Who's the master of spin?

[trumptman]

http://technology.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2674/26746201.jpg

According to software trained to figure out such things, it is Barack Obama.

New Scientist (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg19926746.200-software-spots-the-spin-in-political-speeches.html)

The software is pretty interesting and while the graph is fun, it can't really be used for any hard, fast conclusions since the context isn't fully flushed out. (in my view) It will be interesting to see what happens if some cable news networks decide to add this to their stable of stuff for future coverage.

[@_@ Artman]

Interesting...

"The voice analysis profile for McCain looks very much like someone who is clinically depressed," says Pollermann, a psychologist who uses voice analysis software in her work with patients. Previous research on mirror neurons has shown that listening to depressed voices can make others feel depressed themselves, she says.

...

Additionally, McCain's voice and facial movements often do not match up, says Pollermann, and he often smiles in a manner that commonly conveys sarcasm when addressing controversial statements. "That might lead to what I would call a lack of credibility."

People are unlikely to trust statements made in a flat tone, particularly when they do not match the person's facial expressions. According to Pollermann's analysis, it may not make any difference that McCain does not pepper his speeches with spin, if the way he talks does not strike people as believable.

Well, that's what interested me of course. Politicians do fabricate the truth. Some much more so. And one much more obviously. That's what frightens me about McCain.

Oh, and if you haven't seen this, it's worth the 18:00...

The real difference between liberals and conservatives (http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html)

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we're left, right or center. In this eye-opening talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most.

We are suffering a bit of a problem right now where a lot of people grew up being able to, for the most part, rely on mainstream news sources to be largely factual and at worst only moderately biased. Most people today have an 'instinctual' mistrust for any claims made about a product in an advertisement, no matter who endorses it or how the claims are supported, but it took a generation or two of advertisers pushing blatant bullshit for people to catch on and develop that mistrust.

I think right now, we are just getting into the early stages of that same sort of mistrust for mainstream news outlets, because a generation (or maybe two) ago, those outlets were fairly reliable, compared to the spin and pandering that I've seen growing in the last 10 - 15 years.

[tonton]

You do know how to read that graph, right?

It shows that Obama "spun" things in a positive way and McCain spun things in a negative way.

I know which type of spin I'd rather deal with in a President.

[trumptman]

You might need to check the caption and the article explanation on that.

[jimmac]

http://technology.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2674/26746201.jpg

According to software trained to figure out such things, it is Barack Obama.

New Scientist (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg19926746.200-software-spots-the-spin-in-political-speeches.html)

The software is pretty interesting and while the graph is fun, it can't really be used for any hard, fast conclusions since the context isn't fully flushed out. (in my view) It will be interesting to see what happens if some cable news networks decide to add this to their stable of stuff for future coverage.


It doesn't matter. Who's been in total charge for 6 out of the last 8 years?

What party has owned congress 1994 through 2006?
If this isn't true and they aren't accountable for the condition of the country what have they been doing?
If the answer is it's not their doing then they haven't been doing anything or are ineffective. So it won't hurt anything to try a different venue.

Which republican candidate has voted with Bush 90 % of the time?
McCain says he's for change now. This is a recent tact with him.

Why should we believe it when he says he's for change and isn't the same as Bush?

How are things going after this long extended period where republicans have had much influence on the state of the country ( more than the democrats for sure )?

If a person doesn't like what's going on in the country why would they vote for the same party that's been in power during recent events?

Would this same person want Palin as president if something should happen to McCain?

Wouldn't it be more logical to try a different approach ( especially with the economy ) than stay the course?

If something happened to Obama wouldn't a person feel more comfortable with Biden and his experience?

There you have it. If you stay with something and it keeps getting worse it would be crazy to keep that up wouldn't it? The only logical alternative now is to vote for Obama/Biden before things get worse. Because if we keep going this way we will ALL feel the hardship.

All facts. Zero spin.