Supplemental: Rachel [HEART] Public Policy Polling!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Payola probe to begin:
Last night, the screeching started not too long after 9 o’clock. We rushed to our Analyst Viewing Chamber to see what was going on.

“She just won’t stop,” the analysts cried. We rewound the tape on the Maddow Show to see what had them upset.

Sure enough! It was just as they had described! After a moment of folderol, Rachel had started her program like this:
MADDOW (8/31/15): But we start with some legitimately new news hot off the presses. What I have in my hot little hand here is new national polling. New national—a new national poll on the presidential race.

We’ve got this exclusively tonight. You have not heard about this anywhere else. So we’re breaking this news here.
The transcript to the program is here. We can't find a link to the video.

In the money-grubbing world of corporate cable news, it isn’t national news at this point if it doesn’t involve “new polling.” No matter how pointless the polling may be, recitation of the latest numbers is counted as “breaking this news.”

In this case, Rachel had a new poll on an exclusive basis! “You have not heard about this anywhere else,” she portentously said.

We tried to explain to the analysts! Rachel is only doing this because she’s paid $7 million, we thoughtfully said. She’s only feeding you this piddle to keep her ratings up.

Plainly, that was the wrong approach. You see, the analysts had already watched her first ten minutes by the time we arrived on the scene. On that basis, they were predicting a major payola probe.

As it turned out, Rachel had received her exclusive new poll from Public Policy Polling, a firm which has been trying quite hard, in recent years, to turn itself into a national name.

Public Policy Polling—PPP—had provided Rachel’s exclusive. She announced this fact right at the start of her segment—though as it turned out, she was going to pimp the agency early and very often.

Rachel announced the source of the poll. It wouldn’t be the last time:
MADDOW (continuing directly): This is a new national poll on the presidential race from Public Policy Polling. They have polled Republican voters nationwide on the race for the Republican nomination. And what they have found is a mix of good news, including some surprisingly good news for the few folks who find themselves towards the top of these poll results. But what they have also found is just some astonishingly bad news for the folks who find themselves at the bottom of the list.

And some of the people at the very, very bottom of the list will surprise you. Some of the supposedly, you know, top tier, bold face name, national caliber politicians in the Republican field are not just polling at the bottom of the field nationally right now, they’re like below the bottom of the field like you thought you were on the ground floor and “Hey look, turns out there’s a basement!”

And this new PPP poll which, again, we have got exclusively tonight and we are breaking news of right now, it is very good news for some candidates but very bad news for others.
By then, we pretty much had it. Rachel was breaking news from a new national poll from PPP, a poll she had exclusively.

Why were the analysts screeching in pain? Because they’d already endured ten minutes of Rachel’s constant pimping! They swore that they’d call the FEC to demand that payola probe. And, in truth, we had to agree. Rachel was pimping the firm so hard that there did seem to be an arrangement:
MADDOW: But this new national poll from PPP tonight, it also has Donald Trump in first place, winning by a mile. He’s at 29 percent. Ben Carson in second place in this new national poll, Ben Carson at 15 percent, which means Donald Trump is almost doubling Ben Carson’s level of support.

Still, though, those are the only two people in double digits. Those are the two guys coming in first and second. This new national poll from PPP, obviously very good news for both Donald Trump and Ben Carson. This new national PPP poll actually means that Donald Trump and Ben Carson are the number one and number two choices of Republicans nationwide in three of the last four national polls.
All right! All right! We get it by now, the analysts lustily cried. But Rachel had a name to sell, and she was selling it hard:
MADDOW (continuing directly): So that top tier is really getting to be very clear. Donald Trump and Ben Carson, pretty clearly sitting on top of the Republican presidential field as we head toward Labor Day and this new PPP poll just underscoring their dominance.

This poll also has some relatively good news, though, for Jeb Bush. Jeb Bush, he does only place third in this new PPP poll, and he can’t get out of single digits. But still, 9 percent and coming in third constitutes really good news for Jeb Bush right now the way things have been going for him recently. He’s not only been sliding nationally but in the early states.

