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April 19, 2023

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Movies often serve as perfect time capsules, offering snapshots of what life was like in an earlier time. Take Dazed and Confused. The movie is set in late seventies Texas and focuses on groups of ... Read Now >

4/1: For the Love of the Game

April 1, 2010 | by Marist Poll

By Stephanie Calvano

Rogers Hornsby said, “People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” I share this sentiment with the legendary second baseman.

Stephanie Calvano

The Yankees take top honors among baseball fans nationally with 11% of those fans saying they support the Pinstripes. In New York, 58% of the state’s registered voters who are baseball fans do the same. As a person who shares this allegiance, I couldn’t have imagined a more picture-perfect ending to the 2009 season than a 27th World Series Championship, but with my elation came a sense of sadness. Baseball season was over … now what? I think A. Bartlett Giamatti put it perfectly… “It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.”

Yeah, sure, I enjoy football season, and it gives me my sports fix through the winter, but it’s not the same. I don’t watch football with the same knowledge and passion that I do with baseball. I wait and wait for the day pitchers and catchers report to spring training. It’s a signal that a new season (as well as a visit to Florida for spring training) is just around the corner!

To say the least, I can’t wait for Sunday! No, not because it’s Easter, and I have an excuse to eat chocolate all day, but because its baseball’s opening night! And, as if the start of the 2010 season wasn’t exciting enough for this baseball fan, the game is a marquee matchup between my Bronx Bombers and rival Boston Red Sox. The baseball gods must really love me this year!!

As the 2010 season begins, and my quest to attend a game at every Major League Baseball stadium continues, I have one thing to say, “Play ball!!!”

Len Berman

March 31, 2010 | by Marist Poll

Len Berman is an Emmy-Award winning sportscaster and New York Times Best Selling Author who has covered just about every major sports event including multiple Super Bowls, World Series, and Olympics during his 40-year career in broadcasting. Mr. Berman is the creator of “Spanning the World,” a monthly collection of sports bloopers, which was a 20-year staple on NBC’s Today Show. Len has thousands of subscribers to his Top 5 daily email which he sends from his website www.ThatsSports.com.

Len Berman

Mr. Berman is the recipient of eight Emmy Awards and 6-time winner of New York Sportscaster of the Year. He has just published his fifth book, The 25 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time (Sourcebooks). His kids book, The Greatest Moments in Sports (Sourcebooks, 2009) immediately debuted on the New York Times Best Seller List. His other works include: Spanning The World (HarperCollins), And Nobody Got Hurt! (Little, Brown), and And Nobody Got Hurt 2! (Little, Brown).

His daily Top 5 email is featured on The Huffington Post and is received by thousands around the country.

3/17: Cuomo: Decisive or Defensive?

March 17, 2010 | by Marist Poll

Lee Miringoff breaks down the political future of Andrew Cuomo after the New York attorney general recused himself from investigating Governor David Paterson:

3/15: Hopping on the Bandwagon? The Internet’s Impact on Intelligence

March 15, 2010 | by Marist Poll

With the news from The Marist Poll that an overwhelming 68% of U.S. residents believe the Internet is making us smarter, I’m beginning to think I should just hop on the bandwagon and see where it takes me. Still, I can’t help asking why people are so optimistic.

The general argument linking smarts to the Web seems to go like this: Because of this vast online memory store, parts of our mind that would have been tied up in the dark days preceding the Web are freed to accomplish new tasks. With the Web harboring all the data we need, we know finding an answer is as simple as typing a query into a search engine, and this certainty alters our approach to any task that requires information we lack. Now, we don’t have to spend time and effort acquiring such knowledge; the Internet holds it for us, and we are more productive under this lightened load.

Some people characterize the Internet as an extension of our brains. In his Atlantic article “Get Smarter,” Jamais Cascio discusses the rise of computers and devices dubbed “exocortical technology,” which allow us to perform tasks we never dreamed of. He writes: “As the digital systems we rely upon become faster, more sophisticated, and (with the usual hiccups) more capable, we’re becoming more sophisticated and capable too.” The article is fascinating, and I encourage you to read it – among other things, it suggests that in addition to computers, drugs will be developed that help us perform cognitive tasks better.

But I can’t stop myself from protesting that the Web, one of these “sophisticated” systems, has spawned a certain amount of unpleasantness: paparazzi-fueled “news,” silly viral videos, a huge number of scams … the list goes on. While the Web can be seen as a tool to help us achieve things, it also appears to be able to distract us, sell us things we don’t need, and lead us down fruitless paths as we seek information. One could argue that the Web is still in its infancy, and guides will emerge to point us in the right directions. But one could also argue that powerful entities who see the medium as a piggy bank waiting to be smashed don’t want that to happen.

