More polls, more weitrd answers

The more I hear about this poll or that one asking a group of Americans multiple random and generally useless questions, the more I recall a college friend's statement

"You can prove anything with statistics. The sky is green, Hitler was a nice guy, and pig fly. It's just stupid."

Of course there are real uses for stats, just as there is polls. But sometimes you have to wonder why pollsters bother. Beyond keeping their jobs, who really cares about some of these questions.

Like the most recent 60 Minutes -Vanity Fair poll. Asking 1,097 people questions that will shake the foundations of you world, and answers you will ponder for as long as it takes to read the question.

George Clooney beat President Obama (26% to 24%) in "which man they would most like to trade places with for a week." The next men on the list? Tom Brady and Bruce Springsteen (Does anyone even remeber this guy? When was the last time you heard his name?).

Among women it was of course First Lady Michelle Obama as the favorite with 26%. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the 2nd place spot yet again at 16% (again I ask, what has she done? You really have to wonder if she is even in the Administration now). Nearly taking 2nd was Angelina Jolie and then Beyonce (that baby video seems to be working out well for her).

If that didn't make you wonder who is answering this poll how about this.

The biggest sin a politician can commit? Adultery? Nope, that only got 2% of votes. The winner was taking a bribe, picked by 37%.

I suppose lying is so commonplace as to no longer be considered something ONLY the bad politicians do. Still, not learning to read would've been my choice. Not that it is a sin either.

How about this burst of brilliance. 50% think it would be a great idea to tax the rich by 50%. First thing I want to ask those people is the same one President Obama has never answered clearly, What is rich? The second thing, how bad an economy do they really want to see?

At least there is one question I think they got right

"one-third of poll respondents predicted he won't be setting a time table for removing troops from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, 31 percent said he would time it to the beginning of the next presidential campaign, and 25 percent chose "in about a year."