So Jeb Bush coming in third tonight in this new national poll that constitutes probably reason for celebration in Kennebunkport or Miami or Houston. I don’t know. Where do the Bushes summer these days? I don’t know.

The other person who truly does have reason to celebrate in this new national PPP poll is the candidate who comes in only one point behind Jeb Bush for a strong fourth place finish, and that candidate is Carly Fiorina. Carly Fiorina polling at 8 percent nationwide. That is good for fourth place. That is good for her.

But that is not a fluke. She’s been polling very well over the last few weeks. In this new national PPP poll, look at it, Carly Fiorina polls better than Rand Paul and Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz and John Kasich, and Marco Rubio and Scott Walker. She beats all of them.
“Sure, but who conducted this national poll,” we wisecracked at this point. The analysts only cried harder.

Maddow offered her pointless polling news for seventeen straight minutes. Along the way, she kept reinforcing the basics:
MADDOW: For those candidates, though, who are being just roundly and now consistently rejected by Republican voters this year, I will say one little happy thing. This new PPP poll that we are breaking news out there tonight, it does have one ray of sunshine for the losers—maybe not a ray of sunshine. More like a reason to laugh mirthlessly into your beer as you ponder how low you’ve sunk.

But it is from another part of the same PPP poll which we’ve got exclusively tonight. In addition to asking who these Republican voters wanted to be the nominee for president, it also asked Republican voters nationwide some of their other views and I can’t help but think this has to be a comfort to some of the people who believed the hype, right? Who believed their own press. Some of the people who really thought they would be real contenders for the presidency but can`t get any traction with real Republican voters.

I have to think that the answers to these polling questions tonight have got to be a comfort to guys like Chris Christie, guys like Bobby Jindal, guys like Rick Perry, people who just can’t get anywhere. This question was asked of all the Republican voters in the PPP poll.
As noted, this payola-redolent PPP-pimping went on for seventeen minutes. At that point, Rachel introduced her guest. You can probably guess who it was:
MADDOW: Joining us now is Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling.

Mr. Jensen, thank you for being here. Thank you for giving us access to this new national poll.

TOM JENSEN, PUBLIC POLICY POLLING DIRECTOR: It’s great to be with you, Rachel.
As noted, PPP has been trying for years to increase its national profile. As she closed her short, pointless interview session with Jensen, Rachel helped out again:
MADDOW: Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, thanks for being here. Thanks for sharing this new national poll. It’s great to be able to break this news. Thanks.

JENSEN: Thank you so much, Rachel.

MADDOW: Again, the top line here will always be who is at the top of the polls. Donald Trump at 29 percent in the new PPP national poll.
Had she mentioned that she was breaking this “news” thanks to a PPP poll?

Rachel wasted twenty-one minutes at the start of the show on this new national poll, which she was reporting exclusively. Aside from the payola-redolent PPP-peddling, we were struck by the sheer inanity of her “analyses,” and by her rolling self-contradictions.

Her self-contradictions? For one example, limn this:

About ten minutes into this mess, Rachel mounted her favorite hobby-horse. She blasted CNN for planning to limit the next GOP debate to just ten participants.

Minutes later, she was ridiculing the lower-ranking candidates, talking trash about their standing in the new poll from PPP, which she was reporting exclusively:
MADDOW: Rick Perry is over. He is at 1 percent in the polls. Jim Gilmore, I’m sure, is delighted to have 1 percent. Most people have no idea who Jim Gilmore is, let alone that he’s running for president, or that he has run for president before.

But Rand Paul is tied with those guys at 1 percent. Which does mean he’s sitting pretty compared to Lindsey Graham, George Pataki, and Bobby Jindal, all of whom are polling at zero, which is a number by which you cannot divide so sometimes it’s just easier to say they scratched.