Nicholas Carr, whose article “Is Google Making Us Stupid,” also in the Atlantic, created quite a buzz among tech pundits, points out that for all of the Internet’s innovative power, it could be altering something fundamental about the way we read. Carr writes: “In the quiet spaces opened up by the sustained, undistracted reading of a book … we make our own associations, draw our own inferences and analogies, foster our own ideas.” Such deep reading, he says, isn’t encouraged by the Web’s architecture, which is designed to accommodate shallow, fast processing: the more we click, the more some company stands to sell us something.

I doubt Carr was surprised when a survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project revealed 81% of experts believe “Nicholas Carr was wrong: Google does not make us stupid.” He knows as much as anyone that the bandwagon is alluring and swift, with some authority figures at the wheel. So while the Web skeptics and evangelists will go back and forth (the evangelists enjoying the majority position), one thing is abundantly clear: most people trust the Web to propel them into the future. If that’s the case, then regulation, analysis, and organization are in order. Perhaps we need the skeptics to keep the bandwagon from tipping over.

3/11: The Excitement to be Counted: Welcome 2010 Census!

March 11, 2010 | by Marist Poll

Lots of things happen every ten years…
– Your passport expires
– Tibet’s average annual temperature rises 0.3 degrees
– You ‘re supposed to get a tetanus booster
– The world loses 7% of its topsoil due to human impact
– You have to convince yourself 40 is the new 30, 50 is the new 40, or 60 is the new 50.
– And most excitingly (for me, at least), the United States Census Bureau undertakes the DECENNIAL CENSUS!

Mandated by the Constitution and conducted every ten years since 1790, The Decennial Census is a formal count, or enumeration, of the entire United States population. The vital data is collected by mailing survey forms to all known residential units…and then eagerly awaiting your response…a response that will take less time than needed to make a cup of coffee since the 10 simple questions (such as the number, age, and gender of people living in your home) make this the shortest form in Census history.

My guess is that the 4% of Americans who, in a recent Marist Poll, described their feelings as excited when the census form arrives in their mailbox were survey methodologists, pollsters, and Census employees. We must have (randomly, of course) called them all! While eager, enthused, and even energized all capture my emotions, the vast majority of Americans – normal people, in fact – feel obligated, interested, or patriotic…not exactly excited. But, hey, I’ll take it – at least nearly nine out of ten Americans report they are likely to complete this year’s form.

So, why do I think this is exciting, you might ask? Why do I think it’s critical that, in the wake of an economic crisis, our government spends close to $15 billion dollars on the decennial Census…and over $2 million dollars pumping up Americans for this count with a Super Bowl commercial? For me, the answer is two-fold: (1) I love all things ‘survey’…their design, purpose, and utility; and (2) the accuracy of my job relies, to some degree, on the accuracy of the Census. But, the two major reasons noted by the Census Bureau are:

1. Census counts are used by Congress to determine how many seats your state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2. Federal, state, and local government use census information to allocate over $400 billion in federal funds for community programs, services, and infrastructure (such as schools, hospitals, roads, and job preparation services).

The 2000 Census undercounted the actual population of the United States by over 6 million people. While some of that undercount is due to difficulty in locating some housing units, a significant proportion is due to Americans simply not completing the form. Many are concerned and suspicious about disclosing information to the bureau but rest assured, the government goes to great lengths to protect our confidentiality and privacy. Personal data is not shared with anyone – including other federal agencies.

And think about it…6 million people is a lot of people…and a lot of time, resources, and money that your own community may have been short-changed because our government had no way of knowing its needs based on the population. In fact, according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers after the 2000 Census, thirty-one states potentially lost a total of over $4 billion (for programs and services meeting the needs of the poor, children, and minorities) due to the undercount.

So, when your census form arrives in your mailbox in just about a week, you may want to think twice before tossing it aside. Forget that the census is required by law and that it could cost you a $250 fine if you don’t complete it. Not filling it out could, ultimately, hit you and your community where it hurts – in your wallet. Just remember what we tell our Marist Poll interviewers: “Everyone’s participation is truly important!”

