And now, our question of the day:

Most dread, awful and snowbound Czar:

I’m taking a rest from any strident advocacy of causes for a moment. I still intend to maintain my pastime of firing homing torpedoes of truth into liberal crocks of steaming horsepuckey, and the ocean will still periodically suffer from being very messy. But even the most enjoyable of pastimes can become trying at times.

That being said, I wish to only make an observation, and ask a question, rhetorically I suppose. Practically every day a certain news network will report the results of polling, either conducted solely by the network or in conjunction with a polling firm, reporting public opinion on a certain issue. What continually causes amazement are the (to me, anyway) large minorities in these polls – ranging from 30% to 40% – who as an example don’t seem to find it objectionable or downright worrisome Dear Leader is continually doing end runs around Congress and the constitutional process of governance in this country through his continual use of Executive Orders. Other polling results are frequently reported, however, these relate to political issues where such splits in opinion are to be expected. I single out this issue of EOs because this has to do with the basic operation of our government – whether you agree with the actions of the Chief Executive or not. It is the process I am speaking about – that process that keeps us from becoming like any two-bit, tin-horn banana republic dictatorship – and the apparent abysmal lack of understanding of that process by a significant chunk of the electorate. They can quote any stat from American Idol or the major leagues to you at a moment’s notice, but what this trend portends seems to be utterly lost on them.

A combination of self-absorption, ignorance, and poor civic awareness – or almost malevolent self-interest at the expense of others?

ID

Yeah, probably all of those. Sometimes even in one person.

Another thing to remember is that people often base their answers on the perception of the question. We often do not get to hear how precisely the question was worded, and people often hedge their bets when they do not understand the question asked over the phone.

For an example, if the poll question were “Should the President do more to fix the economy,” a lot of folks on the Right might answer No, because he has screwed things up enough already; better to let the economy sort it out. Similarly, a lot of folks on the Left might seriously answer No, believing it was time Congress stepped up and did something.

The problem is the question is incomplete, and allows for a lot of interpretations. Sometimes, this is performed for weasel interpretations: you can always polish a poop that way, especially if the President wants to be seen as having done plenty.

Read all about weasel questions here.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.