Obama triumphs in Warsaw school straw poll
From aswarsaw.org
Barack Obama decisively defeated Mitt Romney in the American School of Warsaw (ASW) straw poll held on October 18. The poll was held as a part of the school’s annual UN Day celebration.
Citizens from over 50 countries participated. The vote was open to students (K through 12), faculty, staff and parents. As noted here on September 19th my son is a student at this Warsaw, Poland international school.
The ASW UN Day celebration is a fantastic party. The parents and children of each participating country team-up to put their country’s best foot forward.
Traditional costumes, music and dance are celebrated. Mouth-watering traditional and exotic foods are free for everyone to enjoy.
To be fair, “the parents,” mostly means the students’ mothers who brilliantly organize the PTA, social clubs and events.
To borrow Mr. Romney’s phrase, ASW has “binders full” of great mothers who sustain this vibrant international community.
Keeping to tradition, there was a parade around the school grounds with the U.S. delegation in front, headed by a fifth grader carrying our Stars & Stripes flag. U.S. Embassy staff participated, and U.S. Ambassador Lee Feinstein gave the keynote speech.
This year, the U.S. table added to the festivities by inviting everyone with an ASW ID badge to participate in a presidential straw poll. It was fascinating to see how the straw-poll animated this international community. In case anyone has any doubts these days, America does matter.
When it came time to count the ballots, it was visually obvious that the pile for Obama was far larger than Romney’s. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, all present declared Obama the winner.
To my knowledge, the actual vote count was not announced. However, the following is my best guess estimate of the voter demographics:
- 900 hundred children;
- 300 faculty and staff;
- 500 parents (disproportionately weighted towards the binders full of moms);
- 100 visiting dignitaries.
And my best guess at the voters’ socio-economic profile is:
- Voters came from over 50 different countries, with about 30% being American and 20% being Polish;
- 20% of the voters were from families with a member in the Diplomatic Corps;
- 65% of voters were from families with a member who is a business executive;
- Average family income of voters is in the top 15% (counting Diplomatic Corps benefits packages).
What do you think we can conclude from this unscientific straw poll, if anything? Here are some ideas, not in any specific order, and not necessarily representing my views.
- The U.S. overseas community prefers Obama, even though their income is far above the average?
- The foreign diplomatic corps prefers to do business with Obama?
- Foreigners voted against Romney because he will have a stronger foreign policy, and they prefer to keep America weak?
- Overseas elites do not feel threatened by Obama’s redistributionist policies (or maybe they do not believe they exist)? They do not believe Romney’s claim that Obama is conducting class warfare against the rich?
- The international community believes Obama’s policies will mend the global economy sooner than Romney’s?
- Obama’s victory reflects the fact that teachers and women overrepresented the voters and are naturally Obama’s constituency?
October 22, 2012 - 6:00 AM
It’s nice 0bama can win in one poll, anyway. Even if it’s a “Budding Young Communists” survey.
Other than you can conclude virtually nothing (it’s not even 2,000 people). Especially because of – “When it came time to count the ballots, it was visually obvious that the pile for Obama was far larger than Romney’s. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, all present declared Obama the winner.”
We can however theorize that propaganda, media and marketing (oh, that fancy logo) play a massive role in how people vote (especially overseas) and that Obama best represents the type of government that they are used to abroad.
Also, I would theorize they don’t know much, if anything, about Romney and know that President Obama is trumpeted as a Rock Star and savior globally.
#1 I almost sarcastically post that somebody will no doubt show up and claim that it was just a bunch of commies voting. As it turns out, suzie had already posted that. Way to go, toots!!!
BTW, troll, Obama also won pammalamadingdong’s 7-Eleven survey. He helped her sell a bunch of coffee.
Unless this poll has a history of correctly predicting outcome, who cares? Oh, your son attends that school. Nice that the RT pays you to write your own personal blog.
Me thinks, Ms. Suzie, protests against communist too much.
“Nice that the RT pays you to write your own personal blog.”
No company or person is paying Mark for writing these columns/blog posts.
Well, this must be awkward. The Salt Lake Tribune, the paper of record in Salt Lake City — which is also the city with the largest Mormon population in the country — has just gone and endorsed Barack Obama rather than fellow Mormon Mitt Romney. In an editorial, the paper praises and thanks Romney for his outstanding work in 2002, when the Olympics, organized by Romney, showed the world the city’s best. But the editors say it was Romney’s “shape shifting” during the nomination process, from courting the Tea Party to the GOP’s far-right contingent that made them wary of the candidate. The paper calls Obama’s leadership “decisive,” and says he has earned a second term, whereas Romney “does not deserve a first.”