3/9: Go Figure

March 9, 2010 | by Marist Poll

By Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Governor David Paterson is under siege with a series of swirling controversies… the awarding of bids for the Aqueduct racino, his conversations with a woman who has accused a top aide to the governor of domestic violence, and the cloud over how the governor obtained Yankees’ World Series tickets. As daily revelations are brought forth by The New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, and other media, New York’s public opinion community has been busy trying to keep tabs on changing voter sentiment. So far, the data points to seeming contradictions.

The Marist Poll released today, as well as those conducted by other organizations, shows Governor Paterson’s approval rating is scraping bottom. Yet, voters don’t want him to resign. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, expected to announce his candidacy for governor once he can see his way clear of the Paterson investigation, had been the most popular statewide pol in New York. Yet, he is taking a hit in the current atmosphere and voters prefer an independent investigation of possible Paterson wrongdoing over Cuomo’s probe.

There is little doubt voters disapprove of just about every aspect of Governor Paterson’s tenure. His approval rating is below that of former Governor Cuomo in 1994, the year he was defeated. Paterson’s numbers today trail what former Governor Pataki received in 2006, the year he decided not to seek re-election. Paterson is even more unpopular now than former Governor Eliot Spitzer was during the height of the sex scandal that forced his resignation and brought Paterson to power. But, New Yorkers are willing to give the governor the benefit of the doubt… at least in the short run.

Although voters are not calling for Governor Paterson’s resignation, it is not a ringing endorsement. If he doesn’t resign, most fear he will be ineffective in the remaining months of his term. Although most think he has done something wrong, in the absence of further evidence, New York voters don’t think he acted illegally and hence, should not step down. Others also say his stepping aside now would do the state more harm than good. With 41% of the electorate unable to rate Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch, maybe there is something about the governor you know being better than the governor you don’t.

The Cuomo report, expected in a couple of weeks, may ultimately be the final straw. But, Attorney General Cuomo must walk a fine line as he transitions to candidate Cuomo. As potential future candidate Cuomo, he remains the strong favorite for governor. But, as attorney general, Cuomo is being tainted by his role as the investigator. Many now question whether he should continue with his investigation or turn matters over to an independent prosecutor. Oddly, the governor is not among those who want to pull the plug on the attorney general and is standing by his initial request that Cuomo conduct the investigation.

As events unfold, this much is clear: the argument being advanced by some of Governor Paterson’s supporters – that he is being unfairly singled out – will not wash with the majority of New Yorkers. Voters want the process to be a fair one, and that’s exactly what they believe Paterson is getting.

3/3: The Devil Is in the Poll

March 3, 2010 | by Marist Poll

Sure, all polls are snapshots in time. And, because the political world doesn’t pause to allow for the several days it takes to complete the requisite number of voter interviews, occasionally, we get caught mid-poll. Typically, we adjust and move on. This was not as easily accomplished, however, in Marist’s most recent poll of New York State voters … a survey that will be forever remembered at the survey center as “The Poll from Hell.”

It is said that the devil is in the details. It seems he has taken control of the headlines, as well. What started out on Monday night, February 22nd as a regular measurement of New York’s electorate had become something far different when the results were finally released on March 2nd.

At poll kickoff last Monday, we expected to poll New York voters through Wednesday and start a national survey Thursday night. Tabulate and write the statewide results on Thursday, and, release the results on Friday morning. How was Governor Paterson doing in his anticipated contest against Andrew Cuomo? Was Senator Kirsten Gillibrand vulnerable to a challenge from former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr.? Was New York Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman a threat to disrupt the U.S. Senate picture against Gillibrand or Ford? But, the devil was already plotting against us.

We got off to a good start. We completed 292 interviews on Monday and felt everything was on track. Our scheduling tsunami was nowhere on our radar screen. And, then came record-breaking snows. Tuesday night’s polling was cancelled due to poor weather. Our optimism to get back on pace following a successful Wednesday night polling session (we now stood at a respectable 646 completed interviews) was short-lived. Snow knocked us off the map on Thursday and Friday … 154 interviews short of our original goal.

Then, things went even faster downhill. We were in the middle of a five-way staff conference call on Friday morning planning how to dig our way out of this project when our director of Interactive Media Mary Azzoli alerted us that the scandal-plagued David Paterson had pulled out of the governor’s race. What to do, now? Should he resign? Could he govern effectively? Was Cuomo now a shoo-in? The political world, as far as the governor’s race, had turned upside down. At least, the Senate race was intact. Satan, were you eavesdropping?

