GOP begging for online polls to be freeped to help Burns

[havocmom]

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2006/01/21/build/state/74-burns-poll.inc

HELENA - The state Republican Party asked supporters Friday to influence a newspaper's Internet poll that posed a question about Sen. Conrad Burns and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, hoping to sway the unscientific survey's results.

A GOP spokesman said the party was responding to what it saw as a curious jump in anti-Burns responses it thought may have been fueled by opposition groups.

The online poll by The Billings Gazette asked: "How concerned are you about Senator Burns' relationship with indicted D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff?" Readers could respond with "very concerned," "somewhat concerned," "not too concerned," "not at all concerned" or "not sure."

As of late Friday afternoon, about half the approximately 17,000 votes were for "very concerned" and about a third were for "not at all concerned."

Gee, it never occurred to the GOP that all those articles pointing out Burns Behaving Badly might have something to do with public opinion?

At least they are outta the closet about officially seeking to freep the polls. We have been watching evidence that it is happening on other issues in the Gazette polls. Like, privacy, bush breaking laws, stuff like that. The polls start out pretty true to what you hear from folks then suddenly tilt drastically to pro-junta positions.

Since the nature of most in Montana is to have reservations if not outright distrust bordering on paranoia about the federal government getting too involved in private lives, the poll results of late are decidedly off!

Good to see the GOP coming out about the issue of slanting polls.

Meanwhile, Conrad Burns can't buy a playmate here anymore. Guess that says something about REAL public opinion!

[havocmom]

1. OK, I'll fess up to being a DEM working to turn a Gazette poll

which was already being freeped after initailly matching what we actually heard from people here on an issue. But I didn't advise others to clean out their cookies and vote often ;)

I asked DU's help on a poll about Alito after seeing over a dozen polls suddenly turn in junta favor over many weeks.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2006/01/21/build/state/74-burns-poll.inc

<snip:>Republicans said they sent the e-mail after they suspected Democrats were leading a charge to sway the poll results against Burns.</>

LOL, they sure don't like a level playing field where we can pull the same tricks and ask for partisans to vote in polls.

[illflem]

3. Quite a bit of difference between us DUing a poll

and the wingnuts emailing out instructions on how to delete cookies to vote often.

[havocmom]

2. Guess the GOP hasn't heard the voices protesting Burns at every stop

in Montana?

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2006/01/21/build/state/70-burns-abramoff.inc

During an appearance at a Rotary Club gathering at a Billings hotel last week, the Montana Republican was met by a half-dozen protesters holding signs such as "Sold to the highest bid" and "Burns, your lie is open." In fact, wherever Burns went on his statewide tour, people wanted to talk about the Abramoff lobbying scandal.

Burns was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the money Abramoff lavished on Capitol Hill - a connection some say could make him one of the Senate's most vulnerable incumbents come Election Day

Every chance they get, the Democrats accuse Burns of being at the epicenter of a GOP "culture of corruption." Recent polls show that his two leading Democratic challengers may be gaining on him. Newspaper editorials have been critical, with the Missoulian calling Burns the "perfect candidate" to help the Democrats win his seat. Burns finds himself dismissing speculation he will step aside in favor of a more popular Republican.

"It is absolutely going to be a race," said Craig Wilson, a Montana State University-Billings political scientist who has observed Montana politics for 40 years. "I think it's going to be interesting."

So, GOP, you might wanna look into why so many in Montana are mad enough at Burns to protest in the dead of winter! Maybe We the People really do have some legitimate gripes beyond just partisan politics? Maybe we are mad as hell at being sold out and not adequately and honestly represented in the US Senate by the chap standing for re-election this year?

Maybe Conrad Burns can run, but he can no longer hide!