Interesting that even the Mormons don’t endorse Mitt Romney.
Ron,
The SLT endorsement ought to be embarrassing for Romney, for sure. But let’s not confuse the newspaper with “the Mormons.” It’s not Mormon (or church) owned, and as far as I know it never has been.
The Deseret News, which is another daily in Salt Lake City, is church owned. I’m sure they’ll come through for Mitt, if they haven’t already.
Well, this must be awkward. The Salt Lake Tribune, the paper of record in Salt Lake City — which is also the city with the largest Mormon population in the country — has just gone and endorsed Barack Obama
I think we have plenty of experience seeing a whacko far-left newspaper in the heart of a conservative region.
The SLT endorsement ought to be embarrassing for Romney, for sure.
You have to have some sense of reality to get embarrassed, so most likely he is not embarrassed.
#4 Come on, tass, how many times do folks have to be told that Mark isn’t getting paid?
I would be talking about polls in Poland too if my guy was nose diving in the polls in the actual country where the election is taking place. Maybe you can poll your household pets next Mark.
Does Mark seek to develop a file of published submissions for use in pursuing other opinion writing opportunities beyond this blog?
Mark?
I’m not clear why it’s anyone’s business if Mark is being paid or not. It’s free for us to access and equally free NOT to access.
Schools all over the country and around the world hold mock elections all the time in order to introduce students to the political process and the way government supposedly works. A blog entry saying a single school elected the blog owner’s choice in the current election is bad enough for a NEWSpaper. But the writer’s kid goes to the school? GYOFB.
#4 Come on, tass, how many times do folks have to be told that Mark isn’t getting paid?
Oh wow. Another instance of Granddad butting in where he hasn’t a clue.
Seriously? Your maniacal egos cannot even lose in a “straw poll”? Sad.
I guess if you endorse President Obama, no matter where you are, you are a communist. Here are some more “communists” right here in the ol’ US of A endorsing President Obama [in no particular order]…
The Plain Dealer [OH] – circulation 286,405
Arizona Daily Star – circulation 96,682
The Salt Lake Tribune – circulation 110,546
San Antonio Express-News circulation 139,099
Charlotte Observer – circulation 146,511
St Louis Post Dispatch – circulation 187,992
The Sacramento Bee – circulation 196, 667
The Seattle Times – circulation 236,929
The Star Ledger [NJ] – circulation 278,940
Tampa Bay Times – circulation 299,497
Philadelphia Inquirer – circulation 325,291
The Denver Post – circulation = 401,120
LA Times – circulation = 616,575
The “communists” who are endorsing Romney:
There are 9 newspapers and 3 are from Texas.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/2012_newspaper_endorsements.php
“Does Mark seek to develop a file of published submissions for use in pursuing other opinion writing opportunities beyond this blog?”
Mark works in international sales management in the telecommunications industry. My sense i, he considers this a fun hobby more than an avocation.
Shrillary, you forgot to note that ALL of those newspapers are owned by capitalists.
Considering some of the responses he gets, I’m not clear on the “fun” part. It’s not hard to figure out that a guy sending his kid to a $25K private school overseas has something going on other than a blog entry once in a while. tass, why don’t you give up the blog cop thing and don’t bother reading if you don’t like it.
That’s right Dan. So now a capitalist can be a communist according the RWers? Who knew?
Warren#13. Unfortunately, very few people make a living writing opinion columns. It’s kind of like playing sports, hoping ot become a professional athlete. I do enjoy it, and as lon as there are a few readers of this blog who find the column worth reading, then I will be inspired to continue. Although, I must admit, this hobby takes up a lot of my spare time.
#16 So you’re calling Dan a liar, suzie? Say it out loud then.
Speaking of “communists” and Suzie’s #1 remark – the ASW is far from typical. As pointed out in the voter profile, I estimate that 30% of voters are well-to-do Americans and 20% (partially overlapping) are from the Diplomatic Corps. from all over the world. The vast majority of the rest come from families of business executives.
This does not necessarily fit the profile of “communists”. Nor does it fit the profile of Obama’s struggling lower and middle class voters who want to sock it to the rich.
tass, would you like to write a guest post?
Be my guest!
To the RWers on here, just about anyone who’s NOT a fascist fits the definition of “a communist.”
MarkJ, just to clarify:
Are there any North Korean students at ASW? Any from mainland China? Any Cubans? Vietnamese? Laotians?
Are there any other communist-led nations in the world?
# Me too, Gdad.
Make that, #3 Me too, Gdad.
Re: Comment by Dan Casey — October 22, 2012 @ 9:47 am
I do not believe that The Deseret News endorses candidates.
