Why I read polls (and what I've found is even more powerful than polling)
Many of you have commented from time to time that I "love polls."
It isn't true. A more accurate description would be to say that I respect research.
For example: before you go into business you need to be a student of markets. You need to know where the money is being spent, you need to talk to customers. You need to be able to anticipate what might win and what might lose.
You need to do research.
Now, a lot of politicians claim they don't read polls. I suppose they do this to prove how resolute they are, or as a way of showing how brave they are, or what a great leader they are. Usually, these politicians also say they don't read newspapers, or magazines, or watch TV news. I gather they want us to understand that their inner compass is so magnificently powerful that they don't need to listen to any voices outside their own head. That's not only scary, it's just plain stupid.
More information is better, not worse.
Do you lead by following polls? No, not necessarily. After all, the majority of people believe that we should have free beer and peanuts.
Rather, you use polls in order to get feedback. It's a way of improving your communications with the very people you are sworn to protect.
Are polls perfect? No -- to be blunt, people do lie. Or simply refuse to talk to you.
No, if you want something better than polls, you become an expert in direct mail fund-raising. Now THERE'S a science. If you know what you're doing, you can find out very quickly what potential voters want -- because they're putting their money where their mouth is.
And, kids, do we know who the 20th Century Wizard of Direct Mail Political Fundraising is? Hint: he is one of the most powerful men in this country today, which is a testament to what I'm talking about.
I'll hang up and wait for your answer.
Richard Viguerie.
Next?
Viguerie isn't powerful, at least not like the guy I'm thinking of.
Besides, I'd call him "The Pioneer," not "The Wizard."
Next guess?
If you mean Rove, I'd say he learned most of what he knows about direct mail from Viguerie. Unfortunately, he also learned (almost) everything Lee Atwater had to teach. That explains his success at creating the abomination that is the modern Republican Party - built on hate and division (going way beyond mere direct mail). He should have stayed around for Atwater's last lesson.
Oh, and I seldom guess.
Some day I'd like to know more about Rove's work in direct mail.
He (or whoever he hired) was very, very, very good at it. And there is no doubt that the money (and knowledge) his efforts generated enabled the Republicans to take a dominant position in American politics over the last quarter century.
What he did with that money and knowledge was heinous.
Is there anyone like that on the Democratic side? By that I mean a Democratic wizard of direct mail fund-raising.
You said it yourself, it’s science. Everyone knows the settled science (unless you live in Kansas ;-) and you just follow the model. Viguerie made the model.
The art is what Rove applied to the model and then took beyond the medium. Within the medium his genius was understanding the psychology of rural whites, in their various segments, how to push enough of their buttons and direct the fire toward the enemy du jour (Ann Richards - to John McCain - to John Kerry).
Way beyond direct mail, he knew how to use networking and peer pressure (not to mention selling off the taxpayers’ money) to drive up fundraising in a new paradigm. As far as I know, he invented pyramid network fundraising (Scouts to Pioneers to Rangers).
Combined with a cynicism as deep as the pit where his soul must have been, he has simply been the most ruthless exploiter of all of the dirty works that had gone before him, mostly in service of his own ego-centric ambition to be the power behind the power.
For someone deserted by two fathers and a mother who comitted suicide, I'm sure that's it's quite validating. His self-doubt is betrayed by his choice to succeed playing dirty rather than play by any code of ethics.
Fortunately, I know of no one as cynical and soulless on the Democrat side. Besides, it’s like herdin’ cats over here.
Again, LOL. You're on a roll Shep.
"Herding cats," just precious.
"'Herding cats,' just precious."
Fact is, if Rove were a Democratic operative he's have been chewed up and spit out by now. We'd rather a politico that does it right and loses (e.g., Bob Shrum) that one who simply wins. F*cking idealists.
The upside to this is that once we DO win, we actually know how to, you know, govern.