And maybe we expect that now. Maybe we expect Bobby Jindal and Lindsey Graham to scratch, right, to poll at zero percent...But who expected Chris Christie to be tied with Rick Santorum and Rand Paul to be tied with Jim Gilmore, right? At 2 percent and 1 percent respectively.

This is just disastrous news for them. And this new PPP poll that we’ve got exclusively tonight, that we are breaking news about right here tonight, this is a—this is a national poll. But the bad news part of these findings especially for the candidates who are supposed to be contenders, supposed to be top tier guys, the bad news part of these findings from PPP and their national poll tonight, those bad news findings really are replicated in the early-state polls that are out today and yesterday, as well.

[...]

Indelibly, it looks like now guys like Chris Christie and Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal, but particularly guys who are supposed to be real contenders, guys like Christie and Rand Paul, they’re also really not moving anymore.

And it’s one thing to survive a brief plunge in the polls, right? To rocket down to the small single digs because you’re having a low spot here and there. It’s another thing to become a permanent part of this distant third tier of candidates that regularly polls at 2 percent or less, right? These irrelevant, rounding-error candidates that are undeniably ignorable.

If you want to be seen and treated as a viable presidential contender, it is one thing to visit that tier occasionally. But when you start to live there, it starts to be over for you.
Minutes earlier, Maddow had been trashing CNN because it won’t include all seventeen candidates in the next debate. Minutes later, she was mocking most of the folks who will be excluded, describing them as “irrelevant, rounding-error candidates that are undeniably ignorable.”

“Rick Perry is over,” she daringly said. So, it seemed, are the others.

Question: If they’re “irrelevant, rounding-error candidates that are undeniably ignorable,” why would anyone want them in a presidential debate? The thought didn’t seem to cross Rachel’s mind as she diddled along.

Maddow doesn’t even seem to be trying to make sense at this point. For months, she derided Fox for the way it organized the first debate, insisting that national polls don’t really matter as a measure of the primary race.

Last night, she was suddenly praising herself for “breaking the news” in the new national poll, the one from PPP, which she was reporting exclusively. After trashing CNN for culling the field, she mockingly culled it herself.

When a cable star like Maddow spends twenty-one minutes frisking a poll, that’s twenty-one minutes she won’t be able to spend on something important. Examples:

You never hear about low-income kids on this show because Maddow is busy justifying her own gigantic salary in these embarrassing, audience-fluffing ways. Beyond that, she pretended to discuss the Clinton emails last night. But it was purely pretense.

We don’t think we’ve ever seen a cable star devolve in quite the way Maddow has. Wealth and fame are very destructive. Mixed with Trump-like self-adoration, wealth and fame really do kill.

38 comments:

  1. "I'm undoubtedly a liberal, which means that I'm in almost total agreement with the Eisenhower-era Republican party platform." Rachel Maddow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How Dr Eboehi The Great Spell Caster help Bring Back My Ex Lover: Husband

      Hello My name is Kathie Sherine, Am from USA, Texas. and I am very happy for posting on this blog on how a great spell caster helped me in bringing back the love of my life. I know there are lots of women like me out there who have done so much to have back their Husband, I am here to tell you all to search no further because the answer is right here. I sincerely believe if there are up to five spell casters like Dr Eboehi this world would be a better place, I have seen people complaining on how fake spell castes promised to help them but couldn't but with Dr Eboehi I tell you your problem is solved already. My Husband and I had been apart for 3 YEARS and I couldn't bear without living without him, I have tried everything to have him back but nothing was working until I saw numerous testimonies about a spell caster called Dr Eboehi and how great his work is. I contacted him via email (eboehispellcaster@yahoo.com) immediately and follow the step that he ask and in the next 48 hours my lover called me and was eager for my forgiveness and that he wished nothing more than to have me in his arms forever. I filled so much joy and happiness that I found Dr Eboehi, I hope you all here will find this testimony of mine and get your husband back in just 48 hours thanks... contact his email: eboehispellcaster@yahoo.com or call (208) 627-4749

      Delete
  2. Bob [HEART] Rachel. You can hardly get him to talk about anything else before he returns to her.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow! With so much misinformation out there Somersby is obsessed with Maddow. I wonder if that $7 Million salary that he went out of his way to mention has anything to do with it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Body count piling up for the SJW.

