Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Lee Haslup <biglee AT haslups.com>]

James Dasher wrote:

> I forget who it was - a general, possibly 19th century? but not 
> American, I don't think - who said, "War is a series of catastrophes 
> resulting in victory."

His name was Georges Clemenceau and, amusingly, he was French.   He was, 
among other things, the Prime Minister during WWI.  You can read about 
him at  http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWclemenceau.htm 

> As to reactions the the debate, rather than reactions to the reactions 
> of the reactions to the reaction to the war in Iraq: polls are 
> starting to come out that Kerry's picked up a couple points, and Bush 
> dropped a couple; though at least one poll says Kerry picked up a 
> point and Bush none.  But those are nation-wide, and comments on this 
> thread have already started on them.

The poll everyone seems to be talking about is the Newsweek poll and it 
remains to be seen how well their results line up with subsequent 
polling.  While I wouldn't accuse them or bias or anything they seem to 
have been the victim of  one of those coincidences.  If you look at the 
breakdown of their sample into Democrats and Republicans it appears that 
this week's poll has more Dems and fewer Reps than last week's poll that 
showed Bush ahead.  The difference is only a few percent but it is 
enough to explain 100% of the difference in the results.  I suppose one 
could argue that Bush did so badly in the debate that 6% of all 
Republicans changed their mind, not just about him, but about party 
affiliation as well.  If so subsequent polling should show it.

> If anybody's seen some battelground state polls - please, nothing from 
> the DNC, RNC, MoveOn.org, SwiftVets, or whoever - share the link!
BigLee