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Handicapping the VP race based upon Wikipedia edits

Home - by - August 10, 2012 - 22:30 America/New_York - 56 Comments

Director Blue

The concept of predicting a VP candidate based upon the volatility of their Wikipedia biographies, as CNN explains, is not new.

In the past, Wikipedia activity has spiked for vice presidential picks the day before an official announcement was made. In 2008, hours before Republican candidate John McCain announced his vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin’s Wikipedia page was getting a heavy edit. According to The Washington Post, the then-Alaska governor’s page was changed 68 times the day before the announcement. In the 24 hours leading up to Obama’s running mate announcement, Joe Biden’s page was edited 40 times.

 

So I decided to take an updated look, heading into the weekend, at activity for “the Big Four” ostensible VP contenders.

Wikipedia modifications to VP contender biographies over the last week:

See the rest HERE

» 56 Comments

  1. Czar of Defenestration

    August 10th, 2012

    Pleeeeeeeeease, baby, pleeeeeeeease…let it be so!

    Thumb up +2

     
  2. Moe Tom

    August 10th, 2012

    My Opinion. It don’t mean shit. But I think Sarah Palin is a smart and beautiful lady. She is 100% American. She has been well vetted by the left, what more can they say? She’s a whore, stupid, ignorant,bi-sexual, incompetant and so forth. So give Sarah Palin the VP spot. Romney would rock the country with Sarah. What the fuck do we have to lose? Other than America?

    Thumb up +3

     
  3. Hybrid Lemon

    August 10th, 2012

    Sarah’s not going to run that gauntlet again.

    You’ve got McCain II running against Obama; the VP candidate won’t save “High Road Romney” :-(

    Thumb up +3

     
  4. Tony R

    August 10th, 2012

    Let’s all go on Michelle Bachman’s wikipedia page and edit it. That should give the progs a shit hemmorage.

    Thumb up +9

     
  5. CharlieWalksonWater

    August 10th, 2012

    As long as its not the walking donut.

    Thumb up +2

     
  6. bitterclinger

    August 10th, 2012

    You won’t have much longer to wait. FOX News is reporting that Willard is announcing his VP pick at 9 a.m. Saturday in Norfolk, VA, on the USS Wisconsin.

    Thumb up +2

     
  7. norman einstein

    August 10th, 2012

    Right now Drudge lede is that Romney will announce his VP at 9am EDT tomorrow morning.

    I hope it’s Paul Ryan.
    No more RINO’s or milquetoast and that doesn’t leave much.

    Thumb up +3

     
  8. Timwi

    August 10th, 2012

    I hope it’s Paul Ryan as well. What a year for Wisconsin that would be! Plus, Obama hates Paul Ryan, and Ryan is smarter than Obama. Rubio would be great also though.

    Thumb up +5

     
  9. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    IT’S RYAN 100%…

    ….WISCONSIN…..IOWA…. in Mitt’s column.

    Thumb up +5

     
  10. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN RYAN

    Thumb up +5

     
  11. Jim

    August 11th, 2012

    I’m with Einstien. Ryan all the way. He’s as cool as a cucumber. He will destroy Biden in a debate and will take the focus off of Romney’s murder of JonBenet.

    Thumb up +8

     
  12. Jim

    August 11th, 2012

    Is there a way to see who’s editing wiki? I’d love to know.

    Thumb up +3

     
  13. reddecaesari

    August 11th, 2012

    ryan please.
    smarter. kick biden/obama’s ass in a debate.
    better hair than rubio.

    Thumb up +4

     
  14. LaBonBon

    August 11th, 2012

    Bwa ha ha Jim! Good one!

    As a Minnesotan, I am praying it’s not Pawlenty. Too much of a milquetoast. Rubio, besides not being eligible, is terrible on immigration and not in keeping with conservative thought. I really want Ryan. Good old-fashioned pick. Two white guys. Too HELL with the PC sh*t!

    Thumb up +6

     
  15. Claudia

    August 11th, 2012

    Paul Ryan, PURDY PLEASE!

