, to try to break their resolve, and it’s financed and orchestrated by western governments. These are war crimes, and western media (not surprisingly) remain silent. Instead, they hurl the same accusations at Russia (as is often their tactic).
Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry released data for Ukrainian terrorist attacks since early 2022. Over 6,000 Russian civilians have been killed, and over 13,000 injured in Donbass, Zaporozhe, Kherson, Kursk and Belgorod regions. About two-thirds were victims of NATO/Ukrainian artillery and HIMARS rocket systems. The remaining one-third were attacked by drones.................................................................
https://john365.substack.com/p/trump-silent-on-kievs-terrorism-reveals
I am Vietnam era.
Many of my peace supporters now want endless war.
Because Trump!
TDS is harmful to the Earth
It's bizarre. If Trump likes ice cream, I guess I must hate it?
Trump's a mad man. He should be straight jacketed and hauled away to a faculty for the criminally insane. Musk(rat) should be deported to S Africa.
OK, I accept your terms!
As long as Biden and Harris are also similarly incarcerated plus Antony Blinken is deported to Israel and forbidden ever to return to USA or work in any state's government.
Also to be incarcerated are every living President, Vice President, Secretaries of Defense, State, and Treasury, Directors of the CIA and NSA, and Chairmen of the Federal Reserve since Jimmy Carter was President. .
You didn't dip far enuf back!! The wars waged (without being officially designated "wars") against the peoples of Korea and Viet Nam, etc., etc. for the "crime" of seeking independence from US domination should merit prosecution for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity of any officials from those years still alive. [Those first two instances I cited could have resulted in a total of 5 to 6 million victims. We'll never know the exact figures of course.] But this notion is yet another exercise in FANTASY, sadly.
Note that i said every LIVING one of those folks. It's pretty tough to incarcerate the Dead, isn't it?
Nah, let's deport Blinken to Gaza, not Israel.
@wrknight In a few weeks, same difference.
I've been saying this about Trump since 2015--hey, that's a decade already!--with Musk's significance relatively a fresh topic. But of course we're dealing in FANTASY scenarios. Who's gonna order The Donald carted off to the "funny farm"? A Federal Judge?? As I'd predicted, Trump will ignore any court ruling that displeases him.
Meanwhile in Other News...:
FROM FRANCE COMES A CALL FOR TRUMP’S AMERICA TO RETURN LADY LIBERTY. HERE’S WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN
PARIS (AP) — Hey, America: Give the Statue of Liberty back to France.
So says a French politician who is making headlines in his country for suggesting that the U.S. is no longer worthy of the monument that was a gift from France nearly 140 years ago.
As a member of the European Parliament and co-president of a small left-wing party in France, Raphaël Glucksmann cannot claim to speak for all of his compatriots.
But his assertion in a speech this weekend that some Americans “have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants” reflects the broad shockwaves that U.S. President Donald Trump’s seismic shifts in foreign and domestic policy are triggering in France and elsewhere in Europe.
“Give us back the Statue of Liberty,” Glucksmann said, speaking Sunday to supporters of his Public Place party, who applauded and whistled.
“It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her. So she will be happy here with us,” Glucksmann said.
The White House brushed back on the comments Monday, saying France instead should still be “grateful” for U.S. support during World War I and World War II. [Note: To say nothing of what we did to bankroll, arm, and equip its doomed effort to reclaim its Colonies in Indochina after World War II.]
Continued at https://apnews.com/article/france-trump-statue-of-liberty-glucksmann-248cbd501c7b66d7b37988bf6abdacf8 .
Nice irony! I accompanied my final post on my personal website--since discontinued because the hosting company is for sh_t, grossly incompetent--with a graphic of "Lady Liberty" and my own caption suggesting Trump & Co would likely send her back to France for being "woke"!!
Heh.
Yeah i suppose that in the Universe of TRUMP 2.0,
""Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
would definitely qualify as being "Woke" to the worst possible degree. Especially with all those "terrorists, rapists, murders, and so forth" just yearning to be free out there.