Re: Comment by Shrillary — October 22, 2012 @ 11:09 am
Thanks, Shrillary.
I should read all the comments before replying to the earlier ones. OTOH, glad to see that my old fart memory cells are still working, somewhat.
Dan#28 – To answer your question – There are certainly a number of Chinese and Vietnmese. In fact one of my son’s best buddies is Vietnamese. His father runs an import / export business and has warehouse space in this sprawling Chinese warehouse center. My son has hung out there on a couple of Saturdays and has amazing stories about the place.
There are also many Koreans (I assume from South), as well as Russians, Ukrainians. In fact, they had a combined table this year – hmmm. Mexico had a great table this year, so I know they were there. Of course the EU countries are heavily represented also.
The Rwer’s as usual completely miss ( or ignore) the point here. This is basically a group of upper class, well educated, thoughtful people here (and their children who are privileged to attend one of the world’s top private schools). And these people, outside the racial prejudices and overtones of the RW Tea Party nonthinkers like the ones on this blog, overwhemingly think Batack Obama is a better choice for U.S. President than Mitt Romney.
ok, according to dano’s most recent strike of brilliance, if we’re NOT fascist, we’re commies….I guess kristen has more company than I thought.
Re: MarkJ’s contributions:
Years ago, I had a friend that did some free-lance writing, as a hobby. He wrote about a range of outdoor activities / sports — with a focus on fishing and hunting, mostly. He was regularly published in a number of magazines.
He was also a great story teller, in person. There were three of us that often went out together. If I were to try to tell of an amusing incident, the listeners would likely shrug. Were Dick to tell, he’d likely get a smile. However, where Bill (the writer) to tell the tale, the listeners would be holding their sides, laughing. It was all in the wordsmithing, timing, etc.
One day Bill got an offer from a leading magazine to come to work for them. To most’s amazement, mine included, he turned them down.
He said he didn’t want to wake-up some morning thinking, “I have got to go to Alaska for that fishing trip, or go climb a mountain, or the like.” He continued, “I don’t want to turn what I love doing into ‘a job’ that I have to do.”
Freedom is a funny thing. Freedom to do or not to do. To pick and choice. To come and go. Sometimes keeping even one segment of your life free is worth a lot to your soul.
FWIIW, I enjoy this blog. But I’d not sign up to do what MarkJ is doing on a bet. My hat is off to him.
Keep up the good work MarkJ.
For that matter my hat is off to Dan, also.
Keep up the good work, Dan.
Obviously some of you have not embraced MarkJ as a new Gonzo but this whining is really stupid. He has mentioned the school before, maybe he thought some of us would be interested in the results. I doubt he thought it was a controversial topic as indeed schools all over this nation, stores like 7-11 and organizations all do their own “straw polls”. Seriously, get over it or maybe go get a life. Every topic does not have to devolve into some pig wallow of baseless insults…does it?
And not for nothing, but IF Romney had won, you would all be gloating and bloviating for hundreds of posts about his “win”. Who are you trying to kid?
Mark #13: “Unfortunately, very few people make a living writing opinion columns…I do enjoy it, and as lon as there are a few readers of this blog who find the column worth reading, then I will be inspired to continue.”
Mark, we already know that relatively few people get paid to be pundits, whether in a written medium or broadcast. I’m not sure why you consider that unfortunate, but you’re use of that adjective reinforces the fact that your reply didn’t address whether you seek to develop a file of published submissions for use in pursuing other opinion writing opportunities beyond this blog.
correction: your
“ok, according to dano’s most recent strike of brilliance, if we’re NOT fascist, we’re commies….I guess kristen has more company than I thought.”
That’s the way YOU see it, Frank. Not anyone with half a brain.
Stop babbling Frank, and refer to my post where I explain you don’t know anything about any of it.
Dave Hicks, thanks. Mark works hard on these columns, blog posts, whatever you want to call them.
Part of it, I believe, has to do with the horror he perceives at the average American’s knowledge of international affairs. He and I have had many discussions about this.
Keep in mind, everybody, that he thought it was a great practical joke when he gave me the bumpersticker “TED NEEDS DRIVER’S ED” back when we were at the University of Maryland.
I love it. The “America, F#$% yeah!” crowd is all over this thread complaining that children in another country are learning how US elections work. No, we have to politicize this as well.
I thought our way was the greatest way. I thought we were supposed to carry our brand of democracy to the rest of the world. How unpatriotic of you guys!
MarkJ: thank you for what you do.
