Why I don't trust polls...

From CNN:

Poll: Iraq speeches, election don't help Bush

Tuesday, December 20, 2005; Posted: 12:56 a.m. EST (05:56 GMT)

CNN -- President Bush's approval ratings do not appear to have changed significantly, despite a number of recent speeches he's given to shore up public support for the war in Iraq and its historic elections on Thursday.

A CNN/USA Today Gallup poll conducted over the weekend found his approval rating stood at 41 percent, while more than half, or 56 percent, disapprove of how the president is handling his job. A majority, or 52 percent, say it was a mistake to send troops to Iraq, and 61 percent say they disapprove of how he is handling Iraq specifically. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The poll interviews were conducted before President Bush's Oval Office address, which was broadcast on primetime television Sunday.

And now from ABC:

Poll: Bush's Approval Ratings Climb

Dec. 19, 2005 — The recent elections in Iraq and an improved economic outlook at home have shifted public support in the president's direction, lifting him from career lows in his job performance and personal ratings alike.

The president still faces significant challenges, including majority disapproval of his overall performance, substantial skepticism about the war and roughly 50-50 ratings on his personal honesty and his handling of ethics. Still, each has moved his way.

Sampling, data collection and tabulation for this poll were done by TNS.

Overall, 47 percent of Americans in this ABC News/Washington Post poll now approve of George W. Bush's work in office; 52 percent disapprove. While hardly robust, that is up from a career low 39 percent-60 percent in early November to its best in nearly six months.

Two different polls, taken at the same time, two vastly different results that would be considered outside the margin for error.

Interesting fact regarding the CNN poll above:

The poll interviews were conducted before President Bush's Oval Office address, which was broadcast on primetime television Sunday.

Read that sentence, then look at CNN's headline. Notice any disconnect? Now there wouldn't be any agenda behind that story, would there?

(Filed under The Fifth Column)