# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 29, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157 "2026-01-29T18:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/21 "2026-01-30T01:36:38Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > I think **Fear\_Itself** likes potatoes _way_ too much. Huh? _(scratches head)_ I know what all those words mean individually, but when you string them together that way, they don’t make a lick of sense. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/22 "2026-01-30T02:06:07Z")
I was torn between french fries and hash browns, the former because it’s a lot of work to properly cook fries at home. Even at restaurants, 95% of the time they’re cooked poorly, usually soggy or overcooked. A machine that “perfectly” cooked fries would be awesome. But I decided to go with hash browns because I like them somewhat better than fries. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/23 "2026-01-30T02:33:52Z")
Baked potatoes are quite healthy and can even help with weight loss- if you are careful with the toppings. > [@WildaBeast](#): > > I do have a microwave, but a conventional oven produces much better results. So if this magic machine produced a perfectly cooked baked potato with no waiting, then it’s baked potato all the way. I concur. With a pat or two of good butter, and some salt & black pepper. > [@markn\_1](#): > > Even at restaurants, 95% of the time they’re cooked poorly, usually soggy or overcooked. I wouldnt go that far. I like mine crispy and thin cut, not wedge style. But I have found good fries at quite a few places. In fact the seasoned fries at Denny’s are surprisingly good. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/24 "2026-01-30T02:45:33Z")
I liked almost all of the potatoes on the list. I’m not sure I could eat most of them daily however. If I was going to eat one kind over and over, I thought baked would give me the most variety. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/25 "2026-01-30T18:11:50Z")
The way that poll question was worded it sounded like maybe the potato-dish-preparing machine couldn’t be turned off. Which could, y’know, be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/26 "2026-01-30T18:26:41Z")
Harris lost a lot of ground among Hispanic voters, particularly male, and black male voters, relative to Biden…but I have a hard time with “poor candidate selection strategy” as a phrase, particularly because I can’t identify anyone who would have done better. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/27 "2026-01-30T18:27:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The way that poll question was worded it sounded like maybe the potato-dish-preparing machine couldn’t be turned off. Which could, y’know, be a problem. Well sure, now I’m picturing Ethel and Lucy at the magical potato microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/28 "2026-01-30T19:05:27Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Harris lost a lot of ground among Hispanic voters, particularly male, and black male voters, relative to Biden…but I have a hard time with “poor candidate selection strategy” as a phrase, particularly because I can’t identify anyone who would have done better. Well I think part of the problem is she really didn’t have much time to connect with voters. But I’ve long held the opinion that Democrats, at least in their political campaigns, are hopelessly out of touch with what voters want. I’ve seen so many squandered messaging opportunities just in the last year. I don’t think it’s the candidate so much as the political strategy and the messaging, which should be consistent regardless of candidacy. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/29 "2026-01-30T19:07:52Z")
“the potatoes kept right on rolling down the little chute **just as regular as a clock can tick** —they just kept right on a comin’, an’ a comin’, an’ a comin’, an’ a comin’“ –Robert McCloskey, _Homer Price_, sort of ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/30 "2026-01-30T19:36:28Z")
In that case _really_ game the system! Golf leaf is a legit topping on over-fancified goodies, so I’ll have my potatoes with a pound of gold leaf on each. Keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/31 "2026-01-30T19:41:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The way that poll question was worded it sounded like maybe the potato-dish-preparing machine couldn’t be turned off. Which could, y’know, be a problem. Hmm. Mashed potatoes could get messy. Guess I should have gone with baked. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/32 "2026-01-30T19:59:52Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > But I’ve long held the opinion that Democrats, at least in their political campaigns, are hopelessly out of touch with what voters want. Can you be more specific? Biden had the highest participation rate in US history, so… ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/33 "2026-01-30T20:32:04Z")
Eh… It’s probably not the best place to get into a political debate. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/34 "2026-01-30T20:34:34Z")
Heh, fair point. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/35 "2026-01-30T22:22:03Z")
I voted Rick Moranis, but for me it’s really a toss-up between Moranis and John Candy. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/36 "2026-01-30T23:17:19Z")
I voted Martin Short using the criteria of using their career as a whole. John Candy probably would have been my choice if his career was longer. Same with Moranis. Short edges out the competition with longevity. Funniest _on_ SCTV would be a very hard choice ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/37 "2026-01-30T23:28:13Z")
Other: I think the Democratic party’s losses have been due in large part to too many voters not knowing what the Democrats are actually saying; due less to the party not explaining itself and more to the particular news sources they’re watching/ reading. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/38 "2026-01-31T00:06:58Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I voted Martin Short using the criteria of using their career as a whole. John Candy probably would have been my choice if his career was longer Good point. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/39 "2026-01-31T00:07:39Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I think the Democratic party’s losses have been due in large part to too many voters not knowing what the Democrats are actually saying; The truth gets shouted down by lies, we know that. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/40 "2026-01-31T04:24:10Z")
I went with Joe Flarity. Count Floyd and Guy Cabenello(sp?) were my favorite characters on the show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157.md?page=3)