    24 year old TV reporters in VA, cops, more cops, black churchgoers in SC.

    All directly attributable to rhetoric from the progressive left and a pandering, arrogant president.

    SJW hands awash in innocent blood. Small price to pay to "feel good" about their brave Twitter battles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buzz off Stormer.

      Delete
    2. @ 12:00

      Took you 16 hours to come up with that?

      Lead exposure, I guess.

      Delete
  5. I like when Maddow brings comedy into her show and does light comedy like a real comedian would. It just feels so good ... and it's needed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What would Kevin Drum say about the fact that murder rates are up while lead levels are not?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/09/sorry-i-dont-know-why-murder-rates-are-bunch-big-cities

      Delete
    2. Since lead didn't cause the recent rise in crime, maybe lead didn't cause the huge violent crime wave of 1960-1990. I don't think much of that theory, because
      -- the effect of lead, although real and serious, wasn't that huge an impact on average IQ
      -- Having a slightly lower IQ doesn't make one a violent criminal.
      -- Changes in criminal law, due to Court decisions, a reduction in the use of the death penalty, etc. are a plausible alternative explanation for the rise in crime.

      Delete
    3. You don't know what you're talking about. Why do people think it is OK to speculate in the absence of facts?

      Delete
    4. "-- Changes in criminal law, due to Court decisions, a reduction in the use of the death penalty, etc. are a plausible alternative explanation for the rise in crime."

      Nope, because it was world-wide, and obviously different countries had different policy decisions in that time period (as in any).

      Delete
  7. Maddow is an embarrassment to liberals, to television, to lesbians, to pinstriped suits, and to other millionaires. The only thing she is not an embarrassment to is Rhodes Scholars! They all suck as much as she does. Hi Bobby Jindal !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is is amazing how many people there are to be embarrassed by Maddow.

      You, on the other hand are only an embarrassment to your mother, and she is not noted for being very observant. Which explains how you came to embarrass her.

      Delete
  8. Rachel Maddow and Bob Somerby are perform very much alike.

    Trying to be funny. Very repetitive. Fixed on a theme. Ignoring other major stories. Seemingly oblivious of their own self contradictions.

    One has a cable news opinion hour. The other has imaginary friends who share his angst.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bob doesn't like Maddow. Bob makes up a story about PPP paying Maddow to discuss their poll results.

    Hmm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why did she mention PPP so often? What is your explanation?

      Delete
    2. There was pretty obviously some mutual back-scratching going on here. They gave her an exclusive with the polling, and she had their guy on and named them at literally every possible opportunity. It was clearly pay for play.

      Delete
  10. Liberals hate to hear her criticized, but does anyone actually enjoy Maddow's sorry excuse for a news program? To me it's unwatchable drivel.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, not anymore. In fact, I refuse to watch any MSNBC cable news show at night anymore. Apparently with Brian Williams coming back they have decided to go after the FOX audience.

      Good luck to them.

      Delete
    2. @mm

      After getting rid of K.O. Alex Wagner, Ed Schultz and Rev. Al, MSNBC finally realized that a solid lineup of boorish benighted blowhards was a losing proposition. Adding Brian Williams is an effort to appeal to the remaining liberal audience who demand their news anchors worship POTUS Obama.

      Delete
    3. mm perhaps they are just trying to go after AN audience.

      I know liberals are lazy, as Bob has told us. Apparently they are too lazy to turn on the TV.

      Delete
    4. This is why so many people were getting their news from The Daily Show. Apparently only comedians have the sensibility to seek the truth and aren't afraid to speak it. Maddow is no comedian.

