# CNN poll says Bush is to blame for the uranium "mistake"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [July 13, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102 "2003-07-13T03:37:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/1 "2003-07-13T03:37:02Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/POLLSERVER/results/4594.html](http://www.cnn.com/POLLSERVER/results/4594.html)
You can fool some of the people…
but you can’t fool them all.
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/2 "2003-07-13T03:43:53Z")
That’s utterly pointless, **Reeder**. A voluntary poll on the internet means jack shit.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/3 "2003-07-13T03:47:03Z")
But all the polls where people say they support war does?
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/4 "2003-07-13T03:49:22Z")
As much as I would like to think those numbers are accurate, **Reeder** , what you posted is not a scientific poll but just one of those online voter surveys. Those kinds of polls are entirely self-selcted and do not represent a valid sampling of public opinion. You can go to Faux news and find “polls” that show overwhelming support for Bush.
I’m on your side in this fight but this is not good ammunition. I _would_ be quite interested in seeing a real poll result on this question, though.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/5 "2003-07-13T03:51:24Z")
It realize it’s not scientific, but it does show not everyone is buying the lies.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/6 "2003-07-13T03:56:35Z")
I hope you’re right.
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/7 "2003-07-13T04:17:05Z")
This is as close as you’re going to get with a real poll at the moment:
[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/vault/stories/data071103.htm?nav=hptop\_ts](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/vault/stories/data071103.htm?nav=hptop_ts)
```auto
13. Before the war began, do you think the Bush
administration did or did not intentionally
exaggerate its evidence that Iraq had weapons
of mass destruction, such as biological or
chemical weapons?
Did Did not No opinion
7/10/03 50 46 4
```
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/8 "2003-07-13T04:36:40Z")
Actually, a thoroughly scientific poll sowing 99% of the population thought that Bush had deliberately used false information would not mean that he actually used false information.
The man is a liar who dragged us into war under false pretenses, but showing that some percentage of the population agrees with that sentiment does not make it true. Nor does it even mean that his re-election is in jeopardy. Polls tend to be non-stories.
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### Author:  [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/9 "2003-07-13T07:25:46Z")
Ha! The poll-that-is-not-a-poll inspires me to wax poetic…
_Something wicked now this way comes
Dancing a dirge, druming on drums.
A marriage from hell was set this day
The Bush-bashing left, the CIA._
Mmmm… maybe it needs a little work, but you get the idea.
\_\_\_\_\_\_🙂
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/10 "2003-07-13T07:32:17Z")
Jesus H Fucking Christ. What is it with people like **december** and **Milum** with the poetry?
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/11 "2003-07-13T07:35:03Z")
Jesus H Fucking Christ. We’ve got another **december**.
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/12 "2003-07-13T07:37:34Z")
Stupid hamsters.
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### Author:  [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/13 "2003-07-13T08:04:29Z")
Damn\*\* Desmostylus\*\*, it wasn’t that bad! But don’t worry, you didn’t hurt my feelings when you called me a “stupid hamster”. The next time I’ll take care and write a much better poem especially for you. Your pal, Milum. 🙂
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### Author:  [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/14 "2003-07-13T08:17:08Z")
Reeder: to have credibility one should have standards. Among those standards is an awareness of standards of evidence. No insult intended, but your standards are coming close to … well none. If you truly deep down desire to be our december of the Left or something along those lines, do carry on.
Desmo my boy, I have no idea where this penchant for truly incompetent poetry -doggerel really- comes from, I only hope it isn’t catching.
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### Author:  [@Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chance_the_Gardener)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/15 "2003-07-13T12:18:39Z")
One problem with online polls is that they take opinions from around the world. If the entire world were voting in the 2004 American election, this information would be more relevant. While the fact is that most of the world recognizes that Bush lied about the threat, it’s relevant to know how many of those people in the world are Americans. Consider the _Time_ magazine online poll which asked who the most important people in history were. The winners:
1. Jesus Christ (catalyst for the Christian religion)
2. Adolf Hitler (dictator of Germany, 1933-1945)
3. Ric Flair (professional wrestler)
4. John Flansburgh (half of alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants)
Now although I’m a huge They Might Be Giants fan, I have to say online polls are, um… easily skewed. I’m sure there’s a way to conduct an online poll to get reliable results, but most polls that appear on news web sites or congresspeople’s web sites are accompanied with the necessary disclaimer that the data are not scientific.
But since there’s such a demand for political poetry, let me chip in:
Maybe Bush lied (or distorted the fact)
'Bout Iraq’s violation of nuclear pact.
Note what the State of the Union lacked:
Hard, solid facts. Will we see Bush whacked?
The lesson is one that’s just only too clear:
Don’t trust a man who cannot say “nuclear.”
(Do lemme know if you want some more pomes;
Just say the word and I’ll write you tomes.)
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### Author:  [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/16 "2003-07-13T13:21:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by Milum \*
> **Damn** Desmostylus_\*, it wasn’t that bad! But don’t worry, you didn’t hurt my feelings when you called me a “stupid hamster”. The next time I’ll take care and write a much better poem especially for you. Your pal, Milum. 🙂 \*\*
He wasn’t calling _you_ a hamster. He was cursing the hamster on a wheel that runs this board and makes posts like his arrive to slowly.
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### Author:  [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/17 "2003-07-13T15:03:45Z")
**Particlewill** : “He wasn’t calling you a hamster. He was cursing the hamster on a wheel that runs this board and makes posts like his arrive to slowly.”
I apologise Particlewill, I guess I overreacted. I offer no excuse but sometimes if you don’t think the way that most of the posters to this board do they call you bad names and laugh at you and correct your spelling. Please forgive me.
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### Author:  [@Optihut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Optihut)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/18 "2003-07-13T15:17:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Milum \*
> \*\*I apologise Particlewill, I guess I overreacted. I offer no excuse but sometimes if you don’t think the way that most of the posters to this board do they call you bad names and laugh at you and correct your spelling. Please forgive me. \*\*
Well, this board is rather civil compared to what’s the usual tone of the internet. Stick around and you’ll read many more hamster references, that I can assure you of 😉
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/19 "2003-07-13T15:35:34Z")
There’s no need for _you_ to apologise, **Milum**.
From your response to my “hamster” post, I assumed that you understood and were making a joke, and so I didn’t explain at the time.
I’ll explain now. As others have pointed out, it’s a running joke that the Straight Dope computers are powered by hamsters, and that’s why their computers are sometimes slow - someone forgot to feed the hamsters, or the hamsters are tired, etc.
Just before my “hamster” post, I made _two_ posts when I only intended _one_. Either one would have done, they say the same thing. I blamed the problem on the “hamsters”, because they made me think that my first post had disappeared, thus making me type a second one.
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### Author:  [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-poll-says-bush-is-to-blame-for-the-uranium-mistake/188102/20 "2003-07-13T16:15:44Z")
[nitpick]
Ya know, after reading the trainwreck that **Aldebaren** brought down upon his head for (among other things) starting a thread with nothing but a link, I think it’s only fair to take **Reeder** to task for doing the same.
So…I gotta ask…
**Reeder** ,
What’s the debate?
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