Reflections on the Miracle of Democracy at Work in the Greatest Nation on Earth

Montana and South Dakota minus one week

The Democratic primaries campaign limps on: Puerto Rico on Sunday, Montana and South Dakota next Wednesday (our time).

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2,238 Comments

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  1. 51
    Kirribilli Removals
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    It’s funny, but the “offending” post to poor Eddy is here:

    http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/806?cp=8

    #776

    …and it got slapped as ‘childish’ by our dear moderator, and was hardly more than some silly talk.

    Eddy threw a right tantrum, if anyone’s bothered to read it, and THAT was really funny!

    Pure goose, our Eddy, always has been and always will be.

  2. 52
    Dyno
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    Catrina,
    Don’t encourage them, please!
    Who gives a … about Eddy and KR’s little tiff??!

  3. 53
    Ferny Grover
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    Thanks Pancho, good article. I’d forgotten about Cale’s version – which was covered by everyone else including Buckley.

    Thanks to you too GG. Yep Buckley’s tragic version reflects its artist…and makes it a hard song to sing without getting choked up – which doesnt do much for my very average vocals.

    Great song.

  4. 54
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 9:57 pm | Permalink

    Hey Jen – no speakie hey? What a hypocrite you are!

  5. 55
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

    Good Good Kirri – let the anger flow – I bet the ice cubes in your liquor are tingling now!

  6. 56
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:08 pm | Permalink

    No more communication between ESJ and KR, please.

  7. 57
    codger
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:08 pm | Permalink

    ‘think you misunderstood my lingo’ Ronron

    ‘dont lecture me or take a high handed tone’ ESJ

    Magic moments.

    Catrina, pyjamas & pekinese…hint

    Pedro, peripatetic psephy, 40 days & nights or so it seems, & still wise, welcome back to Electahillabillity: the last rites…

  8. 58
    WorkToRule
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:09 pm | Permalink

    Catrina @ 15

    asked

    “Which language?” (to pick up the Intrade quotes)

    Well at the risk of taking a turn off topic.

    Nothing fancy just VB and some regular expressions to parse the html page.

    But more importantly – how can I identify any mispricings? This is going to be an awefully long campaign and I need some punting on the side to keep engaged.

    A dabble on Jim Webb for VP is the only insight I’ve had so far.

    Possums earlier descriptions have me worried that its a rather informed and responsive market place.

  9. 59
    The Finnigans
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:10 pm | Permalink

    GG & FG, try this for old time sake:

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=BKmXSYi49IU

  10. 60
    Greeensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

    Here’s some soothing music,

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP9dZqkyUX0

  11. 61
    WorkToRule
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:16 pm | Permalink

    Dyno @ 48

    Good point. The betting markets (unlike futures market) require you to put the whole price down up front.

    Mind you with cash rates in the USA at around 2% – its not a bad return – not sure how you hedge out McSame dropping of the perch.

  12. 62
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:17 pm | Permalink

    WorkToRule at 58

    But more importantly – how can I identify any mispricings? This is going to be an awefully long campaign and I need some punting on the side to keep engaged.

    I wouldn’t be worried about identifying miss-pricing – take the result, grab the trend, build a forward projection. Any miss-pricing should fall out of the equation with a reasonable algorithm.

  13. 63
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    At 60-40 the betting markets seem a v.risky proposition. After all Hillary was the favourite in January.

  14. 64
    Greeensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:22 pm | Permalink

    Catrina,

    “I wouldn’t be worried about identifying miss-pricing – take the result, grab the trend, build a forward projection. Any miss-pricing should fall out of the equation with a reasonable algorithm.”

    Now that brings back memories.

    That’s how I used to pick up chicks at the Croxton Park Hotel.

  15. 65
    Ron
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:22 pm | Permalink

    k/r
    #39

    You & others have such venom for a fellow Democrat Hillary that even when she does the wrong thing you still can not judge it in a balanced way.

