FOX News: 80% of Iraqis "somewhat likely" to vote.

[kuozzman]

I know this is complete crap, but how can they even try to say that this is reality? First of all, how could they even conduct a halfway legitimate poll in Iraq if they wanted to. Second, in order to get results like these, they'd have to have a question on there like, "is there more than a 1% chance that you may vote on Jan. 30th?"

[ClassicDem]

1. If Iraq can get 80% of their citizens to vote

what does that say about the US? We can only get 60% of our citizens to the polls and it's not like we have cars exploding left and right.

[kuozzman]

3. Iraq won't even top 50% n/t

[imenja]

2. I heard one expert say 10% would be considered a major success

They don't even know where the polling places are yet, or in some cases even who the candidates are. Candidates are afraid to make themselves know for fear of being killed. This whole thing is a complete farce and everyone but the White House knows that.

[kuozzman]

4. That sounds much more realistic. n/t

[stevedeshazer]

5. They'll toss flowers and sweets while waiting in line to vote

And they'll thanks us profusely for bringing DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM...at the point of a gun.

[pdxmom]

6. The Bushies are really playing it up

I heard them on the news over the weekend, saying that the turnout would rival the turnout here in the U.S. But if you read the foreign press, they are estimating that around 50% wouldn't even be able to vote, due to the violence and another percentage of that amount would choose not to. Their high side estimate was that it would be somewhere between 20-35%.

[BR_Parkway]

7. Maybe they already programmed the machines - another "mandate"

[ProfessorGAC]

8. There Is No Freedom To Answer

These people lived under a tyrant for almost their whole lives. Now, they're living under the occupation of a foreign power. If you were one of them, don't you think you might be a little fearful to say you WEREN'T planning to vote? So, 80% say yes, but how many of them say yes, because they are giving the answer they think they're supposed to give.

In situations like Iraq, social science polling is virtually useless.
The Professor

[cthrumatrix]

9. 80% of Iraq'is think Faux is full of crap and propaganda tools

[tridim]

10. Yea, like there's a pollster walking around in Iraq

risking his life to poll the Iraqis. Did he poll Sunnis too? The insurgents? This poll is 100% bullpoop.

[Plaid Adder]

11. 80% of which Iraqis?

My guess is Fox didn't poll those who are

a) dead
b) in hiding
c) terrified of being seen talking to an American or a member of the international media
d) living someplace where Western reporters dare not venture

Personally, I think the election will be decided by the expatriates. They're the ones who don't have to risk their lives to get to the polls.

This is, of course, assuming that anyone is actually planning to count the votes.

Sigh,

The Plaid Adder