    Thumb up +5

     
  16. norman einstein

    August 11th, 2012

    @Jim, at the top right on the Wiki page, click on “view history”.
    Each line represents an edit.
    “cur/prev” (current/previous) links show what the edit was, followed by the time/date and a link to the username of the person who made the edit.

    Thumb up +3

     
  17. norman einstein

    August 11th, 2012

    Drudge has wall to wall Ryan stories up now.

    I hope he’s been tipped off and he KNOWS Ryan is it.
    Damn…the suspense is killing me.

    Thumb up +2

     
  18. Bad Brad

    August 11th, 2012

    I hope I’m wrong, I call head fake.

    Thumb up +1

     
  19. Navigator

    August 11th, 2012

    Looks like it’s Ryan. Rubio would have helped win Florida and the latino votes.

    Thumb up +1

     
  20. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    @Brad. It’s Ryan 100% sure.

    Thumb up +1

     
  21. Boobie the Rocket Dog

    August 11th, 2012

    Either Ryan or Rubio would be good choices.

    Rubio was born in Miami, no doubt about it. What’s the problem? His grandfather was an illegal immigrant in 1962 on account of fleeing Castro? Feather in his cap.

    Thumb up 0

     
  22. norman einstein

    August 11th, 2012

    Lucianne is reporting that all the wires and news services are saying it’s Ryan.

    If it’s a head fake, it’s a BIG one.

    Thumb up +1

     
  23. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    It’s an EXCELLENT pick.

    Like I’ve said ealier this week: critical swing voters are white non-college.
    Many of ‘em in Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana.

    …Michigan…

    Romney/Ryan ain’t targeting the non-white voters. Nor the wealthy suburban woman.

    But the white non-college voters.

    Ryan ‘s record on Life is excellent.

    He has working background; he knows how to talk to the working folks.
    He’s super-bright and hard-working and a winner.

    Thumb up +3

     
  24. Bad Brad

    August 11th, 2012

    Katechon,

    Hope you are right. As a matter of fact I hope it’s Ryan and they flip the ticket. I guess after a long hot week I’m sick and tired of the whole dance.

    Thumb up +1

     
  25. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    Now the campaign is:

    a) referendum on Barack
    b) about the Ryan Plan

    Thumb up +1

     
  26. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    @Brad

    This means that Team Romney understands demographics and knows that the electoral map of 2012 will be very different than in 2008.

    Obama’s been bleeding white non-college folks. Bleeding ‘em very heavily.
    Yet they still don’t trust nor like Romney.
    Ryan will help a lot with that in the critical battleground states.

    Thumb up +1

     
  27. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    Romney is being bold here:

    – bold timing: earlier than usual, quite a bit before the Convention

    – polarizing guy.

    Good. Because he needed to SHAKE things up.

    Thumb up +2

     
  28. Robert Fine

    August 11th, 2012

    He’ll probably pick McCain.

    Thumb up 0

     
  29. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    I’m short $7K on Portman and Pawlenty on Intrade, as I’ve written this afternoon.

    Ryan = good payday for me !!

    http://race42012.com/2012/08/10/new-romney-tv-ad-america-deserves-better/#comment-1303037

    Thumb up +1

     
  30. Bad Brad

    August 11th, 2012

    Katechon,

    Ryan’s the one dude that has a total grasp of our impending doom. So does sell out bitch now reformed Bill Clinton. Again I need to refer to this.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOrSURZKrcw
    /
    Even a Weasel knows when he’s taken too much. That’s Bill.

    Thumb up +1

     
  31. Bad Brad

    August 11th, 2012

    Why do I get this feeling you were sitting next to Nero as the flame grew higher.

    Thumb up +1

     
  32. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    @Brad yes, I remember that clip indeed.

    Ryan has a bunch of physical energy too. He’ll storm the critical swing states for the next weeks. His star power will grow too.
    The long marathon begins tomorrow… ’til E-Day.

    Thumb up +2

     
  33. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    As Seneque?

    Thumb up +1

     
  34. Bad Brad

    August 11th, 2012

    Sorry, you didn’t deserve that, good night.

