# Fox News is bad at math **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 11, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069 "2009-03-11T13:38:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/1 "2009-03-11T13:38:43Z")
Last night my wife and I are at the gym, attempting week two our or Couch-to-5K quest. We’re trying to watch The Biggest Loser for some encouragement, but keep getting distracted by Fox News on the next TV over. They’re doing a “special” news report on Obama’s presidency thus far. Has he lived up to all the hype? Has he climbed every mountain? Forded every stream? Has he DUM DUM DUM fulfilled all his campaign promises? (I’m just assuming there was a DUM DUM DUM. It was closed captioned). According to FOX, who I later learned got their info from Politifact, ([http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/](http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/)), Barack Obama had made 513 campaign promises (hey, just another 100 and he’d have been the Old Testament!). Thus far he’s only kept 17. SEVENTEEN? That’s it? OK, I’m convinced. Barack Obama is liar, ineffectual, and a complete failure as our president. Of course, I have to make a few assumptions in my analysis to do this. First, I have to assume Politifact is a reputable site. Second, I have to assume that their number of 513 campaign promises is accurate. Third, I have to ignore the 7 compromises he made to accomplish his goals. Why the hell is the President compromising on ANYTHING? Does he not understand the concept of “Executive Branch”? You don’t see the CEO of a fortune 100 company trying to placate the marketing department do you? No. It’s do it my way or find yourself another line of work. Fourth, I have to ignore the 3 promises that are “stalled.” I can, however, use it as further support of how ineffectual Obama is. Fifth, I have to say that the 40 promises he’s currently working on don’t count for squat because until they go into law, they might as well be lies. So it all boils down to 17 promises kept. 17 out of 513. That’s 3.318%. That’s nothing! That’s less than nothing! What the fuck has he been doing there his first 49 days anyway? Hmm…hold on… 49 days. Out of 1461 in his first term… 49/1461 = 3.3539% OK. FOX, are you fucking telling me, that based upon the fucking statistics that you fucking hand picked to show how much of a fucking failure Obama is in his Presidency, Obama is fucking within FOUR FUCKING ONE HUNDRETHS OF A FUCKING PERCENT OF WHERE HE SHOULD FUCKING BE? Fuck you FOX. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/2 "2009-03-11T13:49:37Z")
It’s Fox, what do you expect? President Obama has done so much in his first 50 days, most of which is not reported on, that it makes me giddy. Do you expect any MSM outlet, let alone Fox, to give people a rundown, when Republican ranting is so much more colorful? One thing I think is funny. The MSM is hardly reporting anything that President Obama is doing, just the big stuff, and yet Republicans are howling their latest talking point, that he’s doing too much. If I didn’t try to keep up with this stuff, I’d think, doing _too_ much? Thank you Republicans for doing what the MSM won’t do, and let people out there know that President Obama is actually doing a hell of a lot! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/3 "2009-03-11T14:16:13Z")
Is Fox reporting/foaming about how Obama has had both Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind and Fire for private appearances at the White House? Because the [Liberal Jewish media](http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220290&title=obamas-first-100-days) is 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/4 "2009-03-11T14:22:43Z")
This morning they announced the family dog was picked, but some expert said he messed up picking the dag. The public doesn’t need the comment from an expert on the dog the family picked. They always have to add a something negative, even on a simple announcement the kids have a pet now. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/5 "2009-03-11T14:35:08Z")
So, am I to take it that Fox “News” will be thrilled when Obama accomplishes all 517 campaign promises? Will they then be satisfied, or will those 517 mark the beginning of the CCCPUSA? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/6 "2009-03-11T14:41:36Z")
I picking your dog! ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/7 "2009-03-11T15:15:08Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I picking your dog! In CCCPUSA, dog pick _you_! ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/8 "2009-03-11T15:15:46Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is Fox reporting/foaming about how Obama has had both Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind and Fire for private appearances at the White House? Because the [Liberal Jewish media](http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220290&title=obamas-first-100-days) is 🙂 And then Obama tried to high-five Stevie Wonder and they had to add a 13th Supreme Court Justice, but when you called his number it was a porn operator. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/9 "2009-03-11T15:18:16Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Last night my wife and I are at the gym, attempting week two our or Couch-to-5K quest. I don’t much care what Fox News is reporting about Obama, but did want to say congrats on making it to the second week and keep on trucking! ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/10 "2009-03-11T15:30:35Z")
