Live and Die by Polls

Over the past few days a couple articles have popped up on Blue Hampshire touting the results of the recent polls which favored their views.  Since they are selective in which ones they discuss I'm going to counter by discussing poll results they may not like as much.

You can find the UNH poll results in full HERE.

While they are quick to tout the most of those polled oppose repealing same sex marriage, they are silent on the fact that most polled favor restoring parental rights requiring notification before any abortions can be performed on children.  39% strongly favored and 18% somewhat favored.  And even more telling 54% of those polled felt that abortion should be allowed in only either limited circumstances or not legal at all.

Another poll they discuss in an article titled "Republicans Can't Read a Poll" found HERE.  In this article they discuss the recent WMUR poll found HERE.  They attempt to claim that house majority leader is wrong when he stated "“What is most encouraging was the majority of those polled see that spending cuts are the best way to balance the budget, rather than new taxes." (Emphasis added at Blue Hampshire)

In the poll the question was asked "Which approach would you choose for dealing with the state’s budget shortfall … rely entirely on spending cuts with no tax increases … rely mainly on spending cuts, with some tax increases … have an even balance of spending cuts and tax increases … rely mainly on tax increases, with some spending cuts … or rely entirely on tax increases, with no spending cuts?"

Entirely On Spending Cuts 29%
Mainly Spending Cuts, Some Tax Increases 21%
Even Balance 35%
Mainly Tax Increases, Some Spending Cuts 9%
Entirely On Tax Increases 2%
Don’t Know / Not Sure 4%

So 50% of those polled would either want the budget problems dealt with either entirely with spending cuts or at the least "mainly" spending cuts.

I would also like to point out that "some tax increases" does not equal "new taxes" such as an income tax or sales tax as some Democrats have pushed.  For instance increasing user fees putting the cost of a service on those who use it would be a tax increase.  Given that, how exactly is Mr Bettencourt incorrect in what he said?  Seems to me that if 50% of those polls favored cutting either entirely or "mainly" then stating the majority see spending cuts as the best way to go is a correct and factual statement.

Of course all that being said the only polls that matter are the ones at the voting booths.

Protecting Molesters Over Children

When Democrats changed the state abortion laws to allow children to get abortions without their parents ever knowing about it many of us, myself included, argued that this was protecting criminals.  If an adult molested a 13 or 14 year old girl he would be able to cover his actions by taking her for an abortion should she get impregnated.

Democrats claimed this was about choice and not about protecting criminals, well that argument went out the window with the bill introduced by Strafford State Representative Jennifer Brown.  Rep Brown introduced a bill to have the least dangerous sex offenders de-listed so they would no longer have to register.

Now I'm no fan of sex registration lists because I feel they give most people a false sense of security because they incorrectly feel that by preventing people who are on the list from living in certain places that those places are safe.  That said, if we know someone is a sexual criminal we should keep an eye on them.

What on earth would make Rep Brown think we should just turn our backs on sexual predators?  The fact her son is one.

Rep Brown's son went on line and entered a graphic sexual conversation with what he thought was a virgin 14 year old girl.  Her son, who was a grown adult of 20, persuaded to meet this young woman for the purpose of sex.  When he arrived on the scene he was meet by police officer who arrested him.

I'd like to share a couple quotes about this story from the Telegraph:

"He didn't meet anyone," Brown said. "He got there, turned around and left so fast. . . . He went to the meeting, then said, 'I'm just leaving,' and that's what our state calls a criminal."

What Rep Brown fails to understand here is that he didn't meet anyone because there was no one to meet.  It was a sting set up by the police to catch perverts like her son who would otherwise have molested a child.

Brown said her son has graduated college with a degree in finance but cannot get a job. Brown said she has talked to other people on the registry who have had consensual sex with a person who lied about their age. She knows of young men who were caught in stings or lied to, she said, who "cannot speak for themselves and have no advocates."

Now here's an interesting statement, she likens what her son did in attempting to molest a 14 year old virgin little girl to someone who meet a woman who looked mature and lied about their age.  I'm sorry but there is a world of difference between the two.  If you go to a college party for instance you can reasonably assume that the women you meet are 18 or older.  If you go online and talk to a girl who says she's 14 and you continue the discussion, you are knowingly pursuing someone underage.

Rep Brown is putting criminals before children.  She's saying its ok for adults to seek after 14 year olds for sex and if they get caught in a sting they should be able to cover up the fact they did what they did.  She is proving the allegation against Democrats when they allowed children to cover up their sexual encounters without abortions without parental knowledge as being nothing more then attempts to cover up molestation is well founded.

A Couple Interesting Polls

I was playing around on facebook and stumbled upon a couple polls that facebook uses have created.  Now these are unsolicited polls who collect answers from everyone, not just registered voters so take them for what they are worth.  I do feel they capture a good cross section of real Americans though so I would guess them to be fairly accurate to the feelings of the nation as a whole. 

Also keep in mind that the numbers of people polled range from question to question.  Some have thousands of responses while others have just a few hundred.

Note: The links may not work as I believe you must be registered with facebook to view them.

First question:

Should Marijuana be legal for purchase?
Yes, it is no worse then Beer, or Cigarettes - 77%
No, I think its a gateway drug - 23%

Do you think abortion should be legalized?
yes - 26%
no - 74%

Interesting comment to this last poll question:
I voted "no". But I have bad news for you, it already is legal. I wonder if it would come up again as a vote, wish it would!

Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Obama is doing in office?
Approve - 42%
Undecided - 6%Disapprove - 52%
Note: 252,093 votes on this last poll

Do you approve of the job Congress is doing?
Approve - 11%
Disapprove - 89%

Do you think Obama is leading America down the road to Socialism?
Yes - 68%
No - 32%

Do you beleive that the federal government should provide universal healthcare to its citizens?
Yes - 38%
No - 63%

Coke or Pepsi?
Coke - 64%
Pepsi - 36%

Should gay marriage be legal?
Yes - 61%
No - 39%

Do you believe in God?
Yes - 74%
No - 19%
Not Sure - 7%

Which Recent US President has done more damage than good?
Ronald Reagan - 3%
George H. W. Bush - 3%
Bill Clinton - 7%
George W. Bush - 39%
Barack Obama - 47%

Should Cigarettes be illegal?
Yes!!! They are gross - 30%
No Way!!! Never - 70%

As I said, take these answers for what they are worth but at the very least I find them interesting for discussion.