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03/23/2006: "Isn't it ironic, don't you think?"

I was reading a post on Capitoilette today and thought about the irony of it. The post is titled, "Why are Democrats So Bad at Math?" and one of the last things he says is, "With Democratic congressional candidates now leading Republicans by 16% in a generic ballot, how hard would it be to be, um, Democrats?" What so funny about this is that he starts the post with answer to the title: "Because they think 45 out of 100 is a majority." That's pretty funny in its own right, but when you consider that he is trying to convince readers that a lead of any size in a generic ballot is worthwhile, it's got to make you laugh.

I mean, does he understand what a generic ballot is? That refers to one of those poll questions where they ask you who you would vote for based upon party affliliation instead of actual candidates. That fact that the Dems are leading by 16% means exactly squat. Putting aside the fact that he doesn't even give the source of these results, it just isn't meaningful. It doesn't take into account the fact that most people do vote for the candidates when it comes to congressional races as opposed to voting the party when it comes to president (oh, you know it's true). It also leaves out any questions of demographics. I can canvas my neighborhood and come back with a report that says the Republican congressional candidates winning is a dead cert because the Democrats got no votes, but that doesn't have anything to do with reality. (I am assuming, of course, that everyone I polled would tend not to vote Democratic, but that's probably a pretty good assumption where I live.)

So, while his answer to his own question is a valid one, he should also point out that the Dems also have a tendency to compare apples and oranges. (Unlike the Republicans. )