Wackadoo Polling

I had the same poll (4.00 / 3)

It came to my cell phone, which was new and unique.  

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 17:28:45 PM CDT

me too (0.00 / 0)

I got a call (@7:56pm; Monday August 17) on a cellphone which I hardly ever use.  I missed the call, since I usually don't even carry the phone with me.

They may be doing totally random dialing; however, blocks of phone numbers do map to service providers and to types of service, and so it is possible to specifically canvass cellphone numbers.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 07:58:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Me too (0.00 / 0)

on my cell phone

...the Doo Dah Man once told me you've got to play your hand. Sometimes the cards ain't worth a dime if you don't lay 'em down.

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by: rambler american @ Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 16:54:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I missed a call on my cell phone (4.00 / 1)

From 202-461-3459- presumably the same poll. It rings once and then becomes a busy signal.

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by: Putney Swope @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 17:45:53 PM CDT

yup (0.00 / 0)

That's the number that called my cell.

Putney - we are united!  

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 19:43:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Me three (0.00 / 0)

Missed the call to the cell phone at 6:05 pm

Hope > Fear



Create a free Blue Hampshire account and join the conversation.

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by: Mike Hoefer @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 18:09:54 PM CDT

it was to my cell too.... (4.00 / 2)

and Sean Doyle emailed me that he got it on his cell phone too.

Hmmmmm.... maybe they are testing to find all the Democrats and then jam our phones in November on the "7th Anniversary of the last day the NH Republicans were relevant in NH"?

Democrats solve problems, Republicans sit and say no.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 18:56:12 PM CDT

Add me 2 the legions (0.00 / 0)

Didn't answer the call, but just confirmed the # in my calls received.

"Where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can." - Barack Obama

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by: Garth Corriveau @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 10:51:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I got the call (4.00 / 1)

on my cell. I don't think I gave 'em the answers they were looking for.

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by: susanthe @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 21:21:48 PM CDT

Not so sure about that. (4.00 / 2)

One of the goals of polls can be  to limit the number of people for whom they expend money and efforts in the campaign. To the extent that they can identify you as hopeless*, they can redirect their efforts to those who can be persuaded.

If you get taken off their lists, you are also one less person who is likely to report any problematic behavior in the future.

*the same goes, with slight modification, if they ID you as being totally committed to them-- you are likely to see more requests for support and less effort to persuade.


"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 06:42:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

We All Know "Conerstone... (0.00 / 0)

...Policy Research" -- how misnamed that organization is -- wants to play a major role in their hoped-for Republican renaissance in 2010, so we can assume that right now they're assembling their lists of potential voters in the next election.  Being an off-year election, getting one or two percent more of "their" voters to the polls could make a difference in some State Senate and House districts.  

All the more reason why we have to be sure that by then we have significant health reform underway, and hopefully that we're out of Afghanistan or about to end our conflict there.  

All the more reason, too, that we continue our effort in January in the New Hampshire Legislature to do more good things on budgeting, working with John Lynch to balance the books.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 07:52:26 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

ditto n/t (0.00 / 0)

'Aints no more

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 22:17:10 PM CDT

Got it on my cell. (0.00 / 0)

And I think #2 is:

"Do you believe in marriage between one man and one woman?"

or something absurd like that.  how does one answer that???

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by: veritas @ Sun Aug 16, 2009 at 22:39:34 PM CDT

Same here (0.00 / 0)

I got the call on my cell on Thursday night.  

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by: Hope Not Fear @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 05:32:15 AM CDT

It reads like a Facebook poll (0.00 / 0)

Just as scientific.

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by: JimC @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 05:42:24 AM CDT

I wish I knew more about cell phone polling (4.00 / 1)

There isn't a white pages for cell phones. Do they dial at random?

Cell phone numbers are less tied than landlines to the town you live in. Many people keep their old number when they move. Do they address that - for example, do they ask 603- numbers whether they really live in NH?

Landline phone bills charge only for outgoing calls. Many cell phone plans charge for incoming too. Does making cold calls to cell phone accounts risk getting the caller mad - or even raise legal issues?

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by: elwood @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 05:48:03 AM CDT

who gave them the phone list ? (0.00 / 0)

Ray, Kathy, I don't have your cell #'s...are they on any list you know if ? Sounds like someone inside selling...

So if I am in favor of marriage equality, do I still want lower taxes ?  

'Aints no more

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 05:55:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

it can't be a list (4.00 / 2)

my cell phone number is new - and it isn't on any political lists.  

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by: susanthe @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 10:07:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Was there any more identifying data about who was conducting the poll? (0.00 / 0)

Googling "political research" quickly i dont come up with anything relevant.