      Delete
    5. @1:29

      Jon Stewart always spoke truth to power.....Well, not so much to the guy in power during the last 6 1/2 years.

      "Jon Stewart — the man who loves to be called a nonpartisan, a scourge of cant, an honest soul who follows the truth wherever it leads — has been secretly taking trips to the White House to receive intense one-on-one lobbying from President Obama.

      Moreover, Politico reported Tuesday, “Daily Show” staffers routinely call up the White House to get the administration’s input."

      "One of Stewart’s first viral moments was his 2004 appearance on CNN’s “Crossfire,” when he accused the hosts of “hurting America. You’re partisan — what do you call it — hacks.”

      "He might have used his talents to evade this charge himself, but instead, he allowed himself to be seduced by power. He sold out. He dined with those he should have been dining upon."

      Delete
    6. cicero - So you are going to hold John Stewart, a comedian, to journalistic standards that you will not hold Fox News to? That is clearly the definition of a partisan hack.

      Delete
    7. @12:19

      I'm holding Stewart to the professional comic standards. Having POTUS Obama on his show to promote White House talking points without subjecting him to his rapier wit is to violate the comic's commitment to mine comedic gold wherever it is found.

      How has FNC failed in their duty to uphold journalistic standards? Did you see the GOP debate? Even MSNBC gave the kudos for asking the tough questions pf the candidates. Let's see how CNN handles the Democratic Party debates.

      Delete
    8. Shorter cicero: I AM a partisan hack - you got a problem with that?

      Delete
    9. @6:07

      Succinct Jon Stewart: I AM a partisan hack - you got a problem with that?

      Delete
    10. Leave cicero alone. He's going to get the minutes from Dick Cheney's Energy Task Force meeting released for all to see.
      We need more ciceros to keep the politicians honest.

      Delete
    11. cicero @2:22 - The quotes are *not* from the Politico report http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/07/jon-stewarts-secret-white-house-visits-000178, they are from a slam in the New York Post http://nypost.com/2015/07/29/jon-stewarts-secret-obama-meetings-reveal-hes-a-partisan-hac .Only a partisan hack would try to hide the source of their information (the New York Post!?).

      Delete
  11. Maddow is such a fake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous @ 11:03 is as real as they come.

      Delete
  12. As a major shareholder at PPP, I find this post highly offensive!

    ReplyDelete
  13. How Dr Eboehi The Great Spell Caster help Bring Back My Ex Lover: Husband

    Hello My name is Kathie Sherine, Am from USA, Texas. and I am very happy for posting on this blog on how a great spell caster helped me in bringing back the love of my life. I know there are lots of women like me out there who have done so much to have back their Husband, I am here to tell you all to search no further because the answer is right here. I sincerely believe if there are up to five spell casters like Dr Eboehi this world would be a better place, I have seen people complaining on how fake spell castes promised to help them but couldn't but with Dr Eboehi I tell you your problem is solved already. My Husband and I had been apart for 3 YEARS and I couldn't bear without living without him, I have tried everything to have him back but nothing was working until I saw numerous testimonies about a spell caster called Dr Eboehi and how great his work is. I contacted him via email (eboehispellcaster@yahoo.com) immediately and follow the step that he ask and in the next 48 hours my lover called me and was eager for my forgiveness and that he wished nothing more than to have me in his arms forever. I filled so much joy and happiness that I found Dr Eboehi, I hope you all here will find this testimony of mine and get your husband back in just 48 hours thanks... contact his email: eboehispellcaster@yahoo.com or call (208) 627-4749