We turned to Plan B. (it was really Plan Z, but I’ll spare you all the details). In pollster-ese, we would resume polling on Monday with a separate survey of New York voters on the question of the governor’s political future, include questions about the Gillibrand-Ford Democratic Senate primary (we didn’t have a large enough sample of Democrats from the previous week), eliminate the now-outdated Paterson-Cuomo primary matchup, and take the 646 completed interviews from the previous week as a done deal on the remaining approval ratings and general election toss-ups. Our ducks were in order again.

The phone room was humming on Monday night. With the goal line in sight, we took a peek at the preliminary results. To our surprise New Yorkers didn’t want Governor Paterson to resign. Nothing like a counter-intuitive finding to get our conceptual juices churning. About half an hour later, the pitchfork landed again. The news hit that Harold Ford Jr. decided not to enter the race. Here we go again.

As midnight on Monday approached, we were putting the finishing touches on our Tuesday morning release. We would lead with the all-important results on whether Paterson should resign. To avoid being misleading we would also highlight the public’s concern over his lack of governing ability. That provided the appropriate context. As for the non-existent Gillibrand-Ford Senate race, we called it “What Might Have Been.” It stayed newsworthy thanks to Ford’s claim that he would have prevailed in a race against Gillibrand. The poll showed the opposite to be the case. We made it!

Of course, on Tuesday night Mort Zuckerman announced he would not seek the Gillibrand Senate seat. Nice try, Lucifer. But, we had already released those poll results earlier in the day.

At the Marist Poll, we jokingly say that no two poll projects are ever alike. This time to prove the point, the devil had his hand in it. But, we persevered and along the way, paid the devil his due.

2/23: Figure Skating: Pushing the Envelope?

February 23, 2010 | by Mary Griffith

I’d like to say I am unique. But when it comes to the Olympics, I’m not alone in my love for figure skating. (32% of American residents, according to the latest Marist Poll, say skating is their favorite Olympic sport.)

My interest in the sport peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding, Kurt Browning … these were all household names to me growing up. Not only was I riveted to the TV screen when the Olympics rolled around, but I would tune into other competitions and exhibitions year in and year out. I had my favorites and held my breath with every important jump, spin, and tricky footwork sequence.

But, here is my question today, has the sport become too technical? Has the push to advance the sport come at the enjoyment of the average spectator?

Not unlike many other Americans, my interest in figure skating has waned. (When Marist asked about Americans’ favorite Winter Olympic sport in 2006, 50% chose skating.) But, once again, I caught Olympic fever and checked out a few of the pairs’ and men’s performances last week. What struck me was the number of falls on the Vancouver ice. Although skaters have had their fair share of spills in the past, I don’t recall there being that many. Couple that with the controversy surrounding American Evan Lysacek’s gold medal win over Russia’s Evgeni Plushenko, and I couldn’t help but thinking, “This isn’t fun anymore.”

Don’t get me wrong, I applaud the athletes’ determination, their skill, and their drive to be the best, but at what cost? Forget about my selfish desire to be entertained. What about the athletes’ safety? Is it just a matter of time before one of these world class skaters suffers a life-threatening injury?

Perhaps, the Olympic judges made the right call by awarding Lysacek the gold medal over Plushenko. (Does anybody outside the sport even understand the scoring system anyway?) Sure. Lysacek lacked a quadruple jump, but his program was clean, athletic, artistic, and had a great deal of difficulty at the end. From a spectator’s standpoint, it was the perfect balance of agility and athleticism for figure skating enthusiasts who like to be wowed but mostly caught up in the performance.

2/22: Paterson’s Path to Election

February 22, 2010 | by Marist Poll

By Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Governor David Paterson became governor under unusual circumstances. He has served in turbulent times, and oversees a government that is seen by most New Yorkers as dysfunctional. He has also compiled unprecedentedly low poll numbers. How low is low?

In Marist’s statewide polls dating back nearly three decades, we find an answer. Former Governor Mario Cuomo’s lowest approval rating was 32%. It occurred in the fall of 1994, the year he was ousted from office. Former Governor George Pataki’s low point was 30% during the spring of 2006. He opted not to seek a fourth term. Not surprisingly, the bottom fell out on Former Governor Eliot Spitzer during his sex scandal in March, 2008. What’s shocking number-wise is that even Spitzer’s 30% approval rating, clocked just before his resignation, exceeded Paterson’s lowest score of 17% this past September and the 26% he currently has.