    “Robert Kennedy Jr. released a statement saying it was clear Hillary Clinton was only talking about the political time frame. I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense”

    1/ The Kennedys are politically savvy & the statement was carefully prepared.
    The Kennedys could have chosen to say 2 of the 3 phrases only

    “I understand how highly charged the atmosphere is, and it was clear Hillary Clinton was only talking about the political time frame”

    The Kennedys chose to add “but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense” They know Hillary is under media pressure why she is still campaigning in June. They know RFK (despite a campaign starting later) was factually still campaigning against Humphry in June 1968 , JUne the operative month , so they know her reference was solely to the June Primary timeframe only & said so.

    Had they thought otherwise , they wouldn’t have lied & said so unambiguously
    “but I think it is a mistake for people to take offense”

    Hillary as I earlier bloged used a poor analogy innocently but in doing so it was poor judgement. The Kennedys gracously didn’t say the same as me because it was obvious. You guy have taken it beyond what the Kennedys said. If the Kennedys thought as yous have said and implied the same as yous it would have forced Hillary to concede that day

  16. 66
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:23 pm | Permalink

    GG at 64
    And did it work?

  17. 67
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:25 pm | Permalink

    codger at 57
    Did you know that the first item on google for pyjamas & pekinese brings up a PB page?

  18. 68
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:25 pm | Permalink

    I can remember the NSW Libs at 1.90 and Labor at 1.80 in December 2006 and we all know how that turned out.

  19. 69
    Greeensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:26 pm | Permalink

    Catrina,

    Like winning Tattslotto every week.

  20. 70
    WorkToRule
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

    Catrina says

    “take the result, grab the trend, build a forward projection”

    Put it all on black …

  21. 71
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    catrina/codger

    Happy to freely admit Ron called me names and vice versa. Happy to also admit that I can change my views and opinions AND that Ron makes some good points – like what ideology exactly does Obama have – hope juice?

  22. 72
    Dyno
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    Betfair has POTUS odds of Obama 1.70 and McCain 2.92. Hillary 19.50.
    They seem about right to me.

  23. 73
    codger
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    Well hush ma mouth Catrina.

  24. 74
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:30 pm | Permalink

    GG at 69
    As is “in your dreams”?
    ROTFLOL
    Dream on GG!
    http://www.catrinasbridal.co.uk/communities/004/006/107/021/images/4516620219.jpg

  25. 75
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:31 pm | Permalink

    Remember in the Australian fed e the difference between the overall odds and the seat odds?

    Interesting INtrade has something like Virginia as I think 55-45 to the R’s.

  26. 76
    codger
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:35 pm | Permalink

    Fine ESJ @ 71, But ‘DOCS’ @ KR etc come on…run your ‘race’ as you see fit…no probs.

  27. 77
    Greeensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:35 pm | Permalink

    Catrina,

    Nice shot.

    Are you about to fall out of your algorithm? How much forward trend can you deal with?

  28. 78
    Dyno
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:36 pm | Permalink

    ESJ @ 75,
    Most of the individual seat markets in our election were very shallow – not much money bet, and plenty of scope for pollies or their friends to manipulate the odds in order to make a (rather pathetic) point. There were a few markets with some depth (eg Bennelong) but not all that many.
    Not saying people did rig the markets for individual seats, but it’s at least possible.

  29. 79
    Greeensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:38 pm | Permalink

    Finns @59,

    Nice version. Brings back a few good memories.

  30. 80
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:40 pm | Permalink

    GG at 77

    How much forward trend can you deal with?

    It’s all about risk and reward – you know that feeling when everything is about to coalesce but at same time anything can happen – and your 142% alive. I like 142%. What about you – how far are you ready to go?

  31. 81
    Kirribilli Removals
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:40 pm | Permalink

    78
    Dyno

    Ah, Bennelong, that brings back good memories! LOL

  32. 82
    The Finnigans
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:41 pm | Permalink

    #71 – esj, gore vidal called it the cliche juice, the kind like the recipe for quiche, eggs you scrambled together, with few crumbs of bacon, and then half-baked and then you sell them to the people in the street

  33. 83
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:41 pm | Permalink

    Codger 71 if you read the thread in its entirety I think the case is pretty clear. No need to say anymore.

