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OKNancy

(41,832 posts)
Wed Jul 2, 2014, 04:30 PM Jul 2014

Rachel Maddow answers that ridiculous poll about worst President [View all]

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-best-and-worst-modern-presidents

In a nutshell, she analyzed the results and the Democrats split their votes between Bush2 and Nixon. Republicans voted overwhelmingly for Obama as worst and Reagan as best.

snip

But before folks get too excited about the poll, it’s worth taking a closer look at the results. Indeed, it’s worth making some charts.

In this new poll, respondents were given the list of the 12 modern presidents and then asked to choose the best one. Not surprisingly, Democrats and Republicans answered the question very differently.

So when we look at the overall results and see Reagan in the #1 slot, it’s the result of a simple dynamic: Democrats split their vote and Republicans didn't. (Indeed, among all 20th century presidents, there’s really only one president GOP voters celebrate, while Democrats tend to see a variety of presidential heroes.)

snip

Update: Details like these matter: “Pollsters have been asking some variant of this question for over 15 years, and the person occupying the Oval Office at the time the question is asked always finishes at or near the top of the ‘worst president’ rankings…. In 1998, ABC News asked respondents which president had done the worst job in their lifetimes. Clinton and Reagan finished at a near tie for second, behind (you guessed it) Richard Nixon.”

This poll really is “worthless” and “useless.”

I’m not sure which is more irresponsible: Quinnipiac, for putting such a pointless survey in the field, or media professionals who are pretending the results are important.
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I kinda figured the guy in office when the question is asked gets the worst end of it, because so... Tarheel_Dem Jul 2014 #1
Oh man mindwalker_i Jul 2014 #2
Most disturbing thing: Dems let Reagan off way too fucking easy. BootinUp Jul 2014 #3
Who the hell are those "Dems" that voted Obama for worst? The same "Dems" that voted in Kentucky Pirate Smile Jul 2014 #4
You do remember the "primary wars of 2008" on DU. I suppose they might have madinmaryland Jul 2014 #10
I'm so glad to know the major media outlets can refer to Rachel's sensible analysis aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2014 #5
I saw it last night and I thought briefly about it this morning and just laughed.. was Cha Jul 2014 #6
K & R SunSeeker Jul 2014 #7
I blame the headline editors looking for a quick ratings fix by prodding the easily prodded meat Fred Sanders Jul 2014 #8
The headline COULD have been.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #14
Or Obama Fourth Most Popular President, the headlines are all most Americans read. Fred Sanders Jul 2014 #17
How do you get picked to be "polled"? I've never been LibGranny Jul 2014 #9
Funny how Dems JaneyVee Jul 2014 #11
Also Scarsdale Jul 2014 #16
I'd pick W and Raygun over Nixon, as corrupt as he was. Ilsa Jul 2014 #12
It's the RW shills that are worse as they use this to claim they speak for the majority. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #13
I don't know about the irresponsibility defacto7 Jul 2014 #15
A poll, seriously? Who cares? Blanks Jul 2014 #18
Thanks, OKNancy! Kath1 Jul 2014 #19
Rachel Maddow rocks! red dog 1 Jul 2014 #20
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