Governor Paterson finds himself having to accomplish something politically akin to going uphill in an Alpine skiing event. His spirited and feisty campaign kick-off in Hempstead was a good start. His inspirational story as someone who has already succeeded mightily against huge personal odds is moving and works when he alludes to the state’s dire circumstances. He doesn’t quit, he isn’t giving up on New York, and neither will New Yorkers.

But, Paterson needs to do more to connect with New York voters. He talks about his accomplishments and making tough budget decisions, yet New Yorkers are anxious for results. Although he scores better on handling the state’s fiscal problems than his overall approval rating, his numbers are even low here. His claim of being an outsider is probably a reach for a sitting governor and lifetime politician. And, there’s the significant matter of campaign cash, reluctant endorsements, and the very popular Andrew Cuomo to consider.

In these volatile political times, it is probably not wise to put too much stock in electoral history. But, Mario Cuomo enjoyed 71% and 64% approval ratings from New Yorkers when he launched his successful re-election bids in 1986 and 1990, respectively. George Pataki’s ratings were a comparable 59% and 72% when he began his two successful re-election campaigns.

Governor Paterson is in an unenviable position as he seeks a four-year term. We will be watching the electorate closely in the next few weeks to see if the New Yorkers are responding favorably to his effort.

Introducing Pebbles and Pundits’ Theme Song

February 19, 2010 | by Mary Griffith

The theme song for The Marist Poll’s website was composed by Joseph Mager, a Marist College student enrolled in the Fall 2009 unit of Political Communication and Politics. Joe wrote and performed Pebbles and Pundits theme song as a creative project pertaining to his coursework.

Check out our theme song and get to know its composer below.

An Interview with Joe Mager, Student Composer of Pebbles and Pundits’ Theme Song

Name: Joseph Mager

Age: 20 years old

Year of Study: Junior

From where did the idea for the Marist Poll theme song come?

I would have to say a culmination of my passion for making up lyrics on the spot, funny song writing like Adam Sandler (that actually has some purpose), and the realization that I wanted to make people understand that polling and the study of elections can be fun if you look at it from different perspectives. (A lot of my friends think everything I study is boring and dull.)

What was the process of writing like?

It really wasn’t all that difficult. Clearly I had some background on the topic after taking [Dr. Miringoff’s public opinion] class a year ago along with [the Political Communications] course. The work involved in PoliComm also gave me more time to look at how the whole of MIPO worked and allowed me to put a little twist on what was going on, in a fashionable [tasteful] manner of course.

What did you enjoy most about writing the song?

As for the song, I honestly just liked how much everyone actually liked it. I was surprised. For people who will actually listen to it, I apologize for not having pipes like Freddie Mercury.

What did you enjoy most about the Political Communications course?

As for the course, I enjoyed all of it. I enjoyed most of the projects assigned and always felt like I had to do something.

What are you currently up to?

As of today, I am actually in London studying through the Marist International Program. I’m here doing the Hansard Scholar’s Programme where I am entitled to take two POSC courses at the London School of Economics, serve an internship, and write a 10,000 word dissertation.

I am here alongside two of my colleagues who were in Political Communications with me last year. Rob Schmidt and Marissa Ryan are currently working for Members of Parliament! Very exciting indeed. As for myself, I am working for DODS Monitoring Company, in the Parliament Services Division. Basically, I follow specific Parliament activities here in the UK daily, or when I am working (Tuesday-Thursday,) and write up reports for various government agencies, parliamentarians, and stakeholders (generally charitable organizations, think-tanks, and unions.) Luckily, I am able to go into Parliament when I need to cover a select committee or house meeting, then, write up a story for the main parliamentary news site of DODS called epolitix.com. Check it out.

Aside from the curriculum and internship, there is time for fun. I have explored the majority of London along with its famous sites. A couple of weeks ago I was in Paris! Other trips are already planned for the next few weeks including Edinburgh, Scotland and Galway, Ireland (of course a trip to Dublin as well that weekend.) Future ventures will take me as far as Egypt I believe, but that will have to wait until after the dissertation!

Is there anything that you would like to add?

I just think it’s important to note that going into the office was always fun. It wasn’t like a normal job or internship where you sometimes grunt-and-groan when you have to go in. I want to thank all of the MIPO staff for always making the office feel like a second home, always willing to have fun and give advice on projects or assignments from a professional perspective. Without the experience I had last semester I don’t think I would think the same about PoliComm or Data analysis (which previously weren’t really all that interesting to me.)

Oh, and remember, if you are going to write a little song for something like this always use basic chord progressions and a rhyme scheme of ABCB, gets ‘em every time!

Cheers from London!