  34. 84
    Edward StJohn
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:42 pm | Permalink

    I’d say essence d’fart Finns.

  35. 85
    Ron
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:43 pm | Permalink

    Codger
    #57

    you’ve missed the key area of dispute between me & Possum

    Possum #28 “Prediction markets dont have “perfect record”- they have a NEAR perfect record. The Iowa markets started in 1988 (not 68), Intrade started in 2000.”

    If Possum was right , do not read any polls or political articles about e/v states or look at sites that do 10,000 simulations of State’s % e/v winning chances , or ant politic date , just look at the daily Intrade. I do not agree either that their value is that good despite the ‘record’ and further I am saying at #43 that the basis of predicting elections is just as sound using the criteria I listed in #19 point 6/. And next time he is live I will make this additional point

  36. 86
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:43 pm | Permalink

    Ron at 85
    *sigh*

  37. 87
    Greeensborough Growler
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:45 pm | Permalink

    Catrina,

    There can only be one answer.

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=4PHfouJRA3Q

  38. 88
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:48 pm | Permalink

    GG at 87

    Something from the current century – please!

  39. 89
    Ferny Grover
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:48 pm | Permalink

    59
    Thanks for that Finns. KD Lang’s version worked well with Kevin

  40. 90
    WorkToRule
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:51 pm | Permalink

    Ron say

    “I do not agree either that their value is that good”

    Ron, you are spot on
    You should extend the mortage (or take a new one)
    And bet on Clinton to become POTUS
    It will be a double victory – both moral and financial

  41. 91
    codger
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:52 pm | Permalink

    Ronron

    ‘Codger
    #57

    you’ve missed the key area of dispute’

    Electahillabillity?

    Don’t think so. But am open to ‘butterfly’ persuasion.

  42. 92
    The Finnigans
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:54 pm | Permalink

    Ronnie & Poss, i will leave the two of you to slug it out on poll vs intrade. but i simply find this amazing, it does not matter how you like to spin it. it has been like this for the last couple of months.

    May 26 – Electoral Votes: Clinton 319 McCain 202 Ties 17
    May 26 – Electoral Votes: Obama 266 McCain 248 Ties 24

  43. 93
    Catrina
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:55 pm | Permalink

    codger at 91

    Don’t think so. But am open to ‘butterfly’ persuasion.

    Where is that blindbutterfly when you need him?

  44. 94
    codger
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 10:58 pm | Permalink

    Hovering not lurking…

  45. 95
    WorkToRule
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

    codger says

    “Electahillabillity”

    Three point shot

  46. 96
    Ferny Grover
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

    RCP has just updated it’s delegate count bumping Obama’s SD lead up from 32 to 35 and his overall delegate lead to 193

  47. 97
    The Finnigans
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:01 pm | Permalink

    #88, [Something from the current century - please!] – since you asked. the song and the singer fit you puuurfectly

  48. 98
    Kirribilli Removals
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:02 pm | Permalink

    90
    WorkToRule

    Yeah, you buy Clinton for 6 on intrade, wow, now there’s a fat profit if she came in! (She’s a bit ahead of Al Gore for President, but not by very much. Maybe Gore would be a better bet! LOL)

    A horse at 15 to 1 you’d call a roughy, so I think we could call Hillary that too!

  49. 99
    Andrew
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:03 pm | Permalink

    The Finns, I have some really bad news for you. Its the delegate numbers not electoralvote.com that counts. But you go on posting the numbers that suit you if it makes Hillary’s loss a little bit easier

  50. 100
    WorkToRule
    Posted Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:04 pm | Permalink

    Not sure if it has been previously mentioned – but Guy Rundle in his daily report on Crikey had a lovely observation on the prospect of Hilary becoming VP.

    “Bill is apparently pushing for her to take it – which is the main reason why Obama would resist it. Can you imagine having Bill looking over your shoulder? Man that is so sitcom.”

    Hey – its a sitom we’d all watch though :)

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