Faux News cherry picking numbers to make those that aren’t aligned with their political agenda look bad? Say it isn’t so! Hey, you should support the president during war time! Why do you hate America Faux News? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/11 "2009-03-11T15:44:33Z")
I disagree with the OP’s methodology. The OP assumes that there should be a linear progression of success, and that all promises are ultimately “makeable.” That’s not true. For example, suppose Obama had said, “I promise that I will appoint a cabinet within two weeks, and that none of my appointees will be found to have problems paying their taxes.” Those are two promises, and neither of them is possible to achieve now. By the OP’s analysis, we could not assess that failure against Obama until January 20th, 2013. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/12 "2009-03-11T15:51:37Z")
And your \*better \*idea would be … ? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/13 "2009-03-11T15:57:10Z")
Politifact seems pretty reasonable about how they rate things, but not all promises are created equal. Does “Expand eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)” (No 58 - Promise Kept) count the same as “Get his daughters a puppy” (No 502 - In The Works)? Also, there remains the question of where Obama _should_ be at this point. I suspect he’s doing better than most, even given the fairly large number of promises on the list. What had Bush or Clinton achieved after 50 days? Heck, didn’t GHW Bush get into office on a grand total of two promises (“No New Taxes” and “Say the Pledge of Allegiance every day”)? What’s a realistic benchmark here? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/14 "2009-03-11T15:59:15Z")
Fox has news? Isn’t that an oxymoron? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/15 "2009-03-11T16:00:49Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Politifact seems pretty reasonable about how they rate things, but not all promises are created equal. Does “Expand eligibility for State Children’s Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)” (No 58 - Promise Kept) count the same as “Get his daughters a puppy” (No 502 - In The Works)? > > Also, there remains the question of where Obama _should_ be at this point. I suspect he’s doing better than most, even given the fairly large number of promises on the list. What had Bush or Clinton achieved after 50 days? Heck, didn’t GHW Bush get into office on a grand total of two promises (“No New Taxes” and “Say the Pledge of Allegiance every day”)? What’s a realistic benchmark here? Exactly correct. Which points out the absurdity of this sort of analysis, either from Fox or the OP. (Although in fairness to the OP, his main point was exactly that; his illustration of it was another attempt to supply rigorous counting techniques to a situation that isn’t amenable to them). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/16 "2009-03-11T16:03:59Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Exactly correct. Which points out the absurdity of this sort of analysis, either from Fox or the OP. (Although in fairness to the OP, his main point was exactly that; his illustration of it was another attempt to supply rigorous counting techniques to a situation that isn’t amenable to them). Only if a significant number of them are time critical. Off hand, the only one I can think of is withdrawing the troops from Iraq in 16 months. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/17 "2009-03-11T16:07:18Z")
… and it isn’t as if doing it in 19 months instead is actually “breaking” that promise. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/18 "2009-03-11T16:10:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > For example, suppose Obama had said, “I promise that I will appoint a cabinet within two weeks, and that none of my appointees will be found to have problems paying their taxes.” Those are two promises, and neither of them is possible to achieve now. By the OP’s analysis, we could not assess that failure against Obama until January 20th, 2013. While that’s true, Politifact’s methodology is not better. It seems that they somehow expected Obama to keep all 513 (513! What a nice, precise number.) promises in less than two months, and that he hasn’t is a fault. I think that this factoid falls directly in the “Who gives a shit?” category. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/19 "2009-03-11T16:16:16Z")
**Enderw24** , you should forward your analysis to The Daily Show. You’ve got Obama, Fox News, media idiocy, and the F bomb - I think you’ll fit right in. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069/20 "2009-03-11T16:27:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Exactly correct. Which points out the absurdity of this sort of analysis, either from Fox or the OP. (Although in fairness to the OP, his main point was exactly that; his illustration of it was another attempt to supply rigorous counting techniques to a situation that isn’t amenable to them). Not to mention this approach does not take into acount the magnitude of each of the promises. His promises range from simple changes to sweeping reforms. How do you quantify each one and then compare them? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-is-bad-at-math/489069.md?page=2)