Polls can’t predict – but they can warn. And I’m not sure our horserace-obsessed media are heeding the warning

One of the things these numbers suggest is that the journalists are not getting the truth across to citizens on some key points (or if they are, that truth is being ignored).

The poll respondents claim that one of their big concerns is the economy. If that’s the case, they should be happy with Biden. Among the factors: low inflation, significant growth and low unemployment. Paul Krugman, the Nobel laureate economist, wrote recently: “The economic news in 2023 was almost miraculously good.” (Even the cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner, he notes, was down 4.5% last year.)

If the economy is that strong and that important to voters – and if Biden can take at least some of the credit – why isn’t it coming across? That’s something for the Biden campaign, primarily; but it’s also something for media people since journalists are supposed to be communicating information so that citizens can vote with knowledge. That should be a higher priority than generating profits, ratings and clicks, but one eventually despairs that it ever will be.

Another major voter concern, of course, is Biden’s age. He’s 81; Trump will be 78 in June. They’re both old; both have memory gaps and both exhibit confusion at times.

Only one of them, however, talks about some migrants as “animals” or predicts a “bloodbath” for the country if he loses. Only one is facing dozens of charges related to crimes including trying to overturn a legitimate election. Only one has promised to be a dictator on day one of his presidency and only one has allies that are meticulously plotting a radical revamping of how America works.

      • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        If you want Biden to win then figure out how to get him to make material compromises with progressives or leftists.

        EDIT: Look at all these Trump supporters!!

        • Mastengwe@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          So…. You’re completely fine to hold democracy hostage unless he meets your demands?

          This is why people won’t take you seriously.

          • Count042@lemmy.ml
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            8 months ago

            Biden decided that it was more important to commit a genocide then to prevent Trump from likely winning.

            It’s not the people unwilling to vote for someone committing genocide that is holding the Presidency hostage.

            Israel has doctors amputating Gazan prisoners limbs off because their limbs have died from being zip tied for months on end.

            That is what you’re supporting.

            • Count042@lemmy.ml
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              8 months ago

              Out of curiosity, for those downvoting this:

              What does the word intersectionality mean to you?

              What minority group are you willing to throw into the wood chipper next to prevent Trump from winning?

          • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            This is why people won’t take you seriously.

            You sure? This is regularly why people take liberal and moderate voters seriously.

    • Mastengwe@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      I’m not defending him. I’m just not suggesting he’s just as bad as his opposition like you claim- and that apparently is the same thing as defending him in the eyes of propagandists.

      • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I’m just not suggesting he’s just as bad as his opposition like you claim

        Quote me saying that.

        • Mastengwe@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          Your comment history is FULL of you doing nothing but complaining about Biden. You should be more careful to hide your biases.

            • Mastengwe@lemm.ee
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              8 months ago

              Your entire comment history is the quote. Go away. We’re done here. I’m not entertaining trolls.

                • Mastengwe@lemm.ee
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                  8 months ago

                  That’s not how the real world works. Sorry to have the be the one to tell you, but it’s true.

                  Let me explain:

                  You see, people don’t have to answer you to still be correct. Sometimes they might just not want to waste their time knowing you’re just going to troll them more, move goalposts, or use bad-faith rhetoric to continue an already pointless debate. It’s not unlike if you decide to antagonize a teacher by disagreeing with everthing they say-

                  At the end of the day, you’re still wrong, and the teacher is now exhausted from having to deal with you.

                  I’ve answered you already. You want an example and I gave you one:

                  Your entire comment history is an example. Maybe you should read it.

                  I’m officially done dealing with you. I’m blocking you now as SO many others already have.

                  • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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                    8 months ago

                    I’m just not suggesting he’s just as bad as his opposition like you claim

                    Quote me saying that.

                    If my entire history is an example it should be real easy to find a quote. You’re full of shit.

      • shimdidly@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        There is no comparison between Trump and Biden. Not this time. Biden weaponizing the judiciary, DOJ, FBI to attack his political opponent in kangaroo court trials.

        Trump says he’s willing to go to jail and “be the next Nelson Mandela” if that’s what it takes to save this country.

        I’ll probably get banned for saying this. So be it. Enjoy your echo chamber. That’s why you’re all Blind and Deaf.

        • Veneroso@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Can you imagine if Obama did January 6th? You people would burst into flames!

          Remember, if Trump is immune, so is Biden, Obama, Clinton, and Hillary! Oh Hilary wasn’t president? You sure about that? Lol.

        • flying_sheep@lemmy.ml
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          8 months ago

          Hahaha OK I have to update: this is the most shit take I’ve seen on Lemmy so far.

          Truly the dumbest garbage. How did did you manage to register here? After all you have to be able to type your password twice in a row.

        • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          8 months ago

          You’d have to be blind, deaf, and dumb in both senses of the term to believe any of this. Like, bro, you’re on the internet. You can learn all about Trump there, good and bad, and there’s tons of bad, even before his sojourn into politics.

          You and all the other MAGAs are getting scammed so hard and the rest of us are just astounded that not only are you falling for it, you’re actively fighting to get scammed some more. It’s like watching a man kick the shit out of himself while screaming about how he’s winning.