Comments on: Nobody Stole Anything

By: MRW

MRW — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:08:47 +0000

Should I have used “mathematically infinitesimal” instead?

By: attilla

attilla — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:38:54 +0000

MRW, OK sorry if I got riled up. Nothing personal. Being a scientist, I get really peeved when people toss around the term “statistically insignificant” without any basis. What you show above is simple math, not statistics.

By: MRW

MRW — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:30:49 +0000

Atilla:
Here is my h.s. math (with the correct numbers, not the ones I used above):
225 / 2,900,000 = .00008

Sure qualifies to me. But let’s also remember that statistically insignificant has, in the end, no bearing in this matter. It was just an attempt to make a point. This is all I’m going to say on this subject as it seems it is not worth trying to discuss.

By: attilla

attilla — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:06:55 +0000

MRW-

Here let me help you…Is the winning margin a small number? Why, yes it is (This would be your high school math)

Is is statistically insignificant? No it is not.

By: attilla

attilla — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:11:57 +0000

MRW

Bulls**t. Show me your high school math.

By: DantheMan

DantheMan — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:26:51 +0000

To be clear, at the end of the day, I say seat someone and seat it soon. As of today, that would be Mr. Franken.

I think Minnesota has many, many, many people who would be better suited to serve us in the Senate than Franken, and I think knowing who ultimately had more people vote for them that night in November will never be known. But for the good of MN constituents who are short a Senator today, we need to send someone to DC.

By: MRW

MRW — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:42:46 +0000

From a purely high school mathematics standpoint, the margin of 255 out of 2.5 million is truly statistically insignificant. That being said, we have a process, one that is playing itself out — perhaps more slowly than I or others would like, but playing out nonetheless.

There have been some intriguing proposals made in recent days to improve our elections since this has begun. Some good (loosening up absentee ballot rules), some not (a true recount election).

One that might merit some focus is proving a provisional certificate of election pending legal challenges. Would that make it better? Perhaps. So what would be the counter to that idea?

By: lojasmo

lojasmo — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:14:13 +0000

The benchmark isn’t a statistically significant margin, Dan. The benchmark is a plurality plus 1. Franken won. The recount was open and consistent.

Suck it up, and move on. We’ve got a nation to fix.

By: SeanG

SeanG — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:23:07 +0000

Great post — great quote from the Pioneer Press, too!

By: attilla

attilla — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:51:28 +0000

The process is clear. Franken won. Coleman lost. Lets get on to fixing our nation.

BTW - I love the red herring phrase “statically insignificant”, always used without support of statical data.

The Law: The one with the most votes wins. (NO mention of “the one with the most statistically significant votes wins”!!!)