The answer is yes because the rules the press uses for finding independents is rather obtuse. This is how it works.

gabriel sutherland on September 4, 2008 at 3:33 PM

Actually, I think the problem is that conservatives and right leaning independents are too disgusted by members of the media to want to spend the time talking to them.

This has to be a Soros’ plan…

Gin up false numbers on pre-election polls, introduce fake indpendents into polling and focus groups, get the MSM to amplify these numbers (using David Brock/Media matters daily talking points) so that the pre-election buzz will be an Obama blow out over McCain by something around 15-20 points….and then, when the voting results come in, they can claim voter intimidation, GOP screwing with voting machines, “ballot errors” and such to try to discredit a Mccain win.

Look at the last two general elections…all the polls showed the Dems would win handily.

coldwarrior on September 4, 2008 at 3:25 PM

Actually, in 2004 the Democrats went so far as to leak fake exit polling to the media, as they were following pretty much the same plan you list above.

TexasJew on September 4, 2008 at 3:21 PM

Maybe it’s just me, but I still think that when Obama-sama comes to Hillary on his knees pleading, she’ll just laugh and say “Hell no” then walk away.

*eats*

Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 3:31 PM

Just so you know, the suffix “-sama” in Japanese is a sign of great respect, reserved for those one recognizes as socially superior to themselves.

Oddly enough, “O” is big and important, sometimes used in place of “boss” or “king.”

I am suddenly curious how the Japanese report on terrorism.

VOTE JOHN MC BRILLIANT * SARAH’CUDA 2008

Fixed it.

VOTE JOHN McCAIN * SARAH PALIN 2008

Bingo!”

BTW, I hear Lucy Ramirez is back in Texas and is scheduled to slip some freshly forged documents to a prominent political commentator. Unknown sources say it’s hard to know exactly who’ll get them, but they’re sure the last name starts with O,l,b..or something close.

Or Andrew Sullivan for someone who’s “right-leaning.”

Last night I switched over to C-Span where they had a young woman whose job it was to check the blogs, both right and left, for reaction to Palin’s speech. She briefly mentioned a favorable review on RedState and then focused heavily on Sullivan’s negative reaction before ticking off numerous negative liberal responses.

Berkley independent………………?

BBBBBBBWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAH!!!!!!!!!

Seven Percent Solution on September 4, 2008 at 4:01 PM

Berkley, Michigan…NOTHING like BerkEley, California. Thank God! I’ll be watching for this Ilene person around town :)

Need to know about the illegal immigration thing? If McCain mentions..”God’s Children” tonight, I’m gonna throw my laptop thru the television!

HornetSting on September 4, 2008 at 2:30 PM

Yes. That God’s Children thing he says… I’m going to write this in case they have someone who looks at the blogs to see what people really think.

Of course they are God’s Children. The entire population of the world are God’s Children. If that is all it takes to be an American well we are totally sunk.

Why have borders at all if all God’s Children should be allowed to be automatic Americans?

As Kenny Bania in Seinfeld would say, “It’s GOLD, Jerry, PURE GOLD.”

BuckeyeSam on September 4, 2008 at 3:30 PM

What she needs to do is call a quarter announcers booth.

Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent

In fairness, this woman possibly does think she is independent. She’s from BERKLEY! If she once had a thought that America was a nice place to live. that makes her the most Independent thinker she knows!

don’t think AP posts anything for ratings. He has his own voice and his own style – some people love it (like myself) and others hate it so much they feel the need to log in and yell at him. There are still others that ignore him altogether. My point being that, just because his style works doesn’t mean he’s actually Little Susie Sunshine with a persona built to get ratings.

JadeNYU on September 4, 2008 at 2:34 PM

And yet- here we are creating traffic talking about his pessimism

Like I said Ratings Whore!

Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent:

Berkley independent………………?

BBBBBBBWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAH!!!!!!!!!

Obama says he’s a White Sox fan. McCain should be throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field decked out in a big Cubs hat.

I’d have Palin scheduled for a coin flip at some Big Ten games.

Have the Hockey Mom drop the first puck in the NHL season.

gabriel sutherland on September 4, 2008 at 3:37 PM

I hear you. I’d gamble on Obama throwing out a pitch and drilling it in the dirt! The problem for McCain is that I doubt he has the range of motion to throw. Seriously. So, McCain and Palin should do handshakes and coin tosses at OSU, at Michigan (the Big House), at Penn State, and at Notre Dame.

What’s unfortunate is that Ohio State plays the Naval Academy at home…in 2009! Too late. Oh well. But I’m telling you, these football games would be big too for at least some college students. I have a niece starting at OSU. I don’t think she dares to vote for Obama, but I’m not sure I trust her because her mother was a Hillary backer. Her husband (my brother) makes pretty big dough, so after the conversation about how Obama will jack up their taxes, I’m sure she’ll be on board. Anyway, the Midwest college kids seeing McCain and Palin may finally decide, “Mom and Dad were right when I was home this summer. What’s a ‘community organizer’?”

Game over.

Q: When’s the last time you voted for a Democrat?

A: Umm, sometime in 2006.

That’s the new definition of an independent for the MSM: someone who hasn’t voted for a Democrat since the last election.

They are intellectually stunted, angst-ridden, juvenile delinquents whose biggest ambition in life is to be different and to be one of the cool kids.

Somehow, they think re-enacting the Summer of Love at age 59 is going to do that.

Independent usually means that they are too far left even for the Democrat Party.

BTW, I know I’ve beat this to death, but I’ve thought of this ever since Palin’s roll out in Dayton, Ohio. Later that day, one of the news stations showed Palin and the dynamite little daughter at a rest stop in Ohio on their way to PA. They were shopping for some Ohio State sportswear. I’m telling you that if you get Palin and at least some of those kids decked out in OSU-wear, showing up at an Ohio State home football game, and shaking hands with Head Coach Jim Tressel, Ohio will be won. That picture on the front page of the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Toledo Blade, and every other Ohio paper will be GOLD. Especially in Columbus, that’s Franklin county with a lot of college-town elites, but a lot of suburban moms who are OSU Buckeye nuts.

I have some more ideas.

Obama says he’s a White Sox fan. McCain should be throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field decked out in a big Cubs hat.

I’d have Palin scheduled for a coin flip at some Big Ten games.

Have the Hockey Mom drop the first puck in the NHL season.

Get online and send this to McCain/Palin…its got potential.

The answer is yes because the rules the press uses for finding independents is rather obtuse. This is how it works.

Q: Are you registered as a member of a political party?
A: No.
Q: Do you know who for whom you will cast your vote?
A: No.
Q: Is Hugo Chavez the greatest thing since sliced bread?
A: Yes.

The press will recognize this person as an independent. They still have expectations that this is an acceptable method to determine if they are in fact actually talking to independents.