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 06:39:37 AM CDT

the phone number is: (0.00 / 0)

The phone number is one which Cornerstone Research, a socially conservative advocacy group, has used in the past.  It is presumably a number belonging to some DC-based consultant they work with.  The previous polls were canvassed "push polls"--- i.e., they robocall everyone with a  blatantly slanted message rather than doing an objective poll of a small random sample.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 08:11:43 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

phone poll (0.00 / 0)

They called my cell phone too, about 2 weeks ago. I assumed it was a random call but, considering the length of time they've been calling, maybe they have been calling every cell phone in NH. I haven't heard of anyone getting this call on their land lines.

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by: Lenore Patton @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 10:02:54 AM CDT

they left a message! (0.00 / 0)

I missed a call on my cell from that number yesterday.  

What surprised me was that they left a voice mail message, saying something like "This is a political poll, sorry we missed you.  We may try again later."

Mysterious, very mysterious.

Paula

Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 11:37:23 AM CDT

Same poll, slightly different number. (0.00 / 0)

The last four digits were 3459 rather than 3469.

The questions are so inane.  Ummm... Let's see. Do I consider myself prolife? Duh! Of course. What, you think I'm pro-death just because I'm pro-choice?

Do I want less taxes? Who doesn't? I'd also like a cheaper electric bill, free groceries, and high-speed Internet service for $1.99 per month.

As for marriage being reserved for one man and one woman, just which one man and one woman are they talking about?  My parents? Their parents?

And hasn't anyone taught them that it isn't polite to inquire about one's age?

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by: Ron Tunning @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 14:09:10 PM CDT

Hmm, looks like me too... (4.00 / 1)

I didn't make the connection until I saw Paula's post about the voicemail.  I had a similar cell voicemail message.  

Received August 1st about 5pm.  Recorded message saying that it was a political poll and they might try to call me again.  Calling number was 201-461-3456.

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by: Karen @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:25:45 PM CDT

I got it too. (4.00 / 3)

And I was a little annoyed that they'd call my CELL phone during dinner on vacation....

"He who loves correction, loves knowledge.  He who hates reproof is stupid." - Proverbs 12:1

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by: jdblanch @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 15:44:45 PM CDT

no call here yet (4.00 / 2)

but I only have a landline.

So: I reported Cornerstone for illegal robocalling they did in April, but have never seen any indication the AG's office is pursuing charges against them. Anyone know what it takes to get our AG office to enforce the law? Should I complain again now that Ayotte is out of the office?

=Health care for all now!=

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by: beverlywoods @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 19:58:55 PM CDT

i'm not sure there is anything illegal about this as long as they identify themselves. (0.00 / 0)

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 09:02:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

are you pro gay marriage, but an anti-taxer ? n/t (4.00 / 1)

'Aints no more

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 20:40:38 PM CDT

I am. . . (4.00 / 2)

Pro-Freedom
Pro-America
Pro-Bresler

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 20:53:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pro-JimC (4.00 / 2)

Since pro is the opposite of con, is progress the opposite of congress ?

'Aints no more

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by: JonnyBBad @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 08:16:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And we all know that "congress" is another name for (0.00 / 0)

well, you know. If you don't, here's your word power exercise for the day (see def. 1.b).

The past tense is what we all are if they don't get anything done.

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by: GreyMike @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 09:25:48 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

All-new robocall tonight, 8:47 PM (4.00 / 1)

caller ID says "Arcola, VA", 703-348-7839.

Intro mumbled something that sounded like "political research", but I didn't quite catch it.

They apparently only want you to answer their whole thing if you are a Republican; if you answer in a direction they don't like, they cut you off with dead silence as follows (my responses in parens):

1. If you are male, press 1, if female press 2 (1)

2. If you would vote for a Republican candidate for Congress, press 1, if Dem. press 2 (2)

3. If you approve of President Obama press 1, if you disapprove, press 2 (1)

4. Click (Line goes dead).

I am paraphrasing 1-3, #4 is verbatim.

How rude.

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by: GreyMike @ Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 22:16:47 PM CDT

wow n/t (4.00 / 1)

Democrats solve problems, Republicans sit and say no.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 07:01:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

sorry, wrong cave n/t (4.00 / 1)

'Aints no more

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by: JonnyBBad @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 08:17:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Got the call, too, but... (0.00 / 0)

My question here has nothing to do with your post... I am a writer for my school newspaper at Nashua High South and am looking to write an article about the factor of the "youth vote" and teenage activism in elections. Traditionally, Democrats have the advantage in both of those categories and I would love to talk to you about it. If we could do an interview either in person or over the phone, it would be an honor.

I had tried to contact you to appear on my student-run television show last year, but never recieved a response, so I'm wondering if this is a better way to try to contact you! Please email me at chrisjoec@aol.com if you are interested.

Thank you!

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by: eyore33 @ Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 16:22:09 PM CDT