The old TV series "Max Headroom" had a plot device of the TV executives making decisions on which shows to cancel, on the basis of instant polls seconds after a show's premiere. The daily reporting in this country of some new poll - and the local news stations love having one daily - the more it's apparent how superficial and transactional we are as a society.
As you note, reduction of complex issues to simple poll questions offers few chances for reflection or to inform so-called decision makers with what the electorate is actually thinking. Given John Oliver's report last night on sports books, maybe we should just go all the way and have sports books on current events. At least people would have a chance to get a payoff from the bad decision making of our 'leaders' (said only partially tongue in cheek).
I support the ethnic Russian speaking Ukrainians that have been being persecuted since Maiden. I do nor support fascist Nazi western Slavic Ukrainians and their hatred of their brothers and sisters in eastern Ukraine.
I do not support Trump, his party, his cult followers nor to I support the neoliberal forever war mongering Drmocrats.
Refuse Fascism
Oppose Oppression
dear comrades
People
Planet
Peace
Mr. Astore,
I read your articles daily. It's a fresh breath of SANITY and TRUTH. Thank you for pointing out some of the information we need to know. Also I respect the fact that you regularly reply to your reader comments. It shows us that you are paying attention to what citizens are saying. Something we haven't gotten from "our reps and senators" in Washington for a long time and I believe some of the the voters are starting to pay attention too!
Thank you for your good work!
Thanks so much! Yes, I do my best to respond to readers. I learn so much from the people who comment here.
War is a religion in America now. To question the value of war is to be in league with the Devil. Time for all Americans to wear camo or dress like a warrior 24/7. Pull up a photo of Zelensky for the new dress code and get shopping!
Speaking of religion, FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation) informs me that town officials in Quincy, MA of all places want to use $850,000 of public funds to erect ten-foot-tall bronze statues of a pair of Catholic saints!!! Yes, Quincy, Massachusetts! Is there no little island of sanity remaining in Trumpmerica??
"Trump Ignores Judge on Deportation of Venezuelan 'terrorists' to El Salvador" reads the headlines.
As i have said before and will continue to say until proven wrong or silenced:
This Nation is as close to a fully operational autocratic, plutocratic, oligarchic, patriarchal, totalitarian Dictatorship as it has ever been in its 248+ year history.
At this point, the Question every American should be asking themselves and each other is: "What ~ if anything ~ can be done to prevent that Dictatorship from happening? Or is it already too late for that?"
If that's the case, then the question everybody needs to be asking is: "How will i, my Family, Loved Ones, Friends and Neighbors, Colleagues, Cohorts, and Compeers fare when that Dictatorship happens?"
The reason I never respond to surveys is that they are either trying to prove their point or they are covers for fund raising (which comes at the end of the survey).
It's not hard to design a survey to give you the answer you want; but it is hard to find an honest surveyor who doesn't already have have his answer in his pocket .
Does anybody anywhere in America's Ruling Political Caste ~ or in any position of authority or power in this Government ~ actually, really CARE what any opinion poll says?
Especially if it proclaims and poll-proves something that they disagree with?
Use of the words "Americans" and "think" in same sentence is a bit oxymoronic, methinks. I see that dear old Chuck Schumer has a book out he wants to promote, but he fears a pie in the face (or worse) if he shows his face in public. Good!! Who the hell would want to read his drivel?? Also, speaking of opinion polls, it's being said that public view of Dem. establishment is at an all-time (or at least in recent decades) LOW. And ever so deservedly so! Unfortunately for us, and the world at large, a third-party candidate for the top office in the land still doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of being elected. How bad do things have to get for that to change?? I SHUDDER TO THINK!! (speaking of thinking!)
See my comment on America's Looming Dictatorship just posted.
Skewed poll question choice, framing and language (to steer the polled towards confirming a customer's desired results). Who wants to pay for a poll just to find out they can't get what they want?!
Crap like is why I quit responding to most "mainstream" polls. Also why results of many (more?) honest/independently conducted polls are never going to be published in MSM.