    Thumb up +1

     
  35. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    ‘Night !! :D

    Thumb up 0

     
  36. MaryfromMarin

    August 11th, 2012

    I like the combination of the initials of their last names.

    Thumb up +1

     
  37. Boobie the Rocket Dog

    August 11th, 2012

    Well, 6½ hours and we’ll know.

    Thumb up 0

     
  38. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

     
  39. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

     
  40. MaryfromMarin

    August 11th, 2012

    Katechon–

    Well, I’D say that was a big clue.

    There’s a ronmeyportman.com site, but it doesn’t look as promising. No romneypawlenty.com or romneyrubio.com .

    There’s also something for romneychristie.com, but I couldn’t stomach the thought, so I clicked off.

    Thumb up +1

     
  41. Xavier

    August 11th, 2012

    Time for a little R&R: Righteousness and Retalation!

    9:45am in Norfolk, Va.

    Thumb up +3

     
  42. Boobie the Rocket Dog

    August 11th, 2012

     
  43. Boobie the Rocket Dog

    August 11th, 2012

    “… a Republican with knowledge of the development … spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to disclose the decision.”

    This sounds suspiciously like Harry Reid’s “source.”

    Thumb up 0

     
  44. Xavier

    August 11th, 2012

    Well Hell. I meant 8:45am in Norfolk. Really must get an illuminated keyboard – the letters are getting worn off of this one. Sorry ’bout that.

    Thumb up +2

     
  45. MaryfromMarin

    August 11th, 2012

    @Xavier–

    8:45 am in Norfolk will screen at 9:45 am SOMEWHERE. So you are partly right!

    Thumb up +1

     
  46. Xavier

    August 11th, 2012

    @Boobie the Rocket Dog

    So what you’re saying is that Harry Reid’s anus is prognosticating on the GOP VP pick now? ;)

    @MaryfromMarin

    I like the way you think, Madam.

    Thumb up +2

     
  47. MaryfromMarin

    August 11th, 2012

    @Xavir–

    It’s good to have each other’s backs. In all things, large or small.

    Thumb up +3

     
  48. ThisObamaNation

    August 11th, 2012

    This SHOULD make you FURIOUS!

    From ExposeObama.Com & PJTV

    Video:Is The US Military Preparing To Quell The Tea Party?

    The answer is YES.

    http://www.exposeobama.com/2012/08/10/video-is-the-us-military-preparing-to-quell-the-tea-party/

    Thumb up 0

     
  49. Czar of Defenestration

    August 11th, 2012

    Katechon, how does this affect your $40,000 bet on Obama?!

    Thumb up 0

     
  50. Czar of Defenestration

    August 11th, 2012

    Nice video, TON!

    Thumb up 0

     
  51. Weldor

    August 11th, 2012

    Ryan – suits me, and at least when Zero’s BS smear machine goes after him, we’ll get to see pix of his ex-wife… :)

    http://www.startrek.com/database_article/ryan-jeri

    Thumb up 0

     
  52. Xavier

    August 11th, 2012

    @Weldor

    I believe you are in error – this is his wife. ;)

    Let us pray she’s a beach person.

    http://memerial.net/4662-perfection-happy-diablo-3-ryan

    Thumb up 0

     
  53. RosalindJ

    August 11th, 2012

    Weldor, you’re thinking of Jack Ryan.

    Thumb up 0

     
  54. Weldor

    August 11th, 2012

    Sorry, I had 7 of 9 on my mind… :)

    Thumb up 0

     
  55. Rising Wolf

    August 11th, 2012

    For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts will they multiply to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they will turn away their ears from the truth, and will be turned to fables.
    (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

    Thumb up 0

     
  56. Katechon

    August 11th, 2012

    @Csar Intrade went pro-Obama, so I’m able to sell my Obama for a modest profit. Still long $30K though.
    I’ll keep on selling slowly as long as I don’t see any evidence that Ryan is hurting Romney among the critical swing voters: the independent white non-college voters.

    Thumb up 0