A study asks, Which pundits make the best predictions?

[ThatPoetGuy]

They studied the opinions of 26 professional pundits and saw whose forecasts were most accurate.

"Liberals were more likely than conservatives to predict accurately."

You're going to love who's number one.

http://www.metafilter.com/103156/The-prophets-prophesy-falsely-and-the-priests-bear-rule-by-their-means-and-my-people-love-to-have-it-so-and-what-will-ye-do-in-the-end-thereof

[OHdem10]

1. This is because the Liberals for the most part are more truthful.

Their mind is therefore not as cluttered trying to remember
all the lies, for fear of being caught. Really, Liberals
tend to be more realistic.

[tularetom]

2. Half of the "pundits" in this study were actually politicians

I guess the problem is that a lot of those who we consider pundits do not actually make predictions but rather comment on events as they unfold.

[ThatPoetGuy]

3. I couldn't think of a better word than pundit, sorry.

"Political prognosticator"?

There's something redeeming when you look at who earned the top score and who earned the bottom.

[tularetom]

4. The results were very satisfying

It particularly brought out the fact that prognosticators like Joe Loserman and Graham were predicting with their hearts rather than their heads.

There was no way McCain was going to defeat Obama in 2008.

[hvn_nbr_2]

5. Yeah, but did that study note whether they were intending to make factual...

statements when they made their predictions?

[unblock]

6. the media isn't interested in objective analysis and prediction

the media is interested in dramatic confrontation.

so instead of giving space and time to objective, thoughtful, and thorough political analysis and prediction, they give space and time to political advocacy and try to pass it off as analysis.

[Scuba]

7. "Readers could learn by believing the opposite of what Cal Thomas writes"