The fact that Mark can view the US through his own filter and also hear how others in other countries view us – and report back – is interesting. I for one do not think in terms of “American exceptionalism” – this seem to be a very narrow and closed view – allowing us to be complacent about how “important” the US is to the world. The US is just one of many nations, not THE nation.
I read the German paper, Der Spiegel, the UK version of the Guardian, the Bulgarian Novinite, and the Irish Times – all available on line. It allows me an opportunity to read completely different perspectives and a different world view. In fact, to know what is going on in the world, I do not depend on American news sources they are in my opinion, narrow in scope, and lacking in-depth analysis.
For my part, thanks Mark. You are always entertaining and your posts are also thought provoking. Some on Dan’s blog live in a very small world with very small minds – and do not appreciate anything coming between them and their dogma.
Dave#34-You hit the nail on the head. Thanks.
A lot of kind comments today from folks like Dave Hicks, Dan,and Warren. Since I have started posting these columns, I notice that folks like Kristen and Sandi regularly post thoughtful comments also. And, I can always count on Frank and Suzie to express the view from the right. I am sure I missed some good folks, and I hope they forgive me for the unintentional slight.
But, today, I find Warren’s comments, #13 and #38 particularly flattering. My ego forces me to think he is suggesting I have professional potential in this field. Wow! Thanks Warren.
To answer Warren more directly – it is not something I am thinking about or planning. However, eventually, I hope to retire from my day job, and then who knows.
As a final thought, somehow I got a reputation as being a left winger on this blog. However, in the past I have had some opinion pieces published in the Washington Times. Can we conclude from this that the right wingers on this blog are even further to the right than Washington Times?
Shrillary#44. Our messages crossed paths. You are one of those I did not include by oversight. By the way, good reading list. From broadcasting side, if you have access to Russia Today (RT), I would recommend you catch some of their programming. I also think that France24 is worth while.
J.M.White#43 – brilliant observation. I wish I made that one!
Dan’s Blog is inspired today. Must be something in Roanoke’s air today!
The LA times circulation is down to 600k? Wow…
I am sure the obama campaign is pleased that it has the k-12 vote locked up.
The weather is Roanoke is wonderful today: dry, barely warm, bight blue sky. Was that way all weekend; and it’s supposed to be all week.
I guess it falls to me to point out that MarkJ ISN’T METRO.
Re: Comment by MarkJ — October 22, 2012 @ 4:05 pm
Can we conclude from this that the right wingers on this blog are even further to the right than Washington Times?
—————–
Likely.
However, I suspect it more of a factor on lack of knowledge or lack of logical deductive reasoning ability.
I have known some extremely conservative folk who are also extremely knowledgeable, logical, persuasive, etc — folk who can deal with facts and avoid repetitive non-nonsensical mutterings, Ad Hominem attacks, Guilt-by-Association attempts to discredit an idea, Tu Quoque justifications, name-calling, etc.
Too bad they are missing on this blog. They can provide a good balance in a discussion, IMHO.
OTOH, (also in my opinion) the Franks, Suzie, pammala, etc of this world do more damage the the cause of the Right, if they have any actual impact. They are so easy to dismiss that they don’t provide any support to the Right in debate of political, economic, or social theory.
#46 Some of the conservatives, MarkJ, suzie among them, accuse anybody who doesn’t see EVERYTHING exactly the way they do of being liberal.
MarkJ, you should offer your efforts to the Huffington Post or some other heavily trafficked blog. I know they take citizen submissions (and I expect others do to) and as has been mentioned, your POV is rather unique and could well be educational or thought provoking for many people. You are right, far too many, have no clue, the wrong clue or are not even in the game.
But I do not want you to stop sending them here!
Sandi #54 and #55, are you offering to be my agent? I am always very grateful for help and eager to sharing successes. Sounds very political…growing the pie, so to speak!
What is nice about this blog is that I have the comfort to know that Dan will post what I write.
With the Dan Blog I do not have to try to shop around every essay on a case by case basis, typically having to offer a one week exclusive decision period. An essay can get very old and stale if a couple of outlet’s reject it, each of which I must approach serially and exclusively.
I should also acknowledge that for these essays, Dan does the final formating, helps select the pictures, and proof reads. For all of this, I am very grateful to Dan. With him, I have a real pro helping nurture my hobby.
Sandi, thank you again for your encouragement and kind words.
#46: “…eventually, I hope to retire from my day job, and then who knows.”
Presumably, you.
I wasn’t trying to encourage you, Mark, I just thought full disclosure might include this info, and noticed that you characterized it as being unfortunate that not many get paid for opinion writing. I don’t know how it compares to column writing for telecom publications, or sales publications, nor speculate on your inclination to doing that instead of these issues.