    ReplyDelete


  14. How To Get Your Lost Husband Back

    “LOVE is the key to LIFE”. That was the word from Dr Ukaka when I consulted his powerful Love Temple. I married the wrong man; I realized that after four years of our unfruitful marriage. Everything was going from Best to Worst in our life, no child, I got demoted from work after our marriage, my husband was sacked a year after. His application for new job in various offices was constantly declined even though he was qualified enough. I was made to take care of my family with the low income I earn get that wasn’t enough to pay our rent. We keep praying a seeking for help from some people, my friends laugh at me behind because I was advised not to get married yet.It was one Thursday night that my husband woke me up and told me that has thought enough about our crisis, he said that our crisis is not ordinary and it’s beyond our spiritual level. He suggested we should consult Dr Ukaka from testimonies he showed me online about how he has been helping families. I was afraid, I don’t like evil or spell but I supported him to contact him if he can help us. We consulted him via freedomlovespell@hotmail.com and he replied positively after 20munites with congratulating email that he can help us but he will need our pure heart and trusts in his work if he will cast the spell on us and purify our life. We agreed to his terms. He cast the spell and told us to expect results within 5days. I waited for three days nothing happened, so I started having doubt and blaming my husband for emailing Dr Ukaka. It was on the fifth day that my husband was called for an interview and he got a well-paying work, I was prompted to a higher position. I missed my period on the 5th day and it was confirmed that I am with a baby. Things have really changed for us for good and we now have our own house and cars. I will never forget what Dr Ukaka told us “LOVE is the key to LIFE”, this word keep me going. People that laughed at us are coming close for help and I am delighted to welcome them because my family is now blessed. Dr Ukaka is a savior and man that keep to his word even when I doubted his powers at the end of the spell. Thank you great Dr Ukaka and your Oracle for helping us via freedomlovespell@hotmail.com and I will keep spreading this message to people in need of help. also contact him for help.website address: freedomlovespelltemple.yolasite.com ;

    ReplyDelete

  15. My name is SERENA WILLIAMS, am from UK. i want to use this opportunity to thank my great doctor who really made my life a pleasurable one today. This great man DR.EWAN brought my husband back to me, i had three lovely kids for my husband, about four years ago i and my husband has been into one quarrel or the other until he finally left me for one lady. i felt life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. i tried to be strong just for the kids but i could not control the pains that torments my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because i was really in love with my husband. Every day and night i think of him and always wish he would come back to me, until one day i met a good friend of mine that was also in a situation like me but her problem was her ex-boyfriend who she had an unwanted pregnancy for and he refused to take responsibility and dumped her. she told me that mine was a small case and that i should not worry about it at all, so i asked her what was the solution to my problems and she gave me this great man email address. i was doubting if this man was the solution, so i contacted this great man and he told me what to do and i did them all, he told me to wait for just two day and that my husband will come crawling on his kneels just for forgiveness so i faithfully did what this great man asked me to do and for sure after two days i heard a knock on the door, in a great surprise i saw him on his kneels and i was speechless, when he saw me, all he did was crying and asking me for forgiveness, from that day, all the pains and sorrows in my heart flew away,since then i and my husband and our lovely kids are happy.that's why i want to say a big thank you to DR.EWAN spiritual temple. This great man made me to understand that there is no problem on earth that has no solution so please if you know that you have this same problem or any problem that is similar, i will advise you to come straight to this great man. you can email him at:covenantsolutiontemple@gmail.com, you can still call him on his mobile number +2347052958531 SERENAWILLIAMSuk@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Investing online has been a main source of income,that's why knowledge plays a very important role in humanity,you don't need to over work yourself for money.All you need is the right information,and you could build your own wealth from the comfort of your home!Binary trading is dependent on timely signals,assets or controlled strategies which when mastered increases chance of winning up to 90%-100% with trading. It’s possible to earn $10,000 to $20,000 trading weekly-monthly,just file a complaint with  Robert,I had almost given up on everything about binary trading and ever getting my lost funds back,till i met with him,with his help now i have my lost funds back to my bank account and I can now trade successfully with his profitable strategies and software!! Email: Robertseaman939@gmail.com or Fb.me/investandmakemoney1 or  whatsApp: +44 7466 770724

    ReplyDelete