Just A Test

Try to be more concise next time.

Right after Ronald Regan was elected President, I remember reading an article in the Washington Post. The columnist, (I don't remember the name) apologized to the loyal readers of the column for relying on poll data in formulating the basis for the election coverage and prediction that Regan could not possibly win the election. They promised that in the future they would do the Netty gritty and research their own data, not rely on somebodies poll data. In today's world the journalist, the paper and wire service would never apologize, they would just manufacturer their news. Anyway, up until the Clinton's occupied the White House, I don't recall poll data playing such a significant role in everyday news. At the time I believe everyone knew that anyone could make a claim, like Hillary being the smartest lady in the world and it would remain in the public domain until someone proved otherwise. Well in the first place, I don't believe anyone thought that to be true and in the second place who would care enough to spend the time to disprove it. this attitude could have set the course for future use of poll data for the Clinton administration. It seemed almost daily there was a poll giving Clinton favorable ratings. The biggest was the overnight poll. I use to wonder who did they poll, the White House staff, what would be your attitude if someone woke you during the night and asked silly questions, did the press wonder around the streets asking homeless people their opinions, would the validity of an overnight survey be harder to question?