I got an automated telephone poll from Rasmussen today.

[NNadir]

I felt kind of odd in these Orwellian times giving a computer all sorts of facts about my opinions, but I answered straight up in any case.

The computer asked me if there were any circumstances under which I wouldn't vote. I guess if they kill me I won't vote. Maybe that's what they'll do with all this computer data attached to my phone number. If they don't kill me, I will vote, straight democratic as usual.

There was one question that was somewhat absurd that the computer asked, whether I thought we were winning "the war on terror?" What "war on terror?" There is no such war. There's a war for Halliburton but to be honest, I really, really, really, really really don't see any evidence of anyone showing any level of concern about terrorism, much less a war about it. This is probably appropriate. I don't worry about terrorism, since it has always been highly improbable that a terrorist will strike any given person. It is far more likely that I'll get cancer from coal residues in the atmosphere than it is that I'll be killed by a terrorist. Terrorism is not even on the 20th level of my concerns.

Then the computer asked me if I thought the war in Iraq was part of the putative "war on terror." Why not just phrase the question this way, "Are you stupid?"

[Ignacio Upton]

1. Did they poll you on specific candidates?

n/t.

[NNadir